AIM-9E Sidewinder - Revision history

U22067555: Added F-104G (France)

2024-10-28T00:01:51Z

Added F-104G (France)

U30821137: /* Comparison with analogues */ add comparison table

2024-10-22T15:49:19Z

‎Comparison with analogues: add comparison table

U22067555: /* Vehicles equipped with this weapon */ Added F-100F (China)

2023-10-04T11:16:50Z

‎Vehicles equipped with this weapon: Added F-100F (China)

U38088265: /* Vehicles equipped with this weapon */

2023-06-25T11:40:05Z

‎Vehicles equipped with this weapon

U101353724: /* Usage in battles */

2023-03-07T17:35:29Z

‎Usage in battles

U44629479: /* Vehicles equipped with this weapon */ Added F-4EJ ADTW

2023-03-06T23:06:12Z

‎Vehicles equipped with this weapon: Added F-4EJ ADTW

U17577377: /* Vehicles equipped with this weapon */

2022-10-28T15:01:51Z

‎Vehicles equipped with this weapon

U97916902: /* Pros and cons */

2022-07-04T09:33:51Z

‎Pros and cons

U31139476: /* Usage in battles */ Edits

2022-06-30T16:20:12Z

‎Usage in battles: Edits

U38088265: /* Vehicles equipped with this weapon */

2022-06-22T13:23:00Z

‎Vehicles equipped with this weapon

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 {{Navigation-Line|Japan}}{{Specs-Link|t2_early}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|t2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4ej}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4ej_adtw}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-104j}}
 {{Navigation-Line|China}}{{Specs-Link|f-100a_china}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f_100f_china}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-104g_china}}
 {{Navigation-First-Line|'''Strike aircraft'''}}{{Specs-Link|a_7d}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-105d}}

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 === Comparison with analogues ===
 ''Give a comparative description of missiles that have firepower equal to this weapon.''
 == Usage in battles ==

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 {{Navigation-Line|Britain}}{{Specs-Link|hunter_f9_rhodesia}}
 {{Navigation-Line|Japan}}{{Specs-Link|t2_early}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|t2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4ej}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4ej_adtw}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-104j}}
-{{Navigation-Line|China}}{{Specs-Link|f-100a_china}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-104g_china}}
+{{Navigation-Line|China}}{{Specs-Link|f-100a_china}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f_100f_china}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-104g_china}}
 {{Navigation-First-Line|'''Strike aircraft'''}}{{Specs-Link|a_7d}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-105d}}

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 {{Navigation-Line|Britain}}{{Specs-Link|hunter_f9_rhodesia}}
 {{Navigation-Line|Japan}}{{Specs-Link|t2_early}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|t2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4ej}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4ej_adtw}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-104j}}
-{{Navigation-Line|China}}{{Specs-Link|f-104g_china}}
+{{Navigation-Line|China}}{{Specs-Link|f-100a_china}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-104g_china}}
 {{Navigation-First-Line|'''Strike aircraft'''}}{{Specs-Link|a_7d}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-105d}}
@@ Line 76: / Line 76: @@
 * Decent top speed of Mach 2.5
-* Wide seeker head with an uncaged seeker (allows missile to be “lead”)
+* Wide seeker head with an uncaged seeker (allows missile to be "lead")
 * Increased effective range and decreased time to target

@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 RB: When the seeker head is primed, a large circle and a small circle will appear. The small circle is the acquisition circle, an enemy plane must be in this circle to be locked, the large circle is the limit of lock, i.e if the target leaves this circle lock will be lost. To give best chances of success this should be used to "lead" a target. e.g a target moving left to right should be placed in the left part of the large circle to give the missile a "head start" in intercepting its target.
-SB: The missile is used in a similar sense to the -9B but will be more forgiving and versatile. It can be hard to tell what your limits of lock are but experience will help. To lock place the target in the cross hair while the missile is searching, once the high tone for a lock is heard try place the cross hair significantly a head of the enemy as if making a deflection shot. You must reduce your G loading before firing but not while holding lock. Testing seems to indicate that you must be below 3 or 4G to fire. Like the -9B, the missile works best in surprise attacks and is more resistant to manoeuvres than its predecessor. The missile is great for taking down bombers without dealing with gunners, especially unaware ones. Can easily score a 100% P(k) against AI bombers.
+SB: The missile is used in a similar sense to the AIM-9B but will be more forgiving and versatile. It can be hard to tell what your limits of lock are but experience will help. To lock place the target in the cross hair while the missile is searching, once the high tone for a lock is heard try place the cross hair significantly a head of the enemy as if making a deflection shot. You must reduce your G loading before firing but not while holding lock. Testing seems to indicate that you must be below 3 or 4G to fire. Like the -9B, the missile works best in surprise attacks and is more resistant to manoeuvres than its predecessor. The missile is great for taking down bombers without dealing with gunners, especially unaware ones. Can easily score a 100% P(k) against AI bombers.
 === Pros and cons ===

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 {{Navigation-Line|Germany}}{{Specs-Link|f-104g}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4f}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4f_late}}
 {{Navigation-Line|Britain}}{{Specs-Link|hunter_f9_rhodesia}}
-{{Navigation-Line|Japan}}{{Specs-Link|t2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4ej}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-104j}}
+{{Navigation-Line|Japan}}{{Specs-Link|t2_early}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|t2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4ej}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-104j}}
 {{Navigation-Line|China}}{{Specs-Link|f-104g_china}}

@@ Line 75: / Line 75: @@
 '''Pros:'''
-* Top speed of Mach 2.5
+* Decent top speed of Mach 2.5
-* Wide seeker head
+* Wide seeker head with an uncaged seeker (allows missile to be “lead”)
-* Increased effective range
+* Increased effective range and decreased time to target
 '''Cons:'''
-* Retains 10G limit
+* Retains poor manoeuvrability and 10G limit of the AIM-9B; can still be easily defeated with minor maneuvers
 == History ==

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 * Retains 10G limit
 * Rear aspect
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 <!-- ''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.'' -->
 ===Development===
-The missile's history starts at the Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) at China Lake in 1947.<ref name="Goebel2019">Goebel 2019</ref> Under William B. McLean, the missile conception sprang from mating lead-sulfide proximity fuzes that were sensitive to infrared radiation with a guidance system to home onto the infrared source.<ref name="HollwayFOX2">Hollway</ref> Initially his own private project, McLean eventually received approval by Admiral William S. Parsons for development.<ref name="Goebel2019"/>These missiles were first test fired in 1951, with the first air-to-air hit was made on 11 September 1953 on a drone.<ref name="ParschAIM9">Parsch 2008</ref> This experimental missile would be designated as the ''XAAM-N-7''. The missile would also earn the name "Sidewinder" by the development team, named after the desert rattlesnake that senses its prey's heat and moves in a winding motion.<ref name="Goebel2019"/><ref name="HollwayFOX2"/>
+The missile's history starts at the Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) at China Lake in 1947.<ref name="Goebel2019">Goebel 2019</ref> Under William B. McLean, the missile conception sprang from mating lead-sulfide proximity fuzes that were sensitive to infrared radiation with a guidance system to home onto the infrared source.<ref name="HollwayFOX2">Hollway</ref> Initially his own private project, McLean eventually received approval by Admiral William S. Parsons for development.<ref name="Goebel2019" />These missiles were first test fired in 1951, with the first air-to-air hit was made on 11 September 1953 on a drone.<ref name="ParschAIM9">Parsch 2008</ref> This experimental missile would be designated as the ''XAAM-N-7''. The missile would also earn the name "Sidewinder" by the development team, named after the desert rattlesnake that senses its prey's heat and moves in a winding motion.<ref name="Goebel2019" /><ref name="HollwayFOX2" />
-Initially a US Navy project, the US Air Force was urged into participating by Howard Wilcox, the next project lead after McLean was promoted to upper management at NOTS in 1954.<ref name="Goebel2019"/> This culminated in a shoot-off in June 1955 between the Navy's Sidewinder against the Air Force's GAR-2 Falcon missile. The Sidewinder's performance in this event resulted in the US Air Force putting their support in the Sidewinder.<ref name="ParschAIM9"/> By May 1956, the missile was officially adopted as the ''AAM-N-7'' for the US Navy and the ''GAR-8'' for the US Air Force.<ref name="ParschAIM9"/><ref name="GervasiArsenal">Gervasi 1984, p.256</ref> These designation would remain until 27 June 1963, when the Sidewinder's designations were standardised across all armed services as the '''AIM-9'''.<ref name="ParschDesignation">Parsch 2020</ref>
+Initially a US Navy project, the US Air Force was urged into participating by Howard Wilcox, the next project lead after McLean was promoted to upper management at NOTS in 1954.<ref name="Goebel2019" /> This culminated in a shoot-off in June 1955 between the Navy's Sidewinder against the Air Force's GAR-2 Falcon missile. The Sidewinder's performance in this event resulted in the US Air Force putting their support in the Sidewinder.<ref name="ParschAIM9" /> By May 1956, the missile was officially adopted as the ''AAM-N-7'' for the US Navy and the ''GAR-8'' for the US Air Force.<ref name="ParschAIM9" /><ref name="GervasiArsenal">Gervasi 1984, p.256</ref> These designation would remain until 27 June 1963, when the Sidewinder's designations were standardised across all armed services as the '''AIM-9'''.<ref name="ParschDesignation">Parsch 2020</ref>
 ===AIM-9E===
-While the US Navy improved on the [[AIM-9B Sidewinder|initial production model]] into the [[AIM-9D Sidewinder|AIM-9D]], the US Air Force lagged behind due to development into other projects such as the AIM-4 ''Falcon''.<ref name="Goebel2019"/> However, the US Air Force eventually came around to improving the AIM-9B Sidewinder missile for their fighters.
+While the US Navy improved on the [[AIM-9B Sidewinder|initial production model]] into the [[AIM-9D Sidewinder|AIM-9D]], the US Air Force lagged behind due to development into other projects such as the AIM-4 ''Falcon''.<ref name="Goebel2019" /> However, the US Air Force eventually came around to improving the AIM-9B Sidewinder missile for their fighters.
-Improvements over the AIM-9B came with a reduced drag conical shape, compared to the US Navy's ogival shape in the AIM-9D. Although the upgrades to the optical assembly had a lower frequency rate than the AIM-9D, it had a faster tracking rate.<ref name="KoppAUSAIM9">Kopp 2014</ref> The biggest change to the missile was the implementation of Peltier thermoelectric cooling for the infrared seeker, which eliminated the need of nitrogen gas for cooling in previous models, and can run infinitely so long as electrical power can be maintained.<ref name="Goebel2019"/><ref name="KoppAUSAIM9"/> These upgrades were implemented into the US Air Force's Sidewinders as the '''AIM-9E''' by the late 1960s.<ref name="Goebel2019"/> 5,000 AIM-9B versions were converted into the AIM-9E.<ref name="GervasiArsenal"/> A later improvement in the ''AIM-9E-2'' was also made with a reduced-smoke motor.<ref name="ParschAIM9"/>
+Improvements over the AIM-9B came with a reduced drag conical shape, compared to the US Navy's ogival shape in the AIM-9D. Although the upgrades to the optical assembly had a lower frequency rate than the AIM-9D, it had a faster tracking rate.<ref name="KoppAUSAIM9">Kopp 2014</ref> The biggest change to the missile was the implementation of Peltier thermoelectric cooling for the infrared seeker, which eliminated the need of nitrogen gas for cooling in previous models, and can run infinitely so long as electrical power can be maintained.<ref name="Goebel2019" /><ref name="KoppAUSAIM9" /> These upgrades were implemented into the US Air Force's Sidewinders as the '''AIM-9E''' by the late 1960s.<ref name="Goebel2019" /> 5,000 AIM-9B versions were converted into the AIM-9E.<ref name="GervasiArsenal" /> A later improvement in the ''AIM-9E-2'' was also made with a reduced-smoke motor.<ref name="ParschAIM9" />
 The AIM-9E began appearing in Vietnam for the US Air Force sometime after the conclusion of the 1968 ''Operation Rolling Thunder'' and became one of their main missile armament. However, intense air-to-air activity in Vietnam were not present until 1972, with the advent of ''Operation Linebacker''. From January to October 1972, there were 71 AIM-9E missile launch attempts. However, only 6 missiles managed to down an aircraft, with 1 other hitting an aircraft. Factors affecting this low performance were put down to "air crew training, launches out of the envelope, the tactical situation, marginal tone, tone discrimination, the missile going ballistic, and other malfunctions."<ref name="DTIC_AIM-9Jpg1">Siemann 1974, p.9-12</ref>
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 ;Related development
 * [[AIM-9 Sidewinder (Family)]]
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 ;Bibliography
 * Gervasi, Tom. ''America's War Machine: the Pursuit of Global Dominance: Arsenal of Democracy III''. Grove Press, Inc., 1984.
 * Goebel, Greg. "The Falcon & Sidewinder Air-To-Air Missiles." ''Air Vectors'', 01 Apr. 2019, [http://www.airvectors.net/avsdaam.html#m5 Website].

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 {{Navigation-First-Line|'''Jet fighters'''}}
-{{Navigation-Line|USA}}{{Specs-Link|f-4c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4e}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-5a}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-5c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-5e}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-100d}}
+{{Navigation-Line|USA}}{{Specs-Link|f-100d}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4e}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-5a}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-5c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-5e}}
-{{Navigation-Line|Germany}}{{Specs-Link|f-4f}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4f_late}}
+{{Navigation-Line|Germany}}{{Specs-Link|f-104g}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4f}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4f_late}}
 {{Navigation-Line|Britain}}{{Specs-Link|hunter_f9_rhodesia}}
 {{Navigation-Line|Japan}}{{Specs-Link|t2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4ej}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-104j}}
-{{Navigation-Line|Israel}}{{Specs-Link|f-4e_iaf}}
+{{Navigation-Line|China}}{{Specs-Link|f-104g_china}}
 {{Navigation-First-Line|'''Strike aircraft'''}}{{Specs-Link|a_7d}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-105d}}