.jpg "AIM-7E Sparrow Medium-range air-to-air missiles © Konstantinos Panitsidis")
In numbers Through the lens Video
In 1963 the USAF received in its arsenal the first modified AIM-7E missiles, gradually replacing the AIM-7D. The improved rocket equipped with a more powerful Aerojet Mk.52.Mod.2 solid fuel engine. They also installed an improved guidance system and electronics.
On the basis of the AIM-7E, a modification of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft complex was developed, adopted by the US Navy and is still in use.
The missile was used in the Vietnam War with disappointing results. Despite the continuous improvements of the Sparrow missile, they did not manage to solve all the problems.
The “Sparrow” missiles have been withdrawn from service in 2000.
1. Seeker 2. Proximity fuze 3. Integrated control and power unit 4. Thermal batteries 5. Wing hub 6. Forward suspension lug 7. Wing 8. Safety and arming unit 9. Aft suspension lug 10. Rocket motor (engine) 11. Fin 12. Radome (homing head) 13. Fuze antenna 14. Hydraulic accumulator 15. Actuator 16. Electrical interface connector 17. Warhead 18. Igniter.
Technical specifications
| DESIGNER | Raytheon |
| COUNTRY | ΗΠΑ |
| TYPE |
Medium range air-to-air missiles
|
|
Aircraft-bearer (aerial means)
|
F-4 Phantom II, F-15 Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-14 Tomcat, F/A-18 Hornet, JA-37 Viggen, Tornado F.3 ADV, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Mitsubishi F-2, F-104S Starfighter
|
|
POWER-PLANT
|
Solid - propellant rocket
|
|
Thrust, kgf
|
10.025 |
|
DIMENSIONS
|
|
|
Length, m
|
3,66
|
|
Diameter, m
|
0,203
|
|
Wing span, m
|
1,020
|
|
Fin span, m
|
-
|
|
WEIGHT
|
|
|
Maximum missile weight, kg
|
204
|
|
Warhead weight, kg
|
30 |
|
PERFORMANCE
|
|
|
Maximum speed, km/h
|
4.532 (4.900) |
|
Target g-load, g
|
- |
|
Altitude of engagement (target entrapment), km
|
- |
|
Operational range, km
|
35 |
|
Warhead type
|
Continuous rod |
|
Guidance system
|
Semi active radar seeker |
Photos AIM-7E Sparrow: War Museum Athens, 2019
AIM-7E Sparrow: War Museum Athens, 2023
Video
AIM-7E Sparrow
War Museum Athens (Greece 2023)
Video: © Redstar.gr