United States Marine Corps Weapons & Equipment
AIM-7 Sparrow III Missile
Primary function: Radar-guided air-to-air missile
Manufacturer: Raytheon and General Dynamics
Propulsion: Solid-fuel rocket
Length: 12 feet ((3.66 meters)
Weight: 500 pounds (227 kilograms)
Diameter: 8 inches (20.32 centimeters)
Span: 3 feet, 4 inches (1.02 meters)
Guidance: Semiactive radar homing
Warhead: 90 pounds, conventional
Platforms: F/A-18 Hornet Out of Production
Features: The AIM-7 Sparrow is an all-weather, medium-range, air-to-air missile with solid-state electronics and
greater range, lethality and reliability than its earlier predecessors. It was originally developed by Sperry and
the U.S. Navy, while the later versions were developed and produced by Raytheon Company, Missile Systems Division
with second-source production by General Dynamics.
Information and Photos Courtesy of United States Marine Corps
