Missile, Training, Air-to-Air, ATM 9E Sidewinder

Long cylindrical body, gray, with four glssy white fins in cruciform pattern at base and four glossy white triangular fins also in cruciform pattern under blunt nose; blue strip around missile, a short distance before front fins; glass nose tip for heat seeking guidance and series of small glass windows around missile, below blue stripe; electrical plug with short black plastic insulated wire leading into side of missile, below nosecone top, with female socket and red plastic protective cap on end; small, rotating rolleron wheels mounted on the trailing edges of the rear fins to help stabilize missile in flight; three equi-distant lugs on one side of body for aircraft launch; black lettering stenciled in black, horizontally on rocket's side at front.

This is a Sidewinder air-to-air missile, also designated AIM-9E. The blue stripe indicates it was a training model. The Sidewinder has been one of the most successful short-range, air-to-air missiles and was the first heat-seeking guided missile to become operational.

Many models have been produced since the mid-1950s. 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. This object was donated to the Smithsonian in 2003 by the U.S. Air Force Museum.