UFOs shot down by Sidewinder missiles

The U.S. military used AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range missiles to bring down four airborne objects overflying the U.S. and Canada


AIM-9X SIDEWINDER
Supersonic, heat-seeking, air-to-air missile

Infrared system guidance allows missile to home in on targets by day or night

Active optical target detector

Annular blast fragmentation warhead

Solid fuel rocket motor

High Off-Boresight seeker

Length: 3m
Weight: 84kg
Range: 20km

Contractor: Raytheon

Cost per unit: $439,000

Block II variant
Lock-on-after-launch feature enables missile to engage targets beyond visual range


AIM-9X can be integrated with wide range of aircraft, including F-16 and F-22

F-22 Raptor


Feb 4 downing of China’s alleged spy balloon marks first F-22 air-to-air kill since plane’s combat debut in Syria and Iraq in 2015


Sources: U.S. Navy, Raytheon, Airforce Technology, Bloomberg
Pictures: U.S. Navy, Newscom 
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