AIM-7 Sparrow vs Meteor
The AIM-7 Sparrow and the Meteor are both Air-to-Air missiles. The Meteor has a range of 200 km — 2.9x the AIM-7 Sparrow's 70 km. The AIM-7 Sparrow reaches 4,939 km/h vs 4,900 km/h for the Meteor. Launch weight is 228 kg for the AIM-7 Sparrow vs 190 kg for the Meteor. The AIM-7 Sparrow uses Semi-active radar homing guidance, while the Meteor relies on Inertial guidance, mid-course update via datalink, terminal active radar homing. Unit cost is $0.125M for the AIM-7 Sparrow vs $2M for the Meteor. The AIM-7 Sparrow entered service 58 years before the Meteor (1958 vs 2016).
| American air-to-air missile, entered service in 1958, utilizes semi-active radar homing for guidance. | |
| Origin | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Category | Air-to-Air |
| Type | Radar-guided air-to-air missile |
| Manufacturer | Raytheon |
| Service year | 1958 |
| Number produced | 70,000 units |
| Estimated unit price | $0.1 million |
| European air-to-air missile, entering service in 2016, uses active radar homing for terminal guidance. | |
| Origin | 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇫🇷 France, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇸🇪 Sweden |
| Category | Air-to-Air |
| Type | Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile |
| Manufacturer | MBDA, Saab, Bayern-Chemie et Inmize |
| Service year | 2016 |
| Number produced | -- units |
| Estimated unit price | $2 million |
| Range | 70.0 km ◉ |
| Maximum speed | Mach 4.0 ◉ |
| Weight | 228 kg ◉ |
| Warhead | 39.0 kg |
| Length | 3.68 m ◉ |
| Diameter | 203 mm ◉ |
| Guidance | Semi-active radar homing |
| Warhead type | High Explosive |
| Range | 200.0 km ◉ |
| Maximum speed | Mach 4.0 ◉ |
| Weight | 190 kg ◉ |
| Warhead | -- kg |
| Length | 3.65 m ◉ |
| Diameter | 178 mm ◉ |
| Guidance | Inertial guidance, mid-course update via datalink, terminal active radar homing |
| Warhead type | High explosive blast-fragmentation |
Performance Radar Chart
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has longer range, the AIM-7 Sparrow or Meteor?
The Meteor has a longer range at 200 km compared to the AIM-7 Sparrow's 70 km.
Which is faster, the AIM-7 Sparrow or Meteor?
The AIM-7 Sparrow is faster with a maximum speed of Mach 4.0 compared to the Meteor's Mach 4.0.
Which has a larger warhead, the AIM-7 Sparrow or Meteor?
The AIM-7 Sparrow carries a larger warhead at 39 kg compared to the Meteor's 0 kg.
Which is heavier, the AIM-7 Sparrow or Meteor?
The AIM-7 Sparrow is heavier at 228 kg compared to the Meteor's 190 kg.
Which is longer, the AIM-7 Sparrow or Meteor?
The AIM-7 Sparrow is longer at 3.68 meters compared to the Meteor's 3.65 meters.
What guidance systems do the AIM-7 Sparrow and Meteor use?
The AIM-7 Sparrow uses Semi-active radar homing guidance while the Meteor uses Inertial guidance, mid-course update via datalink, terminal active radar homing guidance.
Which entered service first, the AIM-7 Sparrow or Meteor?
The AIM-7 Sparrow entered service first in 1958, 58 years before the Meteor which entered service in 2016.