Old Missiles Never Die...They Just Keep On Keeping On

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hobbit
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Old Missiles Never Die...They Just Keep On Keeping On

Post by hobbit »

The AIM-9 Sidewinder missile is the most successful air-to-air missile in history. It was first developed in 1952 and has seen 110,000 copies in many different upgrade variants over the past 63 years. 1% of those, or something over 1,000 missiles have been fired in hostile engagements, mostly during the Vietnam War and by the IDF & USAF in the Middle East, and notably by the Royal Navy in the Falklands War. Nearly every Western nation uses the AIM-9 Sidewinder.

The Sidewinder has been responsible for the destruction of nearly 300 aircraft on the wrong end of the air-to-air missile equation. Winston Churchill would have coined it a "cheap n' nasty", his descriptor for any weapon system that could be produced fast, cheap, and deadly. The vast majority are manufactured in the US, with Sweden being a notable licensee, since the AIM-9 figures much bigger than the missile itself in that country's Mach-2 Saab JAS-39 Gripen fighter/bomber, with which it arms itself and sells to half a dozen other countries.

But you know the most fascinating thing about the Sidewinder? In 2010, when the missile turned 58 years old, Boeing was awarded a USAF contract for maintenance of the missile system good through 2055...when the AIM-9 Sidewinder turns 103 years old! Air Force spokeswoman Stephanie Powell noted that "due to its relative low cost, versatility, and reliability it is very possible that the Sidewinder will remain in Air Force inventories through the late 21st century."

Imagine that, some fighter jockey strapping 150 year-old missiles on his hard-points in 2099! But hey, if it works...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM-9_Sidewinder
Last edited by hobbit on June 24th, 2015, 2:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
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The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. -Albert Einstein
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Steadfast
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Re: Old Missiles Never Die...They Just Keep On Keeping On

Post by Steadfast »

Very informative hobbit, I enjoyed the reading.
RLTW
Steadfast

4/325 82d DIV 68-69
2nd Bde HHC (LRRP), 4 ID
K Co (Rgr), 75th Inf (Abn), 4 ID
69-70
I cooked with C- 4
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