An F-16 fighter launches an AIM-9M missile. Photo by US Department of Defense
At the end of August, the United States announced another package of military-technical assistance to the Kyiv regime. For the first time, the list of future deliveries included guided air-to-air missiles of the AIM-9M Sidewinder type. Judging by the information disclosed, they are planned to be used with one of the foreign anti-aircraft missile systems. At the same time, known data and circumstances suggest that the supply of such weapons will not lead to the desired effects and consequences.
In a new package
The US Department of Defense approved another package of military assistance for Ukraine and published an official announcement on August 29. This is the 45th such package allocated over the past two years, starting in August 2021. This time, the Pentagon plans to allocate various weapons, ammunition, etc. from existing ones and send them to the Kiev regime. with a total cost of $250 million.
The first item on the new supply list is “AIM-9M missiles for air defense.” The quantity and timing of deliveries of such products are not disclosed. As always, the military department refers to the secrecy and sensitivity of this topic.
It should be recalled that previously the United States had already transferred various aviation means of destruction. In particular, it was planned to supply American-made air-to-air missiles. At the same time, a product of the AIM-9 family is included in the list of future American deliveries for the first time. In addition, an interesting feature of the new package is plans for the use of such missiles - they are transferred for use in air defense.
The timing of the transfer of weapons under the new package has not yet been announced, but we can expect that deliveries will begin in the very near future. It cannot be ruled out that certain products and property have already been sent to Ukraine, and now their transfer will be “legalized” with an official document. Delivery, preparation for use and deployment may take up to several weeks.
AIM-9L (top) and AIM-9M missiles. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
One way or another, Sidewinder missiles may appear at the disposal of Ukrainian forces in the very near future. Then it will become clear exactly how the Pentagon proposes to use them - in what capacity and on what media. However, it is already possible to consider different options for using AIM-9M products and their potential in this form.
Rocket from the past
The basic version of the AIM-9 Sidewinder guided air-to-air missile was developed by American industry back in the first half of the fifties and adopted by US tactical aviation in 1955. Subsequently, the missile was repeatedly updated to obtain certain advantages. Thus, in 1977, a deeply modernized AIM-9L missile with improved flight data and a new homing head, which ensured interception on catch-up and oncoming courses, entered service.
Soon the rocket with the letter “L” was updated. The AIM-9M project provided for the replacement of the seeker with a more advanced product with increased resistance to interference. Such a head more reliably captured and tracked a target against a different background, and also more effectively separated false targets. They also introduced a new solid fuel engine charge with reduced smoke formation - this made it easier to visually monitor the launch and its results.
In 1983, the AIM-9M missile entered service and became widespread in the arsenals of the US Air Force and Navy. Also, products of this version were purchased by third countries. During the fighting in the Persian Gulf in 1991, it was the “M” version missiles that were actively used. They accounted for 10 air victories.
The rocket is in the process of being suspended on the carrier. Photo by US Department of Defense
However, already in the mid-nineties a new stage in the development of the Sidewinder line began. Its result was the AIM-9X missile, which was put into service in 2003. The new product eventually replaced previous versions of the missiles, but did not completely replace them. A number of AIM-9Ms remain in arsenals and are used in training activities. Now they are proposed to be shipped to Ukraine.
Air-to-air missile
The AIM-9M is a short-range air-to-air guided missile designed for use by American-designed fighter aircraft. In its design and architecture, it does not differ from other models of the Sidewinder family, but has its own characteristics and advantages over older products.
Like other AIM-9s, the missile is built in a high aspect ratio cylindrical body with a transparent nose fairing, rudders in the nose and a stabilizer in the tail. The total length of the rocket is 2,9 m with a body diameter of 127 mm. The span of the planes is 640 mm. Starting weight – approx. 86 kg.
The AIM-9M uses an IR seeker made using technologies from the early eighties. The head is built on solid-state components and has a photodetector based on indium antimonide. A new closed loop argon cooling system was introduced. Refresh rate – 125 Hz. The operating principle of the seeker is standard. Receiving data from the head, the autopilot tried to align the longitudinal axis of the rocket with the line of sight.
The missile retained the previously developed WDU-17/B high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 9,4 kg. The detonation was carried out using an infrared non-contact sensor at a distance of no more than a few meters from the target.
F-15 with an AIM-9M product under the wing. Photo Airwar.ru
For the AIM-9M, a new modification of the Mk.36 engine was developed - Mod.9. She received a fuel charge of a different composition with reduced smoke production. Flight characteristics remained at the same level. In 2 sec. When in operation, the engine accelerated the rocket to 2,5 M and provided a flight range of up to 18 km.
Question carrier
In the context of the latter News The list of current and potential AIM-9 missile launch vehicles is of great interest. Products of the Sidewinder family were used at various times by almost all American-designed fighters that were in service since the mid-fifties. In addition, the MIM-72 Chaparral self-propelled short-range air defense system, armed with AIM-9 missiles, was produced and operated.
At the moment, Ukrainian formations do not have equipment that is standard carriers of AIM-9M missiles. However, they have already been promised American-made F-16 fighters. If such aircraft are actually transferred, they will be able to carry and use Sidewinders. Due to this, the problem of arming foreign fighters will be partially solved.
In addition, given the projects of recent decades and recent experience, it can be expected that American and Ukrainian specialists will be able to integrate the AIM-9M into the weapon system of Soviet-style aircraft. How successful such work will be and whether it will allow maintaining the required functions is a big question.
It should be noted that in the official announcement of the new aid package from the Pentagon, AIM-9M products are mentioned as air defense ammunition. Aviation missiles can be transferred for use as part of one of the existing or proposed air defense systems. Most likely, the NASAMS complex will become the ground carrier for the AIM-9M. Its latest modification can use aircraft missiles of various types, incl. AIM-9. At the same time, it is unclear whether the old version of the Sidewinder product is compatible with it or whether modifications to the missiles and the complex are required.
Launch of an AIM-9M missile from an F/A-18F fighter. Photo by US Department of Defense
Dubious plans
The main consequences of the supply of AIM-9M missiles to Ukraine are already clear. The formations of the Kyiv regime will receive new air-to-air or ground-to-air ammunition and will be able to use it with existing or expected carriers. Washington and Kyiv assume that all this will provide new capabilities and will allow them to fight Russian aircraft, UAVs and missiles.
However, the announced delivery of missiles has dubious or negative features. First of all, this is the great age and obsolescence of the AIM-9M modification. It was created in the early eighties on the basis of the then available elemental base and taking into account the characteristics of the potential enemy’s equipment. Much has changed over the past 40 years, and it is unlikely that the “M” version of the missile is still an effective weapon and capable of fighting modern aviation.
The same applies to the possible use of AIM-9M missiles on air platforms. The Ukrainian Air Force has only old Soviet equipment, and the promised foreign F-16s belong to the same generation and are unlikely to be significantly newer. The use of missiles on ground platforms will also not provide any advantages, and their limited characteristics and potential will increase the risks for air defense systems.
Deprecated Help
Thus, foreign partners and patrons once again promised the Kyiv regime their weapons, but there will be almost no benefit from such assistance. The United States is going to send Sidewinder air-to-air missiles to Ukraine, but is ready to provide only products of the old modification, the potential of which is in doubt.
Similar events have already taken place before. Washington wants to support Kyiv, but is not ready to give it the most modern and sophisticated weapons. Due to this, he manages to “protect” the arsenals of his Air Force and Navy, although this approach reduces the possible effectiveness of assistance to the Kyiv regime. However, the negative consequences of these processes will not directly affect the United States, and such developments do not frighten them.