Mission

     The AIM-7 Sparrow is a radar-guided, air-to-air missile with a 
high-explosive warhead. The versatile Sparrow has all-weather, all-
altitude operational capability and can attack high-performance 
aircraft and missiles from any direction. It is a widely deployed 
missile used by U.S. and NATO forces.

Features

     The missile has five major sections: radome, radar guidance 
system, warhead, flight control (autopilot plus hydraulic control 
system), and solid-propellant rocket motor. It has a cylindrical body 
with four wings at mid-body and four tail fins. Although external 
dimensions of the Sparrow remained relatively unchanged from 
model to model, the internal components of newer missiles 
represent major improvements with vastly increased capabilities.

Background

     The AIM-7F joined the Air Force inventory in 1976 as the 
primary medium-range, air-to-air missile for the F-15 Eagle. 

     The AIM-7M, the only current operational version, entered 
service in 1982. It has improved reliability and performance over 
earlier models at low altitudes and in electronic countermeasures 
environments. It also has a significantly more lethal warhead. The 
latest software version of the AIM-7M is H-Build. H-Build has been 
produced since 1987 and incorporates additional improvements in 
guidance. The F-4 Phantom, F-15 Eagle, and F-16 Fighting Falcon 
fighters carry the AIM-7M Sparrow. U.S. and NATO navies operate 
a surface-to-air version of this missile called the RIM-7F/M Sea 
Sparrow.

     In the Persian Gulf war, the radar-guided AIM-7 Sparrow proved 
to be a potent air-to-air weapon used by Air Force fighter pilots.  
Twenty-two Iraqi fixed-wing aircraft and three Iraqi helicopters were 
downed by radar-guided AIM-7 Sparrow missiles.

General Characteristics

Primary Function: Air-to-air guided missile.
Contractor: Raytheon Co.
Power Plant: Hercules MK-58 solid-propellant rocket motor.
Thrust: Classified.
Speed: Classified.
Range: Classified.
Length: 12 feet (3.64 meters).
Diameter: 8 inches (0.20 meters).
Wingspan: 3 feet, 4 inches (1 meter).
Warhead: Annular blast fragmentation warhead.
Launch Weight: Approximately 500 pounds (225 kilograms).
Guidance System: Raytheon semiactive on either continuous 
wave or pulsed Doppler radar energy.
Date Deployed: 1976.
Unit Cost: Approximately $125,000.
Inventory: Classified.

POINT OF CONTACT:
Air Combat Command; Public Affairs Office; 90 Oak Street; 
Langley AFB, VA 23665-2191; DSN 574-5007, (804) 764-5007.