Sidewinder Guided Missile

the required aerodynamic shield to protect the internal components of the seeker. During ground handling, the radome is protected by a radome protector cap. The warhead section contains a penetration blast type of explosive, the guided missile fuze, fuze booster, and the pressure probe assembly. It also provides internal routing of the interconnecting cable from the guidance section to other parts of the missile. The sustainer section contains the fuel tank and fuel supply system, missile battery, pyrotechnic relay panel, and the turbojet engine. Three BSU-4/B missile wings and one BSU-43/B missile wing are attached to the sustainer section by quick-attach, clevis-type fittings. These wings are attached to the missile at the organizational level. They provide the aerodynamic lift required to sustain missile flight. They are made of a framed aluminum honeycomb construction and are nonfolding. The boattail section contains four control actuators, which control the control fins. Four identical nonfolding missile control fins (BSU-44/B) provide directional control of the missile’s airframe proportional to the input signal received from the guidance section. The control fins are one-piece aluminum castings, and are attached to the control fin actuators by means of an integral torque-limiting, screw-type device. For further information concerning the air-launched AGM-84 (series) Harpoon guided missiles, refer to the publications Airborne Weapons Assembly, NAVAIR 11-140-6.2-4, and Airborne Weapons Assembly, AGM-84/E, NAVAIR 11-140-6.2-5. Sidewinder Guided Missile The Sidewinder guided missiles, AIM-9 series (fig. 3-8), are supersonic, air-to-air weapons with passive infrared target detection, proportional navigation guidance, and torque-balance control systems. They are capable of being launched from the A-6, F-14, and F/A-18 aircraft. The AIM-9 series missiles are issued to the fleet as AURs. The components of the ATM-9L-1 are identical to the AIM-9L/M except that a training warhead is substituted for the tactical warhead in the ATM-9L-1. The AIM-9L/M missile is used strictly for tactical purposes. The ATM-9L-1 missile is used for pilot training in target acquisition and missile firing. The Sidewinder guided missile is approximately 113 inches in length, 5 inches in diameter, weighs approximately 190 pounds, and consists of five major components. These components are the guidance and Figure 3-8.—AIM-9 series Sidewinders guided missile. 3-11