What is AIM-9X? Ukraine's F-16s Armed with Cutting Edge Air-to-Air Missiles

With the first F-16s thought to be in Ukraine's hands, the U.S. is reportedly sending a range of American-made weapons, including the AIM-9X, to go with the fast jets for which Kyiv has long pleaded.

AIM-9X missiles, also known as Sidewinders, are short-range air-to-air weapons made by U.S. defense giant Raytheon. They can be launched from aircraft, as well as ground-based systems, and are compatible with a host of jets like the F-16, the F-22 and the F-35.

Other missiles in the F-16 package include the AGM-88 HARM air-to-ground missile, and more of the longer-range versions of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits, that convert dumb, or unguided, bombs into precision weapons, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week. The package will also include more Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM).

Newsweek has reached out to the Pentagon for comment via email.

The AIM-9X and AMRAAM missiles will give Ukraine's F-16s "a leg up" in any short-range dogfights the newly-donated jets may encounter with Russian tactical jets, argued Jacob Parakilas, research leader in defence and security at the European branch of the RAND think tank.

However, this type of combat is rarely glimpsed in Ukraine, as both Kyiv and Moscow have kept their aircraft largely far behind the frontlines and away from the grasp of the other's long-range ground-based missiles, Parakilas told Newsweek.

"Instead, the AIM-9X is likely to find useful employment attacking Russian cruise missiles and drones heading for Ukrainian cities and critical national infrastructure, which adds another layer to Ukraine's defences against those constant threats," Parakilas added.

Russia has hammered Ukrainian settlements and critical infrastructure with missile and drone strikes, and Kyiv has repeatedly appealed to its Western backers for more air defense systems and interceptor missiles to go with them.

Western-donated F-16 fighter jets will also help Ukraine maintain its air defenses, Kyiv officials have said.

Media reports on Wednesday suggested the first of the Lockheed Martin-made fighter jets had arrived in Ukraine after long months of delays to delivery timetables and nebulous language around when they would take to Ukraine's skies.

U.K. newspaper The Telegraph reported on Wednesday that Ukraine had used F-16s only as an air defense asset so far.

Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis appeared to confirm the delivery of the first batch of jets, although there has been no official comment from Ukraine.

Six jets have been supplied to Ukraine by the Netherlands, with Danish aircraft soon to follow, London's The Times newspaper reported. The Danish defense ministry declined to comment following a Newsweek request.

The Netherlands has pledged a total of 24 F-16 jets to Ukraine as part of an international coalition with Denmark, Norway and Belgium to furnish Kyiv with advanced fighters. Ukraine will receive 19 Danish F-16s.

Officials and experts have described the jets as a boost to Ukraine, but not a silver bullet for incremental but steady Russian gains along the eastern front in recent months.

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