Why the U.S. Military Needs the Sidewinder Missile
Developed at a turning point in air-to-air combat, the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile was the world’s first infrared-guided — or heat-seeking — missile, forever changing not only the dynamics of dog fighting, but the ways in which combat aircraft are designed, built, and employed in war.
The latest iteration of the legendary weapon, known as the AIM-9X, flies in service to 24 different nations.
About the Author
Alex Hollings is a writer, dad, and Marine veteran who specializes in foreign policy and defense technology analysis. He holds a master’s degree in Communications from Southern New Hampshire University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Corporate and Organizational Communications from Framingham State University. This first appeared in Sandboxx News.