AIM-9M Sidewinder

Description

The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a renowned family of short-range air-to-air missiles used by global air forces. Among its iterations, the AIM-9M, introduced in the 1980s, stands out. This version was tailored to offer enhanced resistance to infrared countermeasures, making it harder for enemy aircraft to elude or deceive. The AIM-9M also features a reduced-smoke rocket motor, minimizing the risk of the launching aircraft being spotted. Its deployment in various conflicts has cemented its reputation as a formidable air-to-air weapon.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

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

General info

The most Notable characteristics are:

1. Resistance to Countermeasures: The AIM-9M's guidance system was improved to provide enhanced resistance to infrared countermeasures. This feature makes it harder for adversary aircraft to deploy flares or other means to deceive or divert the missile.
2. Reduced-smoke Rocket Motor: The AIM-9M comes with a motor that produces less visible smoke. This characteristic is vital tactically, as it reduces the chances of the missile giving away the position of the launching aircraft.
3. Reliability: Over the years and through various upgrades, the Sidewinder family has developed a reputation for reliability, and the AIM-9M embodies this trait.

Effective damage

4.6kg warhead, making at average but still reliable at crippling enemy planes with its splash.

Comparison with analogues

In terms of flight characteristics, the missile is identical to the AIM-9L Sidewinder

The IRCCM this missile uses (FoV shutoff) can only be found on helicopter AAMs, which are a different kind of missile.

The other comparable missiles of this generation are the Matra R550 Magic 2 and r-73. Both also have IRCCM, however they use an FOV type IRCCM, where once it is fired, the inner FOV of the seeker, becomes way smaller.

Usage in battles

The Aim-9M should be used to target enemy fighters. It's potential of destroying a target becomes exponentially higher when firing at a clueless or unsuspecting enemy, such as AFK players or those who don't know you are coming.

When an enemy is flaring, or ready to flare the missile, shooting it from side aspect is generally most reliable, with rear aspect being fairly reliable and front aspect not being reliable at all.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Seeker shutoff IRCCM: Knowledge about how this type of IRCCM works is required to have a chance at evading this missile; meaning: Very easy to score kills
• Long range. Can reliably be fired from 2.5km when chasing a supersonic target at low altitude. up to 4.5km when at altitude, and even 6-7km if conditions allow for it.
• Very maneuverable, it will not miss kinetically a target that is not flaring.

Cons:

• Seeker shutoff IRCCM: Knowledge about how this type of IRCCM works is required to have a chance at evading this missile; meaning: Very hard to dodge
• It becomes "dumb" if the target keeps flaring, trying to hit the enemy based on right before seeker shut off due to flares.
• As useless an an Aim9L against targets with alot of flares that know an aim9M is coming.

History

1. Origins: Conceived in the early 1950s at the U.S. Navy's Naval Ordnance Test Station in China Lake, California, the Sidewinder was designed as an affordable and reliable infrared-homing missile.
2. Evolution: Over the years, several variants emerged. The AIM-9M, debuting in the 1980s, improved upon the AIM-9L, especially in counter-countermeasures capabilities.

Combat Usage:

1. Taiwan Strait Crisis (1958): First combat use, with Chinese Nationalist F-86s scoring kills against Chinese Communist MiG fighters.
2. Vietnam War: Became the primary short-range air-to-air missile for U.S. aircraft, facing initial issues but seeing later improvement.
3. Middle East: Used by multiple nations, notably by Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War against Egyptian and Syrian aircraft.
4. Falklands War (1982): British Harriers deployed Sidewinders effectively against Argentine aircraft.
5. Operation Desert Storm (1991): The AIM-9M showcased its enhanced capabilities, contributing to air superiority against Iraqi aircraft.

Throughout its lifespan, the Sidewinder, especially the AIM-9M, has evolved to meet the demands of modern aerial warfare, seeing widespread use in numerous global conflicts.

Media

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

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the article about the variant of the weapon;
• references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.

External links

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• topic on the official game forum;
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