While mystery continues to surround the balloon and three other unidentified objects shot down by the US in recent times, at least one thing is clear: the weapon used to knock them out of the sky. Whether it was the original Chinese surveillance balloon brought down in South Carolina, or the unidentified object targeted in Alaska, Michigan and Canada, they were all killed by the same type of missile – the AIM-9X Sidewinder.
Here’s what you need to know about it:
Who makes it and uses it?
Raytheon Technologies manufactures the missile, which comes from a broader class of weaponry that has been in the US arsenal for decades. While the weapons are primarily made for US forces, the missiles are also sold in large quantities to some of America’s allies. Raytheon said it has 31 foreign military sales partners, with countries including South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia all having bought the missile. Primarily conceived as an air-to-air weapon, the latest version of the AIM-9X can also be used from the ground and against land-based targets. It can be deployed on several modern aircraft including the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the F-22 Raptor. This versatility allowed it to break records by helping the advanced F-22 fighter jet score the first air-to-air kill. The US has not disclosed the number of these missiles in its arsenal, but it could be significant as the US Air Force receives its 100,000th missile in 2021.
How much does it cost?
The US Department of Defense is seeking to acquire 255 missiles at a cost of $111.9 million in fiscal year 2023. That comes out to a cost of $439,000 each. But there are significant discounts and other countries usually have to pay for equipment, parts and training costs as well. Malaysia procured just 20 of the AIM-9X-2 missiles for about $52 million in 2011, for example, after including secondary costs.
How do they work?
The AIM-9X Sidewinder is a short-range, supersonic, heat-seeking missile. The main components include an infrared front guidance section, an active optical target detector, a high-altitude warhead and a rocket motor. Infrared specials allow the missile to hit the target in a range of settings at any time. The 186-pound (84 kg) device is powered by solid fuel, and is 9.9 feet (3 meters) long. A variant of the missile called Block II has improved features, including the ability to lock on after launch so that the pilot does not have to rely on visual targeting to retrieve the device.
Why are they used?
The Sidewinder missile has a long history in the US military. It was first developed in the 1950s by the US Navy before being adapted by the US Air Force. It was the first heat-seeking guided missile to be operational. Early variants could only be used at very close range and could not be used at night. But subsequent improvements made it an ideal weapon for various situations, and a later version of the missile was used during the Vietnam War. The 9X is the latest iteration of the Sidewinder and has been deployed since 2003. However, defense officials acknowledge its use against unidentified flying objects such as balloons is novel. The military concluded that the smaller warhead and shorter range allow the AIM-9X to be deployed more safely and effectively compared to other missiles like the AIM-120, General Glen VanHerck, commander of the North American Air Defense Command and US Northern Command, told reporters in February 6.
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