Egypt, Jordan Procure Sidewinder Rocket Motors

Northrop Grumman has won a $21 million contract to provide AIM-9M Sidewinder rocket motors to Egypt and Jordan.

“Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Rocket Center, West Virginia, is awarded $21 million contract for the production and delivery of 831 AIM-9M MK 36 Mod 11 rocket motors: 788 motors for the government of Egypt and 43 motors for the government of Jordan,” the U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement today.

AIM-9M Sidewinder

The Air Intercept Missile (AIM)-9 Sidewinder is a supersonic, short-range air-to-air missile developed by the U.S. Navy in the 1950s. It can be F/A-18A-D, F/A-18E/F, AV-8B, AH-1 and the Air Force’s F-16, F-15, F-22 and A-10 aircraft.

The missile's main components are an infrared homing guidance section, an active optical target detector, a high-explosive warhead, and a rocket motor.

The infrared guidance head enables the missile to home on target aircraft engine exhaust. An infrared unit costs less than other types of guidance systems, and can be used in day/night and electronic countermeasures conditions. The infrared seeker also permits the pilot to launch the missile, then leave the area or take evasive action while the missile guides itself to the target.