Difference between revisions of "AIM-9G Sidewinder"

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{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}
 
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== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
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The AIM-9G is part of the AIM-9 Sidewinder family of short-range infrared-guided [[air-to-air missiles]] designed by the US Navy during the early 1950s. The Golf variant improves on the previous [[AIM-9D Sidewinder|AIM-9D]] model by heaving more reliable electronics which allows it to sustain 18G loads compared to the 16G of the Delta. The lock-on range, speed, and launch range remain the same as with the Delta. However, the Golf model has a reduced explosive mass as compared to the Delta, although this shouldn't affect its performance too much. As with all Sidewinder variants pre-Lima model they can only attain rear-aspect locks consistently.  
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The AIM-9G is part of the AIM-9 Sidewinder family of short-range infrared-guided [[air-to-air missiles]] designed by the US Navy during the early 1950s. The Golf variant improves on the previous [[AIM-9D Sidewinder|AIM-9D]] model by heaving more reliable electronics. The lock-on range, speed, and launch range remain the same as with the Delta. However, the Golf model has a reduced explosive mass as compared to the Delta, although this shouldn't affect its performance too much. As with all Sidewinder variants pre-Lima model they can only attain rear-aspect locks consistently.
  
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Note that you won't be able to use the Delta variant on USAF aircraft; contemporary USAF aircraft may equip the [[AIM-9E Sidewinder|AIM-9E]] instead.  
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Note that you won't be able to use the Delta variant on USAF aircraft; contemporary USAF aircraft may equip the [[AIM-9E Sidewinder|AIM-9E]] instead.
  
 
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=== Comparison with analogues ===
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
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''Give a comparative description of missiles that have firepower equal to this weapon.'' -->
 
''Give a comparative description of missiles that have firepower equal to this weapon.'' -->
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{| class="wikitable"
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{{AIM-9 Comparison Table}}
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! Missile Characteristics !! AIM-9G !! AIM-9D !! AIM-9E
 
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|-
 
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| '''Mass''' || 88 kg || 88 kg || 76 kg
 
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|-
 
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| '''Guidance''' || IR || IR || IR
 
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|-
 
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| '''Aspect''' || Rear || Rear || Rear
 
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|-
 
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| '''Seeker Head''' || Uncaged || Caged || Uncaged
 
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|-
 
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| '''Lock range (rear-aspect)''' || 5.5 km || 5.5 km  || 5.5 km
 
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|-
 
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| '''Launch range''' || 18 km || 18 km || 18 km
 
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|-
 
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| '''Maximum speed''' || 2.5 M || 2.5 M || 2.5 M
 
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|-
 
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| '''Maximum overload''' || 18 G || 16 G || 10 G
 
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|-
 
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| '''Missile guidance time''' || 60 s || 60 s || 20 s
 
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|-
 
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| '''Explosive Mass''' || 3.53 kg TNTeq || 4.69 kg TNTeq || 7.62 kg TNTeq
 
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|-
 
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|}
 
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==

Latest revision as of 15:49, 22 October 2024

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

Description

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


The AIM-9G Sidewinder is an American infrared homing air-to-air missile. It was introduced in Update "Raining Fire".

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

Vehicles equipped with this weapon
Jet fighters  F-14A Early · Kfir Canard · Kfir C.2 · Kfir C.7 · Nesher
F-4  F-4J Phantom II · F-4J(UK) Phantom II · Kurnass · Kurnass 2000 · Phantom FG.1 · Phantom FGR.2
Strike aircraft  A-6E TRAM · A-7E · Buccaneer S.2B
Harrier  AV-8A · AV-8C · Harrier GR.3 · Sea Harrier FRS.1 · Sea Harrier FRS.1 (e)
Jaguar  Jaguar GR.1 · Jaguar GR.1A

General info

The AIM-9G is part of the AIM-9 Sidewinder family of short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missiles designed by the US Navy during the early 1950s. The Golf variant improves on the previous AIM-9D model by heaving more reliable electronics. The lock-on range, speed, and launch range remain the same as with the Delta. However, the Golf model has a reduced explosive mass as compared to the Delta, although this shouldn't affect its performance too much. As with all Sidewinder variants pre-Lima model they can only attain rear-aspect locks consistently.

Note that you won't be able to use the Delta variant on USAF aircraft; contemporary USAF aircraft may equip the AIM-9E instead.

