Ukraine's naval drones strike Russian Su‑30s with AIM‑9 missiles
Magura anti-aircraft naval drones are not new, but a recent historic case involved shooting down a pair of Russian Su-30 aircraft using American AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, which are also employed on Polish F-16s. We present their performance.
The Ukrainians are increasingly using naval drones to disrupt the movements of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, currently stationed in Novorossiysk. Additionally, Ukrainians utilise naval drones as miniature aircraft carriers for drones targeting Russian anti-aircraft defence systems deployed on the shores of Crimea.
Meanwhile, the Russians, aiming to protect their ships, are using aviation to hunt these drones. Initially, helicopters were used, but after losing several units, they switched to multirole aircraft. These should theoretically be impervious to anti-aircraft drones due to high altitude and the use of, for example, laser-guided missiles.
However, for some reason, most likely the Russian pilots of the pair of Su-30 planes decided to attack the drones using cannons or unguided missiles, which proved catastrophic. Two planes were caught by a drone carrying American AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, most likely in the older L or M versions. These are prevalent in NATO and serve as a good substitute for the previously used Vympel R-73.
AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles — short-range weapon of most NATO air forces
The AIM-9 Sidewinder series of missiles has been the basic armament of NATO countries' aircraft since the 1950s. Currently, NATO countries utilise AIM-9L or M missiles originating from the late 1970s and 1980s, along with the newer AIM-9X models produced since 2015.
The AIM-9X version is easily distinguishable from older models by the presence of small canards at the front of the missile and short fins at its rear. Ukraine has received both the older versions, for which "combat scrapping" is the best possible option, and the newer AIM-9X units, most likely reserved for F-16 aircraft and the NASAMS system.
AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles - passive guidance system
These missiles are characterised by a short range, just over 30 kilometres for newer variants at high altitude or about 10 kilometres when launched from land or water. They are equipped with an infrared homing system with an IR seeker head, and in the latest variants, it features a fourth-generation (IIR) design that detects the thermal image of the target. However, as demonstrated, older models also succeed in downing Russian planes.
This passive homing method differs from the active radar seeker of AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles and allows them to attack stealth aircraft while being resistant to flares.
A fragmentation warhead weighing about 10 kilogrammes is used to destroy targets, which is sufficient to seriously damage or destroy a plane or helicopter. The AIM-9X Block II version, compared to earlier versions, besides improved durability and a different control surface design, also features thrust vectoring, significantly enhancing its manoeuvrability at short range when the rocket motor is still active.
