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At a glance
AIM-7 Sparrowlarger figure on 2 of 3
Astra (missile)larger figure on 1 of 3
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
Measured figures
Length
Single source12 ft (3.7 m)[source]
Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | AIM-7 Sparrow | Astra (missile) |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | AIM-7A/B: Mach 2.5 AIM-7C/E/F: Mach 4[source] | Mk-1: Mach 4.5[source] |
| Type | Medium-range, semi-active radar homing air-to-air missile[source] | Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile[source] |
| Place of origin | United States[source] | India[source] |
| In service | 1958–present[source] | 2019 ( 2019 ) –present |
3.84 m (12.6 ft)[source]
AIM-7A/B
Single source2 ft 8 in (0.81 m) (AIM-7A/B)[source]
Operational; AIM-7C
Single sourceOperational; AIM-7D
Single sourceOperational; AIM-7E/E2
Single sourceOperational; AIM-7F/M/P
Single sourceAIM-7C: 26 km (14 nmi) AIM-7D: 44 km (24 nmi) AIM-7E/E2: 50 km (27 nmi) AIM-7F/M/P: 70 km (38 nmi)[source]
Operational; Mk-1
Single sourceOperational; Mk-2
Single sourceWarhead weight
Single source15 kg (33 lb)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Used by | Australia, Canada, Egypt, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States[source] | Indian Air Force Indian Navy[source] |
|---|
| Wars | Vietnam War Iran–Iraq War Gulf War Russo-Ukrainian War[source] | 2025 India–Pakistan conflict[source] |
|---|
| Unit cost | $125,000[source] | Mk-1: ₹ 7−8 crore (US$−830,000)[source] |
|---|
| Produced | AIM-7D: 1959 AIM-7F: 1976 AIM-7M: 1982[source] | 2017 − Present[source] |
|---|
| No. built | >70,000[source] | — |
|---|
| Variants | Sparrow I: AIM-7A Sparrow II: AIM-7B Sparrow III: AIM-7C, AIM-7D, AIM-7E, AIM-7E2/ Skyflash / Aspide , AIM-7F, AIM-7M, AIM-7P, RIM-7M, AGM-45[source] | Mk-1 (Operational) Mk-2 (LSP) Mk-3 (Trial-phase) VL-SRSAM (Trial-phase)[source] |
|---|
| Warhead | High explosive blast-fragmentation AIM-7C/D/E: 65 pounds (29 kg) AIM-7F/M: 88 pounds (40 kg)[source] | High-explosive pre- fragmented HMX / PU[source] |
|---|
| Engine | AIM-7A/B/C – Aerojet 1.8KS7800 solid rocket AIM-7D/E – Rocketdyne MK 38/MK 52 solid rocket AIM-7F/M/P – Hercules MK-58 solid-propellant rocket motor[source] | Mk-1: Solid-propellant rocket Mk-2: Dual-thrust pulsed rocket motor Mk-3: Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet[source] |
|---|
| Guidance system | semi-active radar homing[source] | Mid-course: FOG - INS + Mid-course update via datalink Terminal: ARH[source] |
|---|
| Launch platform | Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon Grumman F-14 Tomcat F/A-18 Hornet JA-37 Viggen F-104S Starfighter Tornado F.3 ADV F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Mitsubishi F-2[source] | Su-30MKI MiG-29K Tejas Mk.1/1A MiG-29UPG (Trial-phase) HAL Tejas Mk2 (Planned) AMCA (Planned) TEDBF (Planned) Rafale Marine (Planned)[source] |
|---|
| Manufacturer | Raytheon[source] | Bharat Dynamics Limited[source] |
|---|
| Designer | — | Defence Research and Development Laboratory ( DRDO )[source] |
|---|
| Detonation mechanism | — | Mk-1: Radio proximity fuze Mk-2: Optical proximity fuze[source] |
|---|
| Propellant | — | Solid fuel[source] |
|---|
| Flight ceiling | — | 20 km (66,000 ft)[source] |
|---|
| Reported operators |
| — |
|---|
Operational; Mk-3
Single sourceMk-1: 110 km (68 mi) Mk-2: 240 km (150 mi) Mk-3: 350 km (220 mi)[source]