The AIM-7 Sparrow is an American medium-range semi-active radar homing air-to-air missile operated by the United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and various other air forces and navies. Sparrow and its derivatives were the West's principal beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile from the late 1950s until the 1990s. It remains in service, although it is being phased out in aviation applications in favor of the more advanced AIM-120 AMRAAM.
AIM-7 Sparrow at Hill Air Force Base Museum.
Sparrow I's during tests on a Douglas F3D Skyknight in the early 1950s
F3H Demon launching a Sparrow III in 1958
The RIM-7 Sea Sparrow is a U.S. ship-borne short-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapon system, primarily intended for defense against anti-ship missiles. The system was developed in the early 1960s from the AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missile as a lightweight "point-defense" weapon that could be retrofitted to existing ships as quickly as possible, often in place of existing gun-based anti-aircraft weapons. In this incarnation, it was a very simple system guided by a manually aimed radar illuminator.
A Sea Sparrow launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)
Mark 115 manned director, initially used to guide a Sea Sparrow to its target as a part of BPDMS.
USS O'Brien launches a Sea Sparrow missile, shown with its mid-wing still folded as it departs a NSSM Mark 29 launcher on November 5, 2003.
Two Mark 95 unmanned illumination radars used to guide a Sea Sparrow to its target.