Article Posted on : - Dec 22, 2009

A file photo of AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II missile being fired from a US Navy aircraft. Image credit: Raytheon

TUSCON (BNS): American defence firm Raytheon has successfully tested the short-range AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II air-to-air missile.

The test was carried out on November 20 at the US Air Force's Eglin Air Force Base test range during which the weapon successfully guided and passed within the lethal range of a BQM-74 target drone, the company announced on Monday.

The missile was test fired from the USAF’s F-15C Eagle aircraft and met all required parameters, it said.

This is the second test-launch of the advanced, infrared-guided missile. Its previous launch took place in November 2008.

AIM-9X Block II is an improvised version of the AIM-9X Block I system. It has a lock-on-after-launch capability, redesigned fuze and a one-way forward-quarter datalink capability.

The missile, with a range between 1 and 18 kilometers, flies at 2.5 Mach. It is designed for deployment in aircraft and attack helicopters.

The missile entered service with the USAF in November 2003.