Taiwan to buy Sidewinder tactical missiles from United States

The contract covers 100 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder tactical missiles and four AIM-9X Block II tactical Guidance Units, along with related parts and support, according to a military source

The missiles are expected to be fully delivered by 2030.

The AIM-9 Sidewinder (where "AIM" stands for "Air Intercept Missile") is a short-range air-to-air missile that entered service with the US Navy in 1956 and subsequently was adopted by the US Air Force in 1964.

Since then, the Sidewinder has proved to be an enduring international success, and its latest variants remain standard equipment in most Western-aligned air forces. (ILKHA)