Raytheon (RTX) AIM-7 Sparrow vs Raytheon (RTX) AIM-9X Sidewinder
Full specs: Raytheon (RTX) AIM-7 Sparrow Raytheon (RTX) AIM-9X Sidewinder
Raytheon (RTX) AIM-7 Sparrow and Raytheon (RTX) AIM-9X Sidewinder are both missile, compared here on public specifications. The Raytheon (RTX) AIM-7 Sparrow leads on range (50 vs 35 km).
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Full data
Full spec sheet
| Performance | ||
| Max speed (Mach) (Mach) | 4 Mach ✓ | 2.5 Mach |
| Range (km) | 50 km ✓ | 35 km |
| Firepower | ||
| Warhead (kg) | 39 kg ✓ | 9 kg |
| Physical | ||
| Length (m) | 3.66 m | 3.02 m |
| Combat weight (kg) | 231 kg | 85 kg |
| Program | ||
| Unit cost (USD) | $125,000 ✓ | $600,000 |
| Units built | 70,000 ✓ | 12,000 |
| Operator countries | 20 | 30 ✓ |
Frequently asked questions
Which has the longer range? +
The Raytheon (RTX) AIM-7 Sparrow has the longest range at 50 km.
Which is cheaper? +
The Raytheon (RTX) AIM-7 Sparrow has the lower public unit-cost figure at 125,000 USD. Treat this as directional, defense pricing varies by contract and configuration.
Which has the higher max speed (mach)? +
The Raytheon (RTX) AIM-7 Sparrow has the higher max speed (mach) at 4 Mach.
Which has the higher warhead? +
The Raytheon (RTX) AIM-7 Sparrow has the higher warhead at 39 kg.
Which has the higher units built? +
The Raytheon (RTX) AIM-7 Sparrow has the higher units built at 70,000.
Which has the higher operator countries? +
The Raytheon (RTX) AIM-9X Sidewinder has the higher operator countries at 30.
Is the Raytheon (RTX) AIM-7 Sparrow better than the Raytheon (RTX) AIM-9X Sidewinder? +
On the public specs we track, the Raytheon (RTX) AIM-7 Sparrow leads on 5 of 6 headline metrics, see the full spec sheet for the metric-by-metric breakdown.
Where does this comparison data come from? +
Every figure in the table is sourced from public manufacturer pages, defense-ministry releases and reference publications, and is verifiable on each system's spec page. WeaponSpecs does not accept vendor placement.
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