Missile characteristics
Mass 88 kg
Guidance IR
Aspect Rear-aspect
Lock range (rear-aspect) 5.5 km
Launch range 18 km
Maximum speed 2.5 M
Maximum overload 18 G
Missile guidance time 60 secs
Explosive mass 3.53 kg TNTeq

Effective damage

The AIM-9G uses a newer continuous rod warhead with an improved proximity fuse, this allows less explosives to be used while increasing all around damage. The missile usually guarantees a knock-out at most angles due to the continuous rod warhead.

Comparison with analogues

  • 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
USA flag.png AIM-9B Sidewinder IR Rear 20 Icon RedXCross.png Icon RedXCross.png 4 10 1.7 10 72 7.62
USA flag.png AIM-9C Sidewinder SARH Front 60 Icon RedXCross.png Icon GreenCheckmark.png 9 18 2.5 18 95 4.69
USA flag.png AIM-9D Sidewinder[note 1] IR Rear 20 Icon RedXCross.png Icon RedXCross.png 5.5 18 2.5 18 88 4.69
USA flag.png AIM-9E Sidewinder[note 2] IR Rear 20 Icon GreenCheckmark.png Icon RedXCross.png 5.5 18 2.8 10 76 7.62
USA flag.png AIM-9G Sidewinder IR Rear 60 Icon GreenCheckmark.png Icon GreenCheckmark.png 5.5 18 2.5 18 88 3.53
USA flag.png AIM-9H Sidewinder IR Rear 60 Icon GreenCheckmark.png Icon GreenCheckmark.png 5.5 18 2.5 18 88 3.53
USA flag.png AIM-9J Sidewinder[note 3] IR Rear 40 Icon GreenCheckmark.png Icon RedXCross.png 5.5 18 2.5 20 76 7.62
USA flag.png AIM-9L Sidewinder IR All 60 Icon GreenCheckmark.png Icon GreenCheckmark.png 11 18 2.5 30 84 4.58
USA flag.png AIM-9M Sidewinder IR All 60 Icon GreenCheckmark.png Icon GreenCheckmark.png 11 18 2.5 30 84 4.58
USA flag.png AIM-9P Sidewinder IR Rear 40 Icon GreenCheckmark.png Icon GreenCheckmark.png 5.5 18 2.5 20 76.93 7.62
USA flag.png AIM-9P4 Sidewinder IR All 40 Icon GreenCheckmark.png Icon GreenCheckmark.png 11 18 2.5 20 76.93 7.62
FRG flag.png AIM-9B FGW.2 Sidewinder IR Rear 20 Icon RedXCross.png Icon RedXCross.png 5.5 10 1.7 10 72 7.62
Israel flag.png Shafrir IR Rear 20 Icon RedXCross.png Icon RedXCross.png 7 10 1.7 11 65 7.62
Sweden flag.png RB24 IR Rear 20 Icon RedXCross.png Icon RedXCross.png 4 10 1.7 10 72 7.62
USSR flag.png R-3S IR Rear 21 Icon RedXCross.png Icon RedXCross.png 9 10 1.7 10 75 8.8
China flag.png PL-2 IR Rear 21 Icon RedXCross.png Icon RedXCross.png 9 10 1.7 10 75 8.8
  1. ↑ Successor to the AIM-9B
  2. ↑ Successor to the AIM-9B
  3. ↑ Upgrade modification often found on aircraft with AIM-9B

Usage in battles

The AIM-9G is primarily a short-range air-to-air missile which requires a rear aspect IR signature to lock on to a target. The Golf models have an improved acquisition envelope making target tracking easier and at steeper angles. The missile is also able to sustain higher Gs which increases horizontal engagement hit ratios and target lock. As a short-range missile, recommended rear engagement distance is around 1-5 km, any closer launches may not give adequate time for the missile to track and manoeuvre. With horizontal engagement, lock-on distance is around 1-2 km depending on the approach angle.

