AIM-9 series Sidewinders guided missile (exploded view)

control section, the target detector section, the S&A device, the warhead section, and the rocket motor section (fig. 3-9). The guidance and control section consists of the following three major assemblies: 1. An infrared seeker assembly, which is used for detecting the target. 2. An electronic assembly, which is used for converting detected target information to tracking and guidance command signals. 3. A gas servo assembly (which consists of a gas generator, manifold, pistons, rocker arms, electrical solenoids, and thermal battery), where the electrical guidance commands are converted to mechanical movement of the control fins. Four BSU-32/B control fins are mounted on the guidance and control section to provide aerodynamic lift and course alterations to the missile during free flight. They are movable surfaces that are electrically controlled and pneumatically operated by the gas servo assembly, The missile’s umbilical cable is also attached to the guidance and control section. A shorting cap/dust cover must be installed on the umbilical connector at all times when the missile is not electrically connected to the LAU-7 launcher. The umbilical cable provides the necessary path for the exchange of electronic signals between the missile and aircraft before missile launch. It also provides a connection to the launcher-mounted cooling gas supply, which prevents the electronic components of the guidance and control section from becoming overheated during operation before missile launch. The umbilical cable is sheared off at missile launch. The target detector (TD) is a narrow-beam, active-optical, proximity fuze system. The purpose of the TD is to detect the presence of an air target within the burst range of the missile warhead and generate an electrical firing signal to the S&A device. Figure 3-9.—AIM-9 series Sidewinders guided missile (exploded view). 3-12