Fuse

INTERCEPT PROCEDURES TEXTBOOK

B. Fuse

The AIM-9 utilizes 2 types of fusing mechanisms, contact and proximity. The contact fuse

feeds a firing pulse to the warhead upon missile impact.

The proximity fuse is a laser-optical system that detects when the missile is within a lethal

range, sending a firing pulse to the warhead.

The Sidewinder employs a safe and arm device that senses missile launch and will not allow

the warhead to arm until the missile is safely ahead of the firing aircraft.

C. Warhead

The AIM-9L/M has an annular blast fragmentation (ABF) warhead consisting of a high

explosive encased by titanium rods and a zirconium disk. The titanium rods penetrate an

aircraft's skin and the zirconium disk fragments will set fire to any combustible material.

D. Rocket Motor

The Mk-36 rocket motor produces 2880 pounds of thrust for a 5.0 second burn time that

accelerates the AIM-9 to approximately 2.0 Mach above the launch aircraft's airspeed. The

"smokeless" motor is actually 95% smoke free, leaving only a thin wisp of smoke in its trail,

which would be imperceptible to the enemy.