Sparrow III missile blows the wing off a F6F-5K Hellcat target drone

A chase