AIM-132 ASRAAM vs AIM-9 Sidewinder
The AIM-132 ASRAAM and the AIM-9 Sidewinder are both Air-to-Air missiles. The AIM-132 ASRAAM has a range of 50 km — 2.9x the AIM-9 Sidewinder's 17 km. The AIM-132 ASRAAM reaches 3,675 km/h vs 3,087 km/h for the AIM-9 Sidewinder. The AIM-132 ASRAAM carries a 10 kg warhead vs 10.2 kg for the AIM-9 Sidewinder. Launch weight is 88 kg for the AIM-132 ASRAAM vs 85 kg for the AIM-9 Sidewinder. The AIM-132 ASRAAM uses Infrared homing, inertial guidance guidance, while the AIM-9 Sidewinder relies on Imaging infrared homing focal plane array. Unit cost is $0.26M for the AIM-132 ASRAAM vs $0.4M for the AIM-9 Sidewinder. The AIM-9 Sidewinder entered service 42 years before the AIM-132 ASRAAM (1956 vs 1998).
| British infrared-guided missile, entering service in 1998, reaches speeds of Mach 3.0. | |
| Origin | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
| Category | Air-to-Air |
| Type | Infrared-guided air-to-air missile |
| Manufacturer | MBDA |
| Service year | 1998 |
| Number produced | -- units |
| Estimated unit price | $0.3 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 | 50.0 km ◉ |
| Maximum speed | Mach 3.0 ◉ |
| Weight | 88 kg ◉ |
| Warhead | 10.0 kg ◉ |
| Length | 2.90 m ◉ |
| Diameter | 166 mm ◉ |
| Guidance | Infrared homing, inertial guidance |
| Warhead type | 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 |
Performance Radar Chart
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has longer range, the AIM-132 ASRAAM or AIM-9 Sidewinder?
The AIM-132 ASRAAM has a longer range at 50 km compared to the AIM-9 Sidewinder's 17 km.
Which is faster, the AIM-132 ASRAAM or AIM-9 Sidewinder?
The AIM-132 ASRAAM is faster with a maximum speed of Mach 3.0 compared to the AIM-9 Sidewinder's Mach 2.5.
Which has a larger warhead, the AIM-132 ASRAAM or AIM-9 Sidewinder?
The AIM-9 Sidewinder carries a larger warhead at 10 kg compared to the AIM-132 ASRAAM's 10 kg.
Which is heavier, the AIM-132 ASRAAM or AIM-9 Sidewinder?
The AIM-132 ASRAAM is heavier at 88 kg compared to the AIM-9 Sidewinder's 85 kg.
Which is longer, the AIM-132 ASRAAM or AIM-9 Sidewinder?
The AIM-132 ASRAAM is longer at 2.90 meters compared to the AIM-9 Sidewinder's 2.85 meters.
What guidance systems do the AIM-132 ASRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder use?
The AIM-132 ASRAAM uses Infrared homing, inertial guidance guidance while the AIM-9 Sidewinder uses Imaging infrared homing focal plane array guidance.
Which entered service first, the AIM-132 ASRAAM or AIM-9 Sidewinder?
The AIM-9 Sidewinder entered service first in 1956, 42 years before the AIM-132 ASRAAM which entered service in 1998.