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Question : How does the AIM-9M Sidewinder avoid friendly aircraft if it uses heat seeking systems?   Answer : Thanks for your question. I flew the F-16 for 15 years in the Air force and used the AIM-9M almost daily for most of that time. It is a great weapon, but unfortunately, it will go after any aircraft that it is fired at, enemy or friendly! It uses heat contrast to find the target, and does not have the ability to discriminate aircraft types. We prevent inadvertent shootdowns by training, training, and more training. We use real AIM-9M seekers on our captive training missiles, and film everything on video that can be reviewed in our debriefings. Any shots on “friendly” aircraft are critiqued, and we have many rules of engagement to prevent shooting a friendly aircraft in combat. However, no pilot is perfect, so that is why training is so important. Lt Col (ret) Mike Carter F-16 Pilot   Was this answer useful to you? Back

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