You just can't Kill the AIM-9

[OSCSSW]

IMO, the venerable AIM-9 Sidewinder (0perational in 1958 and still a main line system in 2023)is the missile equivalent to the M1911 45 Cal ACP. and the The B-52 Operational in 1955, in longevity with the US Military.

The Fox Two has been around since 1958. It was developed by physicist William B. McLean and and his team at the U.S. Naval Ordnance Test Station ( referred to derisively as “McLean’s Hobby Shop.”) at China Lake in the Mojave Desert. The key was refining the lead-sulfide proximity fuzes that were sensitive to the infrared radiation generated by heat as a guidance syetm.
McLean’ reasoning that a Lead-sulfide proximity fuze, capable of exploding a warhead near a hot target, could also be made to home in on it. He and his team became convinced they could put a guidance system entirely onboard a standard 5-inch air-to-ground rocket. The final design was used a parabolic mirror spinning gyroscopically at 4,200 rpm inside the rocket’s transparent nose. The miracle was the team did this exclusively with in-house volunteers, miscellaneous funds and spare time—but without official approval. In the end they delivered an intelligent fuzed Fire and forget heat-seeking air-to-air missile.
AND
we are still using a direct line descendent to that missile today.
AND
The 2023 Pilots still consider this the best Infrared Air to Air missile the US every flew. They truly trust their lives to it's effectiveness.

HERE IS THE FAMILY TREE OF THE AIM-9 E

AIM-9B 80,900 produced by Philco & GE, c15,000 European copies, 10,000+ updated by Ford Aerospace

AIM-9C/D 9C semi-active radar-homing by Motorola (1,000+) 9D with improved IR/speed/maneuver, 950+ by Ford Aerospace for US Navy,
Basis for MIM-72 Chaparral

AIM-9E Rebuilt 9B with new, wide-angle seeker, cooled by Peltier effect. About 5,000 for USAF by Ford

AIM-9G/H 9G: improved 9D with off-boresight lock-on (20,000 by Raytheon for USN).
9H with solid-state electronics (3,000 by Ford for USAF)

AIM-9J/N/P 9J: rebuilt B/E, partly solid-state (14,000 for USAF by Ford)
9N: (formerly J1) further improved (circa 7,000)
9P: improved B/E/J, some new production, new motor/fuze, better reliability. 13,000 for USAF by Ford

AIM-9L/M 9L: Argon-cooled indium-antinomide seeker with fixed reticle/tilted mirror system for all-aspect attack.
9M: improved electronic counter-countermeasures, low-smoke motor

AIM-9R Proposed 4th-gen upgrade modification of 9M, replacing gyro with charged-coupled device (CCD).
Never reached operational status; superseded by 9X

AIM-9X 9X: imaging infrared focal plane array (FPA) seeker with claimed 90° off-boresight capability, compatible with helmet-mounted displays
9X Block II: Lock-on After Launch with datalink to other than launch aircraft for 360° engagements
the U.S. Army successfully launched and subsequently selected the AIM-9X Block II from the new Multi-Mission Launcher (MML), a truck-mounted missile launch container that can hold 15 of the missiles. The MML is part of the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept (IFPC Inc. 2-I) to protect ground forces against cruise missile and unmanned aerial vehicle threats. The AIM-9X Block II has been determined by the Army to be the best solution to cruise missile and UAV threats because of its passive imaging infrared seeker. The MML will complement the AN/TWQ-1 Avenger air defense system and is expected to begin fielding in 2019.

[Marko Dash]

the only issues i see with the Aim-9 in modern combat is the range.

most of the modern heatseekers coming into use recently are pushing into the 20+ mile zone. while the sidewinder is half that.

range in general seems to be increasing, the D model AMRAAM is a 90 mile missile, and it's replacement is looking to be a 120 mile one. the newest Chinese, EU, and Russian missiles seem to be mirroring this, though at this point I doubt the Russian one will make it into production anytime soon.

[Johnnie Lyle]

Lets be honest, at this point we’re largely jacking up the Sidewinder name and rolling a new missile underneath.

[jemhouston]

I think they're still using the 5" diameter case. Most similar missiles use a larger case.

[MikeKozlowski]

Lets be honest, at this point we’re largely jacking up the Sidewinder name and rolling a new missile underneath.

Johnnie,

Shhhhhhhh......

Mike

[Kunkmiester]

I think they're still using the 5" diameter case. Most similar missiles use a larger case.

How much of that is electronics, and how much is a desire for a large warhead and motor/range in a similar length package?

[jemhouston]

I think they're still using the 5" diameter case. Most similar missiles use a larger case.

How much of that is electronics, and how much is a desire for a large warhead and motor/range in a similar length package?

According to Wiki AIM-9x has a 20.8 LB warhead with a range of up 22 miles / 35 KM, speed Mach 2.5+.

ASRAAM has a warhead 22 LB / 10KG range 25 KM + speed Mach 3+.