Philco-Ford AIM-9L Sidewinder

Type of air-to-air missile

The Sidewinder missile is a supersonic air-to-air missile, it has a high-explosive warhead and an infrared heat-seeking guidance system. Sidewinders were carried by Hawker Siddeley Sea Harriers and Harrier GR.3s during the Falklands Conflict and achieved over 80% success rate after launch. Flight Lieutenant David Morgan, an RAF exchange pilot with the Fleet Air Arm, shot down two Argentinian jets in one engagement with Sidewinders during the conflict, making him the last RAF pilot to shoot down a manned enemy aircraft in action.