When locking on, ensure that the target track is not a friendly or the sun, as the IR missile cannot differentiate between heat signatures. The most ideal engagement is a rear aspect as the enemy's engine will provide a perfect source of thermal energy for the seeker. The AIM-9G can handle offset horizontal engagements better then previous models due to the higher G load and improved seeker envelope. However you will still have difficulty acquiring the thermal signature of an aircraft unless you are within 1.5-2 km, at this shorter distance the heavier missile may not be able to manoeuvre fast enough or acquire the target.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Higher max G-load at 18G
  • Improved acquisition envelope

Cons:

  • Heavier missile at 88 kg compared to previous models
  • Reduced explosive mass at 2.76 kg
  • Same range with little improvements to avionics

History

Main article: History of the AIM-9D Sidewinder

As the United States Navy improved on their initial Sidewinder model (AIM-9B) to the AIM-9D, another feature that the China Lake development team, headed by Chuck Smith, wanted to introduce into the missile was the Sidewinder Expanded Acquisition Mode (SEAM).[1] SEAM allowed the Sidewinder to follow the aircraft's radar search pattern and target acquisition.[2] Being able to seek around a 25 degree angle in a circular scan, the Sidewinder would have a better chance of acquiring targets than earlier models that just aimed straight ahead. This feature, along with some solid-state module upgrades, were incorporated in the US Navy's next Sidewinder model, the AIM-9G. The improvement was sufficient that the initial order of 5,000 AIM-9D seekers was cut at 1,850 units and the rest were built in AIM-9G seeker specifications.[1] A total of 2,120 AIM-9G missiles would be built by Raytheon between 1970 to 1972.[2] As the AIM-9G consisted upgrades to the seeker and electrical components, it did not differ externally from the AIM-9D variant.

A F-4J Phantom II from VF-96, attached to the USS Constellation (CVA-64), equipped with either AIM-9D or AIM-9Gs (their external features are identical).

The AIM-9G would see use alongside the AIM-9D as the US Navy's choice for IR missile during the Vietnam War. A total of fourteen aircraft were claimed to have been downed by AIM-9Gs fired from a US Navy F-4J Phantom II plane, seven of which were MiG-17s and the other seven MiG-21s.[3] During Operation Linebackers I and II in 1972, the US Navy recorded a high 46% hit rate with their AIM-9G, which is credited both to the missile design and USN fighter pilot training from the Navy's Fighters Weapon School, also known as TOPGUN.[4] The United States Air Force attempted to obtain AIM-9Gs from the US Navy due to poor experience with their AIM-9 Sidewinders models B, E, and J. However, the US Navy's AIM-9s were not compatible with US Air Force's Sidewinder launchers due to the differences in cooling mechanisms (the US Navy's Sidewinder cooled by a nitrogen gas container installed on the launcher that the USAF did not have).[1]

While the AIM-9G was thought to have been the peak of the Sidewinder's capability at the time, several engineers at Philco-Ford (some of which helped create the first Sidewinder at China Lake) were brought in to continue improving the AIM-9 reliability, and one proposal was to convert all remaining missile electronic components to solid-state.[1] The AIM-9G converted to an all solid-state technology, as well as an increased seeker tracking rate of 20 degrees/second, was designated the AIM-9H. This was introduced into the Navy in 1972 and 7,700 units would be produced between 1972-1974 by Philco-Ford and Raytheon.[2]

Media

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

See also

Related development

External links

References

Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Westrum 2013, p.187
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Parsch 2008
  3. ↑ McCarthy 2009, p.148-157
  4. ↑ Moulton 2013, p.66-68
Bibliography
  • McCarthy, Donald J. Jr. MiG Killers, A Chronology of U.S. Air Victories in Vietnam 1965–1973. Specialty Press, 2009.
  • Moulton, Richard. "Review: CLASHES: AIR COMBAT OVER NORTH VIETNAM 1965–1972" The Royal Canadian Air Force Journal, vol. 2, issue no.4, Fall 2013, pg. 66-68.
  • Parsch, Andreas. "AIM-9." Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Designation-Systems.Net, 09 July 2008, Website. Accessed on 20 Nov. 2021 (Archive).
  • Westrum, Ron. Sidewinder; Creative Missile Development at China Lake. Naval Institute Press, 30 Sep. 2013.


