The missile with which the mysterious UFO was shot down is very dangerous, knowing its specialty

AIM-9X Sidewinder: AIM-9X Sidewinder is a supersonic, short-range missile. Its main components include an infrared homing guidance section, an active optical target detector, a high-explosive warhead and a rocket motor. Infrared specifically allows the missile to home in on a target at any time of day in a range of settings. Its length is 9.9 feet (3 meters).

The US recently shot down a Chinese spy balloon with an AIM-9X Sidewinder. (Image: Twitter/ @VagnermayerB3, AP)

Highlights
1. Recently America has shot down three flying objects in the air.
2. An operation carried out by AIM-9X Sidewinder missile
3. Raytheon Technology Corporation developed the AIM-9X Sidewinder

AIM-9X Sidewinder: In recent days, America shot down China’s spy balloon. After that, a flying object was seen in Alaska, and America also shot down the objects moving in the sky of Michigan and Canada. After continuously shooting down these three things in the sky, questions are being raised as to which weapon America has with which it can carry out such operations. America has shot down all three objects with the missile AIM-9X (AIM-9X Sidewinder) sidewinder.

Use of this missile
This missile is manufactured by Raytheon Technologies Corporation. It comes from a large class of weapons that have been in the US arsenal for decades. These weapons are mainly manufactured for the US Army. Although the missile is sold in large quantities to American allies. Raytheon says it has 31 foreign military sales partners, including South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia, among other countries that have bought the missile.

This missile is mainly designed for air-to-air weapons. The latest AIM-9X variant is the one that can be used from the ground as well as against land-based targets. It is widely deployed on a range of modern aircraft including the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-22 Raptor aircraft. This versatility has allowed it to break records by helping the advanced F-22 fighter jet perform air-to-air kills. The US does not disclose the exact number of such missiles in its arsenal, but in 2021 the US Air Force was reported to receive its 10,000th such missile.

How much do they cost?
The US Defense Department is going to buy 255 missiles in the 2023 fiscal year for $ 111.9 million. The cost of each type of missile is coming to $439,000. Although it also includes discounts. Other countries will usually also pay for related equipment, spares, and training costs. In 2011, Malaysia sought to buy just 20 AIM-9X-2 missiles for an estimated $52 million.

How do you work?
The AIM-9X Sidewinder is a supersonic, short-range missile. Its main components include an infrared homing guidance section, an active optical target detector, a high-explosive warhead and a rocket motor. Infrared specifically allows the missile to home in on a target at any time of day in a range of settings. Its length is 9.9 feet (3 meters). The new version has enhanced features including lock-on-after-launch capability.

History of the Sidewinder
Sidewinder missiles have a long history in the US military. They were first developed by the US Navy in the 1950s before being adopted by the US Air Force. The early variants could only be used at very close range and could not be deployed at night. But later improvements made it an ideal weapon for a variety of situations, and a later version of the missile was used during the Vietnam War.