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At a glance
AIM-9X Sidewinderlarger figure on 0 of 4
Astra (missile)larger figure on 4 of 4
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
Measured figures
Length
Single source9 feet 11 inches (3.02 m)[source]
Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | AIM-9X Sidewinder | Astra (missile) |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Mach 2.5+[source] | Mk-1: Mach 4.5[source] |
| Type | short-range air-to-air missile[source] | Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile[source] |
| Place of origin | United States[source] | India[source] |
| Manufacturer | Raytheon[source] |
3.84 m (12.6 ft)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
Bharat Dynamics Limited[source] |
| Status | Its latest variants (AIM-9X) remain standard equipment in most Western-aligned air forces.[source] | — |
|---|
| Operators | USAF (the lead platform was the F-15C ) and the USN (the lead platform was the F/A-18C )[source] | — |
|---|
| Introduction | November 2003[source] | — |
|---|
| Guidance system | imaging infrared 128×128 element focal-plane array (FPA) seeker[source] | Mid-course: FOG - INS + Mid-course update via datalink Terminal: ARH[source] |
|---|
| Flight control | two-axis thrust-vectoring control (TVC) system[source] | — |
|---|
| Propulsion and warhead configuration | It retains the same rocket motor, fuze and warhead of the AIM-9M[source] | — |
|---|
| Cooling | internal cooling system[source] | — |
|---|
| In service | 1956–present[source] | 2019 ( 2019 ) –present[source] |
|---|
| Used by | See Operators[source] | Indian Air Force Indian Navy[source] |
|---|
| Wars | 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] | 2025 India–Pakistan conflict[source] |
|---|
| Unit cost | US$381,069.74 (Block II) US$399,500.00 (Block II Plus) US$209,492.75 (training missile) (All as of 2019 )[source] | Mk-1: ₹ 7−8 crore (US$−830,000)[source] |
|---|
| Produced | 1953–present[source] | 2017 − Present[source] |
|---|
| Warhead | WDU-17/B annular blast-fragmentation[source] | High-explosive pre- fragmented HMX / PU[source] |
|---|
| Detonation mechanism | IR proximity fuze[source] | Mk-1: Radio proximity fuze Mk-2: Optical proximity fuze[source] |
|---|
| Engine | Hercules/Bermite Mk. 36 solid-fuel rocket[source] | Mk-1: Solid-propellant rocket Mk-2: Dual-thrust pulsed rocket motor Mk-3: Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet[source] |
|---|
| Launch platform | Aircraft, naval vessels, fixed launchers, and ground vehicles[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] |
|---|
| Designer | — | Defence Research and Development Laboratory ( DRDO )[source] |
|---|
| Variants | — | Mk-1 (Operational) Mk-2 (LSP) Mk-3 (Trial-phase) VL-SRSAM (Trial-phase)[source] |
|---|
| Propellant | — | Solid fuel[source] |
|---|
| Flight ceiling | — | 20 km (66,000 ft)[source] |
|---|
| Reported operators |
| — |
|---|