In looking at pics of USAF aircraft deployed over Syria for the last year or so, I’ve noted something strange. They are now flying with a mix of AIM-9M’s and AIM-9X’s. Prior to this, the AIM-9M hadn’t been seen for more than a few years (with the exception of the F-15E, which just transitioned to the newer missile recently). Any idea why the USAF would feel the need to re-introduce the AIM-9M into operations, especially in a theater with a very real chance of coming up against some top of the line adversaries?
No idea if this is also happening with Navy Superhornets, I haven’t seen many pictures recently that show them deployed over there.
By: Johnjay - 23rd February 2019 at 00:12
or it’s because the stocks are available at that time and might as well use it. probably near end of service life missile.
Just doesn’t sound right… These planes are in a combat theater with a high potential of engaging in combat, not just against Syrian jets but, if things really go sideways, Russian jets. In a scenario like this, do you really want to remove a state of the art missile like the 9X and replace it with something 20 years old?
By: stealthflanker - 22nd February 2019 at 06:57
or it’s because the stocks are available at that time and might as well use it. probably near end of service life missile.
By: LastOfGunfighters - 22nd February 2019 at 02:55
Maybe it’s some sort of conversion like the old AGM-87 they tried in Vietnam? Would be a good use of old AIM-9L/M/P variants.
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February 21, 2019 at 2:36 pm