Israeli Defense Experts Modify AIM-9M Missile Seekers to Counter Drone Threats
- MM24 News Desk
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Israeli defense engineers have successfully modified the seekers of AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles to dramatically improve their effectiveness against long-range kamikaze drones like Iran's Shahed-136, according to a new report from the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI). This breakthrough could help allied nations transform their plentiful stocks of older missiles into potent counter-drone weapons amid growing aerial threats.
The modification addresses a critical vulnerability exposed during Iran's massive attack on Israel on April 13-14, 2024. During that night, U.S. and allied forces joined Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to intercept dozens of incoming drones and missiles.
"The defenders quickly surmised that the best weapon to shoot them down is the AIM-9X, the most modern variant of this five-decade-old heat-seeking missile," wrote FPRI President Aaron Stein, citing interviews with U.S. Air Force personnel. "The older variant, the AIM-9M, did not work well for the American drone defenders."
The challenge with drones like the Shahed-136 lies in their flight characteristics. They travel at about the speed of a fast-driving vehicle—far slower than conventional aircraft—while flying very low to the ground where surface clutter hampers detection. Their small size and minimal infrared signature make them particularly difficult targets for older missile systems designed against traditional aircraft.
What exactly did the Israelis change? The report doesn't elaborate on the specific technical modifications, noting that Israel "have not yet shared the technology with allies, even the United States." The term "seeker" could refer to hardware changes, software updates, or broader system modifications to better detect smaller, slower-flying targets against cluttered backgrounds. As a parallel example, the U.S. Army previously added new proximity fuzes with conformal radar antennas to FIM-92 Stinger missiles to improve their anti-drone capabilities.
The performance gap between the older AIM-9M and newer AIM-9X is substantial. The AIM-9X, which first entered U.S. service in 2003, features an advanced imaging infrared (IIR) seeker that sees farther with greater fidelity than the AIM-9M's system. It also incorporates thrust vectoring and high-off-boresight targeting capabilities, making it vastly more effective against diverse threats including drones.
Detection proved equally challenging as engagement during the April attacks. "The issue with the slow, low-flying drones is that they travel at about the same speed as a fast-driving vehicle," the FPRI report explained. Defenders had to use electro-optical or infrared sensors to distinguish drones from vehicles, with one notable characteristic being the engine noise audible "to the naked ear within a couple miles on the ground." This acoustic signature has led Ukrainian forces to deploy acoustic sensor networks against similar threats.
The FPRI now advocates for Israel to share its modification technology with allies. Though increasingly replaced by the AIM-9X, the AIM-9M remains in active U.S. service and is widely used by other nations. Improved counter-drone capabilities could be particularly valuable for Ukraine, which regularly employs these missiles from its F-16 fleet for drone hunting. Ukraine has even experimented with mounting AIM-9Ms on uncrewed surface vessels, though operational use remains unclear.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Air Force has developed its own alternative: the Fixed Wing, Air Launched, Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Ordnance (FALCO) version of the 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rocket. These laser-guided rockets offer immense magazine depth and cost benefits, though they require continuous laser designation and can only engage non-reactionary targets. F-16s began using FALCO rockets operationally against drones last year, with expansion to other platforms underway.
Even with these alternatives, Air Force jets continue flying patrols with mixed air-to-air loadouts including both AIM-9M and AIM-9X Sidewinders. Israel's seeker modifications represent another innovative adaptation of existing munitions to counter the evolving drone threat—a capability that could significantly enhance aerial defense for numerous nations if shared internationally.
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