This assistance in the form of Sidewinder missiles is aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s air defence capabilities in the face of persistent Russian attacks. The decision was announced by Canada’s Minister of National Defence Anita Anand.
The AIM-9 Sidewinder missile is known for its effectiveness in air-to-air combat. Although these missiles were introduced in 1956, they are still in service today due to their exceptional effectiveness. In fact, these munitions will remain in service with the US Air Force until 2050. Ukraine will receive 43 units of AIM-9 missiles. All of them will be received from the Canadian Army.
The AIM-9 Sidewinder missile is manufactured by the American company Raytheon. It is an air-to-air missile. Since its inception, it has undergone numerous upgrades and is still being mass-produced. There are currently more than 10 different versions of this weapon, although it remains unclear which version Ukraine will receive.
The latest variant, the AIM-9X, is even used on fifth-generation fighters such as the F-35. Total production of the AIM-9 exceeds 200,000 units.
The AIM-9 Sidewinder missile is a widely used air-to-air munition known for its effectiveness in combat scenarios. Over the years, it has been produced by three companies: Raytheon, Ford Aerospace and Loral Corp. One Block II Plus unit costs approximately $400,000.
The AIM-9 was developed in 1953 and is still in production today. One missile weighs 85.3 kg and is 3 metres long. It carries a 9.4kg WDU-17/B high-explosive ring warhead. The missile is powered by a Hercules/Bermite Mk. 36 solid-propellant engine.
This weapon is a heat-seeking missile designed to track and engage air targets based on their thermal characteristics. It is guided by heat emissions from aircraft engines, making it particularly effective against enemy aircraft. An infrared seeker that detects and records the source of heat emitted by a target aircraft.
The maximum flight speed is over Mach 2.5. The range is from 1.0 to 35.4 km. The Sidewinder’s control surfaces are designed to enable it to make rapid turns and change flight paths to intercept manoeuvrable targets. Targets can be hit from multiple directions, providing a high probability of engagement regardless of the target’s relative position to the carrier aircraft.
The main variants include the AIM-9L, AIM-9M, AIM-9X, Block II and Block III. Each variant offers enhanced capabilities such as extended range, improved guidance systems and increased resistance to countermeasures. The AIM-9 Sidewinder is compatible with a variety of fighter aircraft types. It can be deployed from F-15, F-16, F/A-18 and other fighter aircraft operated by various countries.
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