AAM-4 vs AIM-9X Sidewinder
Overview
The AAM-4 and the AIM-9X Sidewinder are both Air-to-Air missiles.
The AAM-4 has a range of 100 km — 2.9x the AIM-9X Sidewinder's 35 km. The AAM-4 reaches 5,557 km/h vs 3,087 km/h for the AIM-9X Sidewinder. The AAM-4 carries a 31 kg warhead vs 9 kg for the AIM-9X Sidewinder. Launch weight is 222 kg for the AAM-4 vs 85 kg for the AIM-9X Sidewinder. The AAM-4 uses Active radar homing, Inertial guidance, Datalink guidance, while the AIM-9X Sidewinder relies on Imaging infrared homing.
Unit cost is $0.45M for the AAM-4 vs $0.4M for the AIM-9X Sidewinder. The AIM-9X Sidewinder entered service 43 years before the AAM-4 (1956 vs 1999).
| Japanese air-to-air missile, entered service in 1999, uses active radar homing for guidance. | |
| Origin | 🇯🇵 Japan |
| Category | Air-to-Air |
| Type | Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Service year | 1999 |
| Number produced | -- units |
| Estimated unit price | $0.5 million |
| American air-to-air missile, entered service in 1956, utilizes imaging infrared homing for guidance. | |
| Origin | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Category | Air-to-Air |
| Type | Short-range air-to-air missile |
| Manufacturer | Raytheon Company |
| Service year | 1956 |
| Number produced | 110,000 units |
| Estimated unit price | $0.4 million |
| Range | 100.0 km ◉ |
| Maximum speed | Mach 4.5 ◉ |
| Weight | 222 kg ◉ |
| Warhead | 31.0 kg ◉ |
| Length | 3.67 m ◉ |
| Diameter | 203 mm ◉ |
| Guidance | Active radar homing, Inertial guidance, Datalink |
| Warhead type | High explosive directional blast-fragmentation |
| Range | 35.0 km ◉ |
| Maximum speed | Mach 2.5 ◉ |
| Weight | 85 kg ◉ |
| Warhead | 9.0 kg ◉ |
| Length | 3.02 m ◉ |
| Diameter | 127 mm ◉ |
| Guidance | Imaging infrared homing |
| Warhead type | Annular blast-fragmentation |
Performance Radar Chart
Detailed Comparison
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which has longer range, the AAM-4 or AIM-9X Sidewinder?
The AAM-4 has a longer range at 100 km compared to the AIM-9X Sidewinder's 35 km.
Which is faster, the AAM-4 or AIM-9X Sidewinder?
The AAM-4 is faster with a maximum speed of Mach 4.5 compared to the AIM-9X Sidewinder's Mach 2.5.
Which has a larger warhead, the AAM-4 or AIM-9X Sidewinder?
The AAM-4 carries a larger warhead at 31 kg compared to the AIM-9X Sidewinder's 9 kg.
Which is heavier, the AAM-4 or AIM-9X Sidewinder?
The AAM-4 is heavier at 222 kg compared to the AIM-9X Sidewinder's 85 kg.
Which is longer, the AAM-4 or AIM-9X Sidewinder?
The AAM-4 is longer at 3.67 meters compared to the AIM-9X Sidewinder's 3.02 meters.
What guidance systems do the AAM-4 and AIM-9X Sidewinder use?
The AAM-4 uses Active radar homing, Inertial guidance, Datalink guidance while the AIM-9X Sidewinder uses Imaging infrared homing guidance.
Which entered service first, the AAM-4 or AIM-9X Sidewinder?
The AIM-9X Sidewinder entered service first in 1956, 43 years before the AAM-4 which entered service in 1999.