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United States Raytheon (RTX)
AIM-9X Sidewinder
The latest generation of the long-running Sidewinder family, a short-range infrared-homing air-to-air missile with high off-boresight targeting and thrust-vector control. It remains the standard within-visual-range dogfight missile of the US and NATO air forces.
In service since 2003 · 30 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗
35
km range
2.5
Mach
9
kg warhead
💲 ≈ $600,000, Approximate US procurement unit cost, AIM-9X Block II
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Widely fielded · 30 operators
In service since 2003. Status: active · ~12,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
Unit cost known; one-shot / small-arms class has no meaningful O&S tail to model.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Competitive field
15 comparable systems from 7 other manufacturers
Counted in the WeaponSpecs database: missiles built by another manufacturer that share at least one published role with this system. A count of what this catalog holds, not a survey of the whole market. See the alternatives →
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 2.5 Mach |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 35 km |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Warhead Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range. | 9 kg |
|---|---|
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | Annular blast-fragmentation, active laser fuze |
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | Imaging infrared homing, High off-boresight helmet cueing, Thrust-vector control |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 3.02 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 85 kg |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Solid-fuel rocket |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $600,000 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 12,000 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 30 |
Specifications compiled from public Raytheon (RTX) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-01.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Head-to-head comparisons
AIM-9X Sidewinder vs
R-73 
Meteor Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the Raytheon (RTX) AIM-9X Sidewinder? +
The Raytheon (RTX) AIM-9X Sidewinder has a maximum range of 35 km.
How much does the Raytheon (RTX) AIM-9X Sidewinder weigh? +
The Raytheon (RTX) AIM-9X Sidewinder has a combat weight of 85 kg.
What is the Raytheon (RTX) AIM-9X Sidewinder used for? +
The Raytheon (RTX) AIM-9X Sidewinder is a missile typically used for air superiority.
How many countries operate the Raytheon (RTX) AIM-9X Sidewinder? +
The Raytheon (RTX) AIM-9X Sidewinder is operated by 30 countries.
How much does the Raytheon (RTX) AIM-9X Sidewinder cost? +
The Raytheon (RTX) AIM-9X Sidewinder has an approximate unit cost of 600,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
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