AIM-120 AMRAAM vs AIM-9 Sidewinder
The AIM-120 AMRAAM and the AIM-9 Sidewinder are both Air-to-Air missiles. The AIM-120 AMRAAM has a range of 105 km — 6.2x the AIM-9 Sidewinder's 17 km. The AIM-120 AMRAAM reaches 4,940 km/h vs 3,087 km/h for the AIM-9 Sidewinder. The AIM-120 AMRAAM carries a 20 kg warhead vs 10.2 kg for the AIM-9 Sidewinder. Launch weight is 161 kg for the AIM-120 AMRAAM vs 85 kg for the AIM-9 Sidewinder. The AIM-120 AMRAAM uses Inertial guidance, terminal active radar homing, optional mid-course update datalink guidance, while the AIM-9 Sidewinder relies on Imaging infrared homing focal plane array. The AIM-120 AMRAAM has been produced in 14,000 units vs 110,000 for the AIM-9 Sidewinder. Unit cost is $1.09M for the AIM-120 AMRAAM vs $0.4M for the AIM-9 Sidewinder. The AIM-9 Sidewinder entered service 35 years before the AIM-120 AMRAAM (1956 vs 1991).
| American air-to-air missile, entered service in 1991, using active radar homing for terminal guidance. |
| Origin |
🇺🇸 United States
|
| Category |
Air-to-Air |
| Type |
Active radar-guided air-to-air missile |
| Manufacturer |
Raytheon / Hughes |
| Service year |
1991 |
| Number produced |
14,000 units
|
| Estimated unit price |
$1.1 million
|
| American air-to-air missile, entered service in 1956, uses infrared homing to track its target. |
| Origin |
🇺🇸 United States
|
| Category |
Air-to-Air |
| Type |
Infrared-guided air-to-air missile |
| Manufacturer |
Raytheon |
| Service year |
1956 |
| Number produced |
110,000 units
|
| Estimated unit price |
$0.4 million
|
| Range |
105.0 km
◉
|
| Maximum speed |
Mach 4.0
◉
|
| Weight |
161.5 kg
◉
|
| Warhead |
20.0 kg
◉
|
| Length |
3.65 m
◉
|
| Diameter |
178 mm
◉
|
| Guidance |
Inertial guidance, terminal active radar homing, optional mid-course update datalink
|
| Warhead type |
High explosive blast-fragmentation
|
| Range |
17.0 km
◉
|
| Maximum speed |
Mach 2.5
◉
|
| Weight |
85 kg
◉
|
| Warhead |
10.2 kg
◉
|
| Length |
2.85 m
◉
|
| Diameter |
127 mm
◉
|
| Guidance |
Imaging infrared homing focal plane array
|
| Warhead type |
High Explosive
|
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Which has longer range, the AIM-120 AMRAAM or AIM-9 Sidewinder?
The AIM-120 AMRAAM has a longer range at 105 km compared to the AIM-9 Sidewinder's 17 km.
Which is faster, the AIM-120 AMRAAM or AIM-9 Sidewinder?
The AIM-120 AMRAAM is faster with a maximum speed of Mach 4.0 compared to the AIM-9 Sidewinder's Mach 2.5.
Which has a larger warhead, the AIM-120 AMRAAM or AIM-9 Sidewinder?
The AIM-120 AMRAAM carries a larger warhead at 20 kg compared to the AIM-9 Sidewinder's 10 kg.
Which is heavier, the AIM-120 AMRAAM or AIM-9 Sidewinder?
The AIM-120 AMRAAM is heavier at 161 kg compared to the AIM-9 Sidewinder's 85 kg.
Which is longer, the AIM-120 AMRAAM or AIM-9 Sidewinder?
The AIM-120 AMRAAM is longer at 3.65 meters compared to the AIM-9 Sidewinder's 2.85 meters.
What guidance systems do the AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder use?
The AIM-120 AMRAAM uses Inertial guidance, terminal active radar homing, optional mid-course update datalink guidance while the AIM-9 Sidewinder uses Imaging infrared homing focal plane array guidance.
Which entered service first, the AIM-120 AMRAAM or AIM-9 Sidewinder?
The AIM-9 Sidewinder entered service first in 1956, 35 years before the AIM-120 AMRAAM which entered service in 1991.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the AIM-120 AMRAAM or AIM-9 Sidewinder?
The AIM-9 Sidewinder has been produced in greater numbers with 110,000 units compared to 14,000 units of the AIM-120 AMRAAM.