AIM-9M Sidewinder

The AIM-9M Sidewinder is an American infrared homing air-to-air missile, it was introduced in Update 2.29 "Sons of Attila"

The AIM-9M entered service in 1983 as much improved AIM-9L with much better background rejection and a form of IRCCM. The AIM-9M is responsible for all 10 Sidewinder kills in the 1991 Gulf War

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

• AH-1Z
• ▄AV-8B Plus
• F-16D Barak II
• F-16C
• Harrier GR.7

General info

The AIM-9M Sidewinder is the first sidewinder to have IRCCM, and it achieves this by suspending the seeker if it detects flare countermeasures. and resorting to INS navigation and a reduced/low smoke motor. It is directly based on the USN/AF AIM-9L

Missile characteristics
Mass	84.5 kg
Guidance	IR
Aspect	All-aspects
Lock range in rear aspect	11km
Lock range in all aspect	3km
ECCM	Yes
Launch Range	18km
Maximum Speed	2.5M
Maximum Overload	30G
Missile Guidance time	60.0s
Explosive mass	4.58kg TNTeq

Effective damage

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Comparison with analogues

Compared to the AIM-9L it is practically the exact same expect for the IRCCM capabilities of it. It still has the same max G pull and the same range as the AIM-9L. While compared the R-73 it doesn't pull as hard but for better IRCCM capabilities from the front and side or at long range. The AIM-9M also has longer range then the R-73

Missile Characteristics	AIM-9M	R-73	Magic 2	AIM-9L
Mass	84 kg	105 kg	89 kg	84 kg
Guidance	IR	IR	IR	IR
Aspect	All-Aspect	All-Aspect	All-aspects	All-Aspect
Seeker Head	Uncaged (radar slavable)	Uncaged (radar slavable)	6 km	Uncaged (radar slavable)
Lock range (rear-aspect)	11 km	11 km	6 km	11 km
Lock range (all-aspect)	3 km	3.4 km	3 km	3 km
ECCM	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
ECCM Type	Suspended Animation	FOV Gating	FOV Gating	N/A
Thrust Vectoring	No	Yes	No	No
Launch range	18 km	30km	10 km	18 km
Maximum speed	2.5 M	2.5 M	3 M	2.5 M
Maximum overload	30 G	40 G	35 G	30 G
Missile guidance time	60 s	25 s	25 s	60 s
Explosive Mass	4.06 kg TNTeq	5.96 kg TNTeq	9.6kg TNTeq	4.06 kg TNTeq

Give a comparative description of missiles that have firepower equal to this weapon.

Usage in battles

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Pros and cons

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Pros:

Cons:

History

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Media

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See also

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External links

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