In 1947 the Navy contracted Sperry to build a beam riding version of a standard HVAR, the standard unguided aerial rocket, under Project Hotshot.
The prototype weapon began unpowered flight-tests in 1947, and made its first aerial interception in 1952. After a protracted development cycle the initial AAM-N-2 Sparrow entered limited operational service in 1954 with specially modified Douglas F3D Skyknight all-weather carrier night fighters.
The weapon was initially dubbed KAS-1, then AAM-2, and, from 1948 on, AAM-N-2.
Sparrow and its derivatives were the West's principal beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile from the late 1950s until the 1990s.
Only about 2,000 rounds were produced to this standard. ===Sparrow II=== As early as 1950 Douglas examined equipping the Sparrow with an active radar seeker, initially known as XAAM-N-2a Sparrow II, the original retroactively becoming Sparrow I.
In radars of the 1950s these were single target tracking devices using a nutating horn as part of the antenna.
. ==External links== Aero Arrow Recovery Canada GlobalSecurity.org Designation-Systems.Net AIM-7 Military equipment introduced in the 1950s Raytheon Company products
Canadair continued development until the Arrow was cancelled in 1959. ===Sparrow X=== A subvariant of the Sparrow I armed with the same nuclear warhead as the MB-1 Genie was proposed in 1958, but was cancelled shortly thereafter. ===Sparrow III=== Concurrently with the development of the Sparrow I, in 1951, Raytheon began work on the semi-active radar homing version of Sparrow family of missiles, the AAM-N-6 Sparrow III.
The prototype weapon began unpowered flight-tests in 1947, and made its first aerial interception in 1952. After a protracted development cycle the initial AAM-N-2 Sparrow entered limited operational service in 1954 with specially modified Douglas F3D Skyknight all-weather carrier night fighters.
In 1952 it was given the new code AAM-N-3.
The prototype weapon began unpowered flight-tests in 1947, and made its first aerial interception in 1952. After a protracted development cycle the initial AAM-N-2 Sparrow entered limited operational service in 1954 with specially modified Douglas F3D Skyknight all-weather carrier night fighters.
The active radar made the Sparrow II a "fire and forget" weapon, allowing several to be fired at separate targets at the same time. By 1955 Douglas proposed going ahead with development, intending it to be the primary weapon for the F5D Skylancer interceptor.
In 1956, they were joined by the McDonnell F3H-2M Demon and Vought F7U Cutlass fighter aircraft.
and Canada, Douglas abandoned development in 1956.
Canadair continued development until the Arrow was cancelled in 1959. ===Sparrow X=== A subvariant of the Sparrow I armed with the same nuclear warhead as the MB-1 Genie was proposed in 1958, but was cancelled shortly thereafter. ===Sparrow III=== Concurrently with the development of the Sparrow I, in 1951, Raytheon began work on the semi-active radar homing version of Sparrow family of missiles, the AAM-N-6 Sparrow III.
The first of these weapons entered United States Navy service in 1958. The AAM-N-6a was similar to the -6, but used a new Thiokol liquid-fuel rocket engine for improved performance.
Canadair continued development until the Arrow was cancelled in 1959. ===Sparrow X=== A subvariant of the Sparrow I armed with the same nuclear warhead as the MB-1 Genie was proposed in 1958, but was cancelled shortly thereafter. ===Sparrow III=== Concurrently with the development of the Sparrow I, in 1951, Raytheon began work on the semi-active radar homing version of Sparrow family of missiles, the AAM-N-6 Sparrow III.
It entered production in 1959, with 7500 being built. Another upgrade reverted to a Rocketdyne solid-fuel motor for the AAM-N-6b, which started production in 1963.
The -6a was also selected to arm the Air Force's F-110A Spectre (F-4 Phantom) fighters in 1962, known to them as the AIM-101.
It entered production in 1959, with 7500 being built. Another upgrade reverted to a Rocketdyne solid-fuel motor for the AAM-N-6b, which started production in 1963.
Air Victories in Vietnam 1965-1973.
There are four versions of the basic design, three of which are surface-to-air and one air-to-air. ===Soviet Union=== The Soviet Union acquired an AIM-7 in 1968 and a Vympel team started copying it as the K-25.
Two kills were obtained beyond visual range. In 1969 an improved version, the E-2, was introduced with clipped wings and various changes to the fuzing.
In the early 1970s, the RAF developed a version with an inverse monopulse seeker and improved motor known as Skyflash, while the Italian Air Force introduced the similar Aspide.
An E-3 version included additional changes to the fuzing, and an E-4 featured a modified seeker for use with the F-14 Tomcat. ===Vietnam War (1965–1973) records=== Improved versions of the AIM-7 were developed in the 1970s in an attempt to address the weapon's limitations.
K-25 work ended in 1971, but analysis of the Sparrow was later used to inform the design of the Vympel R-27, particularly the servomechanisms and movable wings. ===UK=== British Aerospace (BAe) licensed the AIM-7E2 technology in the 1970s, producing the Skyflash missile.
K-25 work ended in 1971, but analysis of the Sparrow was later used to inform the design of the Vympel R-27, particularly the servomechanisms and movable wings. ===UK=== British Aerospace (BAe) licensed the AIM-7E2 technology in the 1970s, producing the Skyflash missile.
The AIM-7F, which entered service in 1976, had a dual-stage rocket motor for longer range, solid-state electronics for greatly improved reliability, and a larger warhead.
Skyflash entered service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) on their Phantom FG.1/FGR.2 in 1978, and later on the Tornado F3.
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 was used to good advantage in the 1991 Gulf War, where it scored many USAF air-to-air kills.
A general wind-down of the budget led to it being cancelled in 1997. Sparrow is now being phased out with the availability of the active-radar AIM-120 AMRAAM, but is likely to remain in service for several years. ==Foreign versions== ===Canada=== As part of the Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow program, Canadair (now Bombardier) partnered with Douglas Aircraft Company in the development of the Sparrow II (AAM-N-3/AIM-7B).
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