The Sidewinder has been one of the most successful short-range air-to-air missiles for the United States, and its first heat-seeking guided missile to become operational. Many models have been produced since the mid-1950s, including the standard version displayed here. A variety of aircraft have carried sidewinders, and variants have been adopted by about 40 countries. They have been used extensively in combat, including the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars. Picture taken at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, USA.<br><p><b>Length:</b> 3 m (9 ft 11 in)<br><b>Weight, loaded:</b> 70 kg (155 lb)<br><b>Range:</b> 4.8 km (3 mi)<br><b>Propellant:</b> solid fuel<br></p>
<b>Manufacturer:</b> Philco Ford Aerospace<br><br>-- Transferred from the U.S. Air Force Museum
<a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Sanjay_ach" title="User:Sanjay ach">Sanjay Acharya</a>
CC BY-SA 4.0
<span class="int-own-work" lang="en">Own work</span>