Missiles
USA 
AAM  AIM-54A Phoenix · AIM-54C Phoenix · ATAS (AIM-92) · AIM-120A · AIM-120B · Fakour-90 · Sedjeel
Sparrow  AIM-7C · AIM-7D · AIM-7E · AIM-7E-2 · AIM-7F · AIM-7M
Sidewinder  AIM-9B · AIM-9C · AIM-9D · AIM-9E · AIM-9G · AIM-9H · AIM-9J · AIM-9L · AIM-9M · AIM-9P
AGM  AGM-22 · APKWS II (M151) · APKWS II (M282) · BGM-71D TOW-2
Bullpup  AGM-12B Bullpup · AGM-12C Bullpup
Hellfire  AGM-114B Hellfire · AGM-114K Hellfire II
Maverick  AGM-65A · AGM-65B · AGM-65D · AGM-65E2 · AGM-65G · AGM-65L
ATGM  LOSAT/MGM-166A
TOW  BGM-71 · BGM-71A · BGM-71B · BGM-71C
SAM  FIM-92 Stinger · MIM-72 · MIM146
Naval SAM  RIM-24A
Germany 
AAM  AIM-9B FGW.2 Sidewinder · AIM-9L/I Sidewinder · Flz Lwf 63 · Flz Lwf 63/80
AGM  9M14M Malyutka · Flz Lwf LB 82 · HOT-1 · HOT-2 TOW · HOT-3 · PARS 3 LR
AShM  AS.34 Kormoran
ATGM  HOT-K3S · Spike-LR II
SAM  Roland
Naval SAM  Strela-2M
USSR 
AAM  9M39 Igla · R-3R · R-3S · R-13M1 · R-23R · R-23T · R-24R · R-24T · R-27ER(1) · R-27ET(1) · R-27R(1) · R-27T(1) · R-60 · R-60M · R-60MK · R-73(E) · R-77
AGM  9K127 Vikhr · 9M17M Falanga · 9M120 Ataka · 9M120-1 Ataka
  Kh-23M · Kh-25 · Kh-25ML · Kh-29L · Kh-29T · Kh-29TE · Kh-29TD · Kh-66 · S-25L · S-25LD
ATGM  3M7 · 9M14 · 9M113 Konkurs · 9M114 Shturm · 9M123 Khrizantema · 9M133 · 9M133FM3 · 9M133M-2
SAM  95Ya6 · 9M311 · 9M311-1M · 9M331 · 9M37M
Naval SAM  Volna-M
Britain 
AAM  Fireflash · Firestreak · Red Top · Skyflash · Skyflash SuperTEMP · SRAAM · R-Darter
AGM  AGM-65E · AS.12 · ZT-6 Mokopa
AShM  AJ.168
ATGM  BAe Swingfire · MILAN · MILAN 2 · ZT3
SAM  Starstreak
Japan 
AAM  AAM-3 · AAM-4
AGM  Ki-148 I-Go Model 1B
ATGM  Type 64 MAT · Type 79 Jyu-MAT
SAM  Type 81 SAM-1C · Type 91
China 
AAM  PL-2 · PL-5B · PL-5C · PL-5EII · PL-7 · PL-8 · PL-12 · SD-10(A) · TY-90
AGM  AKD-9 · AKD-10 · Fire Snake 90A · HJ-8A · HJ-8C · HJ-8E · HJ-8H
ATGM  302 · HJ-73 · HJ-73E · HJ-9 · QN201DD · QN502CDD
SAM  HN-6
Italy 
AAM  Aspide-1A · MAA-1 Piranha
AGM  AGM-65H · CIRIT · L-UMTAS · Spike ER
ATGM  Spike-LR II
Naval AShM  Nettuno
SAM  Mistral SATCP
France 
AAM  AA-20 Nord · Matra R511 · Matra R530 · Matra R530E · Matra Super 530D · Matra Super 530F · Matra R550 Magic 1 · Matra R550 Magic 2 · Mistral · MICA-EM
AGM  9M14-2 Malyutka-2 · AS-20 Nord · AS-30 Nord · AS-30L Nord · HOT-1 · HOT-2 TOW · HOT-3 · Spike ER
ATGM  HOT · SS.11
SAM  Roland · VT1
Sweden 
AAM  RB24 · RB24J · RB71 · RB 74 · RB 74(M) · RB 99
AGM  Rb05A · RB 53 Bantam · RB 55B Heli TOW · RB 55C Heli TOW · RB 75 · RB 75T
ATGM  Rbs 55 · Rbs 56
SAM  Rbs 70
Israel 
AAM  Shafrir · Shafrir 2 · Python 3 · Derby
ATGM  Spike-LR II
  AAM = Air-to-Air Missile   AGM = Air-to-Ground Missile   AShM = Anti-Ship Missile   ATGM = Anti-Tank Guided Missile (Ground mounts)   SAM = Surface-to-Air Missile

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