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At a glance
AIM-9X Sidewinderlarger figure on 0 of 4
TL-6larger 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 | TL-6 |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Mach 2.5+[source] | Mach 0.8 – 0.9[source] |
| Type | short-range air-to-air missile[source] | anti-ship / air-to-surface missiles[source] |
| Place of origin | United States[source] | China[source] |
| Manufacturer | Raytheon[source] | Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation |
3.4–3.5 m (11–11 ft)[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.
| 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] | ARH / ImIR IR / TV[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] | Prior to 2006 – 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] | Prior to 2006[source] |
|---|
| Warhead | WDU-17/B annular blast-fragmentation[source] | 30 kg (66 lb) warhead[source] |
|---|
| Detonation mechanism | IR proximity fuze[source] | Semi-armor-piercing[source] |
|---|
| Engine | Hercules/Bermite Mk. 36 solid-fuel rocket[source] | Rocket motor[source] |
|---|
| Launch platform | Aircraft, naval vessels, fixed launchers, and ground vehicles[source] | Air & surface[source] |
|---|
| Propellant | — | Solid fuel[source] |
|---|
| Flight altitude | — | 12 m (39 ft) (cruising)[source] |
|---|
| Reported operators |
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