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At a glance
AIM-9X Sidewinderlarger figure on 0 of 4
Kh-38larger figure on 4 of 4
Measured figures
Length
Single source9 feet 11 inches (3.02 m)[source]
Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | AIM-9X Sidewinder | Kh-38 |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Mach 2.5+[source] | Mach 2.2[source] |
| Type | short-range air-to-air missile[source] | Tactical air-to-surface missile[source] |
| Place of origin | United States[source] | Russia[source] |
| Manufacturer | Raytheon[source] | Tactical Missiles Corporation JSC |
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
4.2 m (13 ft 9 in)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| 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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| Guidance system | imaging infrared 128×128 element focal-plane array (FPA) seeker[source] | Laser, active radar, IR, satellite, depending on variant[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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| In service | 1956–present[source] | 2012 (Kh-38ME) 2019 (Kh-36)[source] |
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| Used by | See Operators[source] | Russia[source] |
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| 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] | Syrian Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War[source] |
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| 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] | — |
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| Produced | 1953–present[source] | 2015 (Kh-38M) - 2019 (Kh-36)[source] |
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| Warhead | WDU-17/B annular blast-fragmentation[source] | HE fragmentation, cluster warhead, armor-piercing[source] |
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| Detonation mechanism | IR proximity fuze[source] | Contact fuse[source] |
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| Engine | Hercules/Bermite Mk. 36 solid-fuel rocket[source] | Two-stage solid rocket motor[source] |
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| Launch platform | Aircraft, naval vessels, fixed launchers, and ground vehicles[source] | Kh-38: Su-34 , Su-25SM3 , Su-57 , Ka-52K , MiG-29K Kh-36: Su-57 , MiG-35[source] |
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| Designer | — | Tactical Missiles Corporation JSC[source] |
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| Designed | — | 2007 (Kh-38ME) - 2015 (Kh-36)[source] |
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| Flight altitude | — | 200-12000 m[source] |
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| Role | — | family of standoff air-to-surface missiles meant to succeed the Kh-25 and Kh-29 missile families[source] |
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| Source measurement | — | The Kh-38/Kh-38M ( Russian : Х -38 ) is a family of standoff air-to-surface missiles meant to succeed the Kh-25 and Kh-29 missile families. The Kh-38 also serves as the basis for the Kh-36 unpowered and powered glide-bombs.[source]Kh-38 · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The basic configuration of the Kh-38M was revealed at the 2007 Moscow Air Show (MAKS) . The first prototypes of the missile had initially folding wings and tail fins for internal carriage, and would have a variety of seeker heads for different variants. Different warheads (fragmentation, cluster munitions , penetrating) can also be fitted. The Kh-38M is meant to succeed the Kh-25 and Kh-29 missile families. It can be used by combat aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-34 and Sukhoi Su-57 , and it is planned to be integrated on the Kamov Ka-52 K helicopter. The first test firing took place in 2010 from a Su-34, and production was ordered to start in 2015.[source]Kh-38 · Design and development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The Kh-38M was first used in combat during the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war . It was also used during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine .[source]Kh-38 · Operational history; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Kh-36 Grom-E1 - Rocket assisted version of the Grom-E2. Sometimes referred as a hybrid missile glide bomb. AS-23 tactical cruise missile derivative/AGM with 120 km range[source]Kh-38 · Variants / Kh-36; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Kh-36 Grom-E2 - AS-23B/KAB-type guided glide bomb with 50 km range.[source]Kh-38 · Variants / Kh-36; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Both versions of the Grom are of 600 kg weight, with various guidance mechanisms, and both are created on the basis of the Kh-38M short-range tactical missile and also have modular structures, warheads and seekers. This weapon was first seen at MAKS 2015, and intended to equip all types of fighters, including the MiG-35 and Su-57 .[source]Kh-38 · Variants / Kh-36; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage |
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| Reported operators |
| — |
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