AIM - 9 Sidewinder The AIM - 9 Sidewinder is an Air - to - Air heat - seeking missile created by the Raytheon Systems to equip the United States Air Force aircraft and some attack helicopters , such as the AH - 64D Apache Longbow . The AIM - 9 sidewinder may be considered one of the most important missiles of the USAF . Description . The Sidewinder missiles of the type originated in the U . S . in 50 years , and the first operational version was the AIM - 9A . Which became operational in 1956 and experienced in combat in 1958 . The missile has undergone several modifications and upgrades and still in active in their latest versions as the M version , or the very latest version of AIM - 9X . The AIM - 9F version is an adaptation and modernization of the European AIM - 9B Sidewinder and many European countries are still using this version . It was also adapted for use in defense systems fired anti - aircraft from ground vehicles . When in 1958 a Sidewinder missile fell into Soviet hands , he served as a model for the manufacture of a Soviet version of the system , which resulted in K - 13 ( called by NATO countries as AA - 2 Atoll ) . The development of Soviet versions , joined the development of Chinese versions ( such as PL - 2 and PL - 5 ) Variants . AIM - 9A / B . The AIM - 9A are the first prototypes of the AIM - 9 Sidewinder and first flew in 1953 . The first production version was the " B " , which entered service in 1956 . Either version A or B had a limited effect , because the missile could not be used at night , nor was it able to identify targets near the ground . Its infrared sensor , which had detected a strong presence of heat , which could only be fired from behind an enemy plane , having no ability to identify the target , if it was shot in the face . It was equipped with a Thiokol Mk . 17 solid fuel engine . AIM - 9G / H . This version of the Sidewinder is characterized by no longer having circuits with vacuum tubes ( that were abandoned in the G version - which is an improved version of D ) . From the G version of the Sidewinder now have the ability to " fix " a target , not that he was aligned with the aircraft launcher . The version 9G / H offers electronic components and semiconductors missile has an opening for screening target of 20 degrees . AIM - 9L . This version of the Sidewinder , introduced in 1976 is characterized by having a more powerful solid fuel engine , the Bermite Mk . 36 , in addition , several improvements have increased maneuverability of the missile . With the AIM - 9L was first introduced the ability to attack a target from any angle . The resistance to electronic countermeasures has also increased , because in 1976 , there were mean capable of fooling the older versions of Sidewinder . AIM - 9M . Introduced in 1983 , the AIM - 9M version is an upgrade version of the AIM - 9L and is characterized by its greater capacity to be able to avoid the counter - measures systems , increasing the missile ' s ability to identify sources of heat . It has also increased the ability to identify a target at low altitude , achieving the target to distinguish the ground . The AIM - 9 is probably one the most effective of all the Sidewinder , and it was attributed to the killing of 13 Iraqi aircraft during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 . AIM - 9P . Introduced in 1978 , the AIM - 9P Sidewinder , characterized by being very maneuverable , and have greater range . As a result of the explosive is less . The P version is a derivative of " J " version and shares the characteristics of the versions ' E ' , ' J ' and ' N ' . This sub Sidewinder family is regarded as an export version , with lower capacity than the trend line 9H / 9L / 9M / 9X . The AIM - 9P is cheaper than its contemporary class AIM - 9M , although slightly less sophisticated and it is also used by U . S . Air Force and the U . S Air National Guard of the several American states . AIM - 9X . The latest version of the Sidewinder missile is one with characteristics that increase their lethality , and should be used in most U . S . aircraft . Continues to treat yourself to a short - range missile , but will have far greater capabilities in relation to the capacity to identify sources of heat by , for instance to identify the silhouette of the aircraft target and avoid other sources of heat . The electronic devices that enable the AIM - 9X to identify targets , even in the presence of many alternative sources of heat and / or decoys greatly increase the likelihood of achieving the target in respect of any previous missile AIM - 9 family . Besides these advantages , the new engine Hercules - Bermite Mk . 36 , can raise the maximum range to nearly double , turning the AIM - 9X missile from a NBVR ( Near Beyond Visual Range ) . The AIM - 9X could be configured into a NCADE weapon or a submarine launched missile . hhhhhh