AIM-9X Sidewinder vs Meteor
The AIM-9X Sidewinder and the Meteor are both Air-to-Air missiles. The Meteor has a range of 200 km — 5.7x the AIM-9X Sidewinder's 35 km. The AIM-9X Sidewinder reaches 3,087 km/h vs 4,900 km/h for the Meteor. Launch weight is 85 kg for the AIM-9X Sidewinder vs 190 kg for the Meteor. The AIM-9X Sidewinder uses Imaging infrared homing guidance, while the Meteor relies on Inertial guidance, mid-course update via datalink, terminal active radar homing. Unit cost is $0.4M for the AIM-9X Sidewinder vs $2M for the Meteor. The AIM-9X Sidewinder entered service 60 years before the Meteor (1956 vs 2016).
| 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 |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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-9X Sidewinder or Meteor?
The Meteor has a longer range at 200 km compared to the AIM-9X Sidewinder's 35 km.
Which is faster, the AIM-9X Sidewinder or Meteor?
The Meteor is faster with a maximum speed of Mach 4.0 compared to the AIM-9X Sidewinder's Mach 2.5.
Which has a larger warhead, the AIM-9X Sidewinder or Meteor?
The AIM-9X Sidewinder carries a larger warhead at 9 kg compared to the Meteor's 0 kg.
Which is heavier, the AIM-9X Sidewinder or Meteor?
The Meteor is heavier at 190 kg compared to the AIM-9X Sidewinder's 85 kg.
Which is longer, the AIM-9X Sidewinder or Meteor?
The Meteor is longer at 3.65 meters compared to the AIM-9X Sidewinder's 3.02 meters.
What guidance systems do the AIM-9X Sidewinder and Meteor use?
The AIM-9X Sidewinder uses Imaging infrared homing guidance while the Meteor uses Inertial guidance, mid-course update via datalink, terminal active radar homing guidance.
Which entered service first, the AIM-9X Sidewinder or Meteor?
The AIM-9X Sidewinder entered service first in 1956, 60 years before the Meteor which entered service in 2016.