AIM-9P Sidewinder

This page is about the American air-to-air missile AIM-9P Sidewinder. For other versions, see AIM-9 Sidewinder (Family).

Description

The AIM-9P Sidewinder missile (scale is approximate)

The AIM-9P Sidewinder is an American infrared homing air-to-air missile, it was introduced in Update "New Power".

As an export version of the AIM-9 Sidewinder, the AIM-9P delivers performance akin to that of the AIM-9J that allows for the AIM-9P to be used as a dogfighting missile against low-manoeuvring aircraft.

The AIM-9P-3 was designated as the RB24J in Swedish service, and as the Flz Lwf 63/80 in Swiss service.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

Vehicles equipped with this weapon
AIM-9P Sidewinder
A-5	A-5C
T-2	T-2 Early · T-2
F-1	F-1
F-4	F-4EJ Phantom II · F-4EJ ADTW · F-4EJ Kai Phantom II
F-5	␗F-5A · ␗F-5E
F-14	▄F-14A IRIAF
F-16	F-16AJ · ␗F-16A MLU · Netz · F-16D Barak II
F-104	F-104J · ▄F-104S TAF
RB24J
SAAB 35	J35D · Saab J35XS
SAAB 37	JA37C · JA37D · AJ37 · AJS37
Flz Lwf 63/80	◌Hunter F.58

General info

Missile characteristics
Mass	76.93 kg
Guidance	IR
Aspect	Rear-aspect
Lock range (rear-aspect)	5.5 km
Launch range	18 km
Maximum speed	2.5 M
Maximum overload	20 G
Missile guidance time	40 secs
Explosive mass	7.62 kg TNTeq

Effective damage

Describe the type of damage produced by this type of missile (high explosive, splash damage, etc)

Comparison with analogues

The AIM-9P is an export version of the US AIM-9J sold to China mostly. The AIM-9P has the same performance as the AIM-9J used in the American tech tree. Except with the addition of radar slaving.

• AIM-9B FGW.2 Sidewinder - A European-licensed version of the AIM-9B with their own improvements; however the performance in-game are quite similar.
• R-3S/PL-2 - Infamous as a reverse-engineered variant of the AIM-9B, the R-3 missile shares many of its in-game performances with the AIM-9B, only falling slightly short in locking and launching range.
• Shafrir - Shares in-game performance values despite their design differences
• Rb24 - Licensed-produced version of the AIM-9B for the Swedish, and as such shares in-game performance values.

Missile		Guidance					Lock range (rear-aspect)(km)	Launch range (km)	Maximum speed (Mach)	Maximum overload (g)	Mass (kg)	TNT Equivalent (kg)
		Type	Aspect	Time	Uncaged seeker	Radar slaving
	AIM-9B Sidewinder	IR	Rear	20			4	10	1.7	10	72	7.62
	AIM-9C Sidewinder	SARH	Front	60			9	18	2.5	18	95	4.69
	AIM-9D Sidewinder	IR	Rear	20			5.5	18	2.5	18	88	4.69
	AIM-9E Sidewinder	IR	Rear	20			5.5	18	2.8	10	76	7.62
	AIM-9G Sidewinder	IR	Rear	60			5.5	18	2.5	18	88	3.53
	AIM-9H Sidewinder	IR	Rear	60			5.5	18	2.5	18	88	3.53
	AIM-9J Sidewinder	IR	Rear	40			5.5	18	2.5	20	76	7.62
	AIM-9L Sidewinder	IR	All	60			11	18	2.5	30	84	4.58
	AIM-9M Sidewinder	IR	All	60			11	18	2.5	30	84	4.58
	AIM-9P Sidewinder	IR	Rear	40			5.5	18	2.5	20	76.93	7.62
	AIM-9P4 Sidewinder	IR	All	40			11	18	2.5	20	76.93	7.62
	AIM-9B FGW.2 Sidewinder	IR	Rear	20			5.5	10	1.7	10	72	7.62
	Shafrir	IR	Rear	20			7	10	1.7	11	65	7.62
	RB24	IR	Rear	20			4	10	1.7	10	72	7.62
	R-3S	IR	Rear	21			9	10	1.7	10	75	8.8
	PL-2	IR	Rear	21			9	10	1.7	10	75	8.8

Usage in battles

The AIM-9P Sidewinder can be used in battle as an air-to-air missile. The missle is most effective during top down attack at ~2.1 km (1.3 miles) or ~1.9 km (1.18 miles) on direct rear aspect shots. It is heavily affected by altitude, being able to launch nearly straight up, at around 2.6 km and still have enough energy to hit enemy aircraft. You may have to fire the missle a bit closer when engaging fast aircraft such as the MiG-23 or the F-104.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• 20G maximum overload
• Simple point-lock-shoot user usage
• Good seeker FOV

Cons:

• Limited range

History

When the AIM-9L Sidewinder began to be put into production in 1976 to replace other Sidewinder variants as the United States' main IR missile, a need was created for Sidewinders to offer to the United States' allies that did not need or were not allowed access to the newest AIM-9 Sidewinder variants and their associated features such as all-aspect locking.

The AIM-9P Sidewinder missile was developed as a family of export missiles. Sponsored by the US Air Force, this variant was based off the AIM-9J/N variants, though would be updated multiple times incorporating new features and improvements.

A row of Swedish missile armaments for aircraft. A RB24J (Swedish designation for an AIM-9P-3) is seen second from the left.

Variants of the AIM-9P

• AIM-9P - The first version, which is an improved AIM-9J model with greater engagement ranges. It also incorporates solid-state technology for better reliability and maintainability. Deliveries of this missile started in 1978.
• AIM-9P-1 - Introduces an active optical target detector with the DSU-15/B AOTD laser proximity fuze, replacing the old infrared influence fuze.
• AIM-9P-2 - Introduces a reduced-smoke rocket motor.
• AIM-9P-3 - Alongside the reduced-smoke rocket motor like the preceding P-2, the P-3 also includes a new insensitive munitions warhead and improved guidance and control section. Fuzing appears to be a mix of the original infrared fuze or the active optical target detector as the P-1. The AIM-9P-3 is also the basis of the Swedish RB24J missile.
• AIM-9P-4 - Introduces ALASCA features and technology of the AIM-9L variants. However, it is considered less agile to the AIM-9L variant.
• AIM-9P-5 - Introduces IRCCM incorporated in the AIM-9M variant. This model is also the basis of the Swedish RB74, or RB24L, missile.

More than 21,000 AIM-9P models were built during its production, though many were rebuilt AIM-9B/E/J. Despite being slated for export use, most of the missiles are in US Air Force inventory.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Related development

• AIM-9 Sidewinder (Family)

External links

References

Citations

Bibliography

• GlobalSecurity.org "AIM-9 Sidewinder." GlobalSecurity.org, Website. Accessed 02 Apr 2021 (Archive).
• Goebel, Greg. "The Falcon & Sidewinder Air-To-Air Missiles." Air Vectors, 01 Mar. 2021, Website. Accessed 02 Apr 2021 (Archive).
• Kopp, Carlo. "The Sidewinder Story: The Evolution of the AIM-9 Missile." Air Power Australia, 27 Jan 2014, Website. Accessed 02 Apr 2021 (Archive).
• Parsch, Andreas. "AIM-9." Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Designation-Systems.Net, 09 July 2008, Website. Accessed 02 Apr 2021 (Archive).
• Westrum, Ron. Sidewinder; Creative Missile Development at China Lake. Naval Institute Press, 30 Sep. 2013.