WorldTekhno.com – In order to strengthen Ukraine’s defense, the United States, through the U.S. Department of Defense (U.S. DoD), provided a new military assistance package on August 29, 2023.
The U.S. assistance package takes the form of the AIM-120 AMRAAM long-range air-to-air missile, which first ships the AIM-9M Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile to strengthen the Ukrainian Air Force.
This announcement marks a significant development, as it is the first time the United States will deliver AIM-9M short-range air-to-air missiles to Ukraine.
The AIM-9M missile is part of the Sidewinder family of missiles, which has been in service since the 1950s. The missile has infrared tracking capabilities.
The AIM-9M missile has enhanced infrared countermeasure capabilities with an improved guidance system, so this missile can be relied upon as a formidable weapon in close-range aerial combat.
To track and engage targets, the AIM-9M uses its thermal tracking system, most of which comes from the aircraft’s engines.
The AIM-9M missile’s operational range is 1 km to 35.4 km, with the ability to launch at a speed of Mach 2.5, ensuring rapid response and interception capabilities against high-speed threats.
The missile is technically equipped with a WDU-17/B ring-shaped explosive fragmentation warhead, designed to release a lethal combination of blast and fragmentation upon detonation, thus maximizing its potential to neutralize targets.
The warhead is paired with an infrared proximity propellant, ensuring that the missile explodes only when in close proximity to its target, without the need for direct contact.
Utilizing the Hercules/Bermite Mk. 36 solid-fuel rocket engine it can strengthen thrust capabilities when conducting battles with difficult maneuvers and high speeds.***
