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At a glance
AGM-176 Griffinlarger figure on 1 of 3
AIM-9X Sidewinderlarger figure on 2 of 3
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
Measured figures
Length
Single source42 inches (110 cm)[source]
Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | AGM-176 Griffin | AIM-9X Sidewinder |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | — | Mach 2.5+[source] |
| Type | Air-to-surface missile , Surface-to-surface missile[source] | short-range air-to-air missile[source] |
| Place of origin | United States[source] | United States[source] |
| In service | 2008–present[source] | 1956–present[source] |
9 feet 11 inches (3.02 m)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Used by | United States Air Force United States Navy United States Marine Corps Central Intelligence Agency[source] | See Operators[source] |
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| Wars | War in Afghanistan Iraq War Syrian Civil War[source] | Second Taiwan Strait Crisis Vietnam War Yom Kippur War Iran–Iraq War Gulf of Sidra incident (1981) Falklands War 1982 Lebanon War 1989 air battle near Tobruk Gulf War Bosnian War Operation Allied Force 2023 Chinese balloon incident Gaza war Red Sea crisis Russian invasion of Ukraine 2026 Iran War[source] |
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| Manufacturer | Raytheon[source] | Raytheon[source] |
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| Unit cost | $127,333 (FY 2019)[source] | US$381,069.74 (Block II) US$399,500.00 (Block II Plus) US$209,492.75 (training missile) (All as of 2019 )[source] |
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| Produced | 2008–present[source] | 1953–present[source] |
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| Warhead | Blast-fragmentation[source] | WDU-17/B annular blast-fragmentation[source] |
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| Propellant | Solid fuel rocket[source] | — |
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| Guidance system | Laser , GPS or INS[source] | imaging infrared 128×128 element focal-plane array (FPA) seeker[source] |
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| Launch platform | MQ-1 , MQ-9 and other UAVs , Cyclone-class patrol ship[source] | Aircraft, naval vessels, fixed launchers, and ground vehicles[source] |
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| Role | lightweight, precision-guided munition[source] | — |
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| Source measurement | Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control developed the Griffin as a low-cost modular system, using components from earlier projects, including the FGM-148 Javelin and the AIM-9X Sidewinder . It was originally designed to be launched from the US Special Operations Command 's MC-130W Dragon Spear gunship and can be guided either by a semi-active laser seeker or with GPS . Its precision combined with a relatively small 13 lb (5.9 kg) warhead reduces collateral damage .[source]AGM-176 Griffin · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The munition comes in two versions. Griffin A is an unpowered precision munition that can be dropped from a rear cargo door or a door-mounted launcher that can drop while the cabin is pressurized. Weighing 33 lb (15 kg) and measuring 3.6 ft (1.1 m) in length, it is launched from a 10-tube "Gunslinger" launcher that fits on the rear ramp of a Marine KC-130 tanker/transport or both the US Air Force AC-130W "Stinger II" and AC-130J "Ghostrider" gunship variants.[source]AGM-176 Griffin · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The missile's folding fins allow it to be launched from a 5.5 in (140 mm) tube. It can be set to engage the target with height of burst, point detonation or fuze delay. The U.S. Navy has tested the Griffin as a shipboard missile guided by laser at fast-moving small boats; they planned to use it on the Littoral Combat Ships . The missile version is less than half the weight of a Hellfire round and includes a 13 lb (5.9 kg) warhead. It has a range of 9.3 miles (15.0 km) when air-launched, or 3.4 miles (5.5 km) when launched from the surface. It has been fired from the U.S. Army Remote weapon station , multi-round Wedge Launcher, Smart Launcher and Kiowa Warrior manned helicopters.[source]AGM-176 Griffin · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Arming PCs with Griffin missiles adds a layer of defense to the ships beyond the range of their 25 mm gun mounts, out to 4.5 km (2.8 mi), and also provides 360-degree coverage; the missiles' thrust-vectoring engines can move the missile to its target even when launched vertically.[source]AGM-176 Griffin · Development / Naval use; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Raytheon is continuing to fund the development of the Sea Griffin to extend the missile's range. The Sea Griffin will use a dual-mode seeker with an imaging infrared seeker and semi-active laser guidance, and a data-link to track multiple threats simultaneously and give it a fire-and-forget capability. The new seeker and an extended-range rocket motor, which will add 20 lb (9.1 kg), will increase the range of the Sea Griffin to 9.3 miles (15.0 km). In tests, the Sea Griffin's new imaging infrared (IIR) seeker has streamed video back to operators through the data-link to provide verification before the missile strikes the target. Its In-Flight Target Update (IFTU) capability allows it to be redirected to a new target in mid-flight, a vital feature against swarming small boats moving between friendly forces and neutral shipping. The Sea Griffin has been renamed the Griffin C .[source]AGM-176 Griffin · Development / Naval use; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage AGM-176 Griffin B : 1st series version with rocket motor. For use from aircraft, helicopters, drones and vehicles. Range 3.7 miles (6.0 km).[source]AGM-176 Griffin · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage BGM-176 Griffin C (Sea Griffin) : Version with infrared -seeker head and 2-way- data link . Range 9.3 miles (15.0 km).[source]AGM-176 Griffin · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage AGM-176 Griffin C-er : version with a stronger rocket motor. Range 14.3 miles (23.0 km).[source]AGM-176 Griffin · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage | — |
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| Status | — | Its latest variants (AIM-9X) remain standard equipment in most Western-aligned air forces.[source] |
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| Operators | — | USAF (the lead platform was the F-15C ) and the USN (the lead platform was the F/A-18C )[source] |
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| Introduction | — | November 2003[source] |
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| Flight control | — | two-axis thrust-vectoring control (TVC) system[source] |
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| Propulsion and warhead configuration | — | It retains the same rocket motor, fuze and warhead of the AIM-9M[source] |
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| Cooling | — | internal cooling system[source] |
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| Detonation mechanism | — | IR proximity fuze[source] |
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| Engine | — | Hercules/Bermite Mk. 36 solid-fuel rocket[source] |
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| Reported operators |
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