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At a glance
AIM-9X Sidewinderlarger figure on 1 of 5
PL-8 (missile)larger figure on 4 of 5
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 | PL-8 (missile) |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Mach 2.5+[source] | ≈ Mach 3.5[source] |
| Type | short-range air-to-air missile[source] | Short-range air-to-air missile Surface-to-air missile (land-based version)[source] |
| Place of origin | United States[source] | China[source] |
| Manufacturer | Raytheon[source] |
2.95 m (9 ft 8 in)[source]
Warhead weight
Single source20.8 lb (9.4 kg)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
Xi'an Eastern Machinery Factory and CATIC[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] | Passive infrared homing[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] | 1988 to present[source] |
|---|
| Used by | See Operators[source] | China[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] | — |
|---|
| 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] | — |
|---|
| Produced | 1953–present[source] | PL-8A: 1988 to 1990’s[source] |
|---|
| Warhead | WDU-17/B annular blast-fragmentation[source] | 11 kg (24 lb) high explosive[source] |
|---|
| Detonation mechanism | IR proximity fuze[source] | Impact / Proximity[source] |
|---|
| Engine | Hercules/Bermite Mk. 36 solid-fuel rocket[source] | Solid rocket[source] |
|---|
| Launch platform | Aircraft, naval vessels, fixed launchers, and ground vehicles[source] | Aerial and ground[source] |
|---|
| Propellant | — | Solid fuel[source] |
|---|
| Flight ceiling | — | 21 km (13 mi)[source] |
|---|
| Flight altitude | — | .5 km (0.31 mi) minimum[source] |
|---|
| Reported operators |
| — |
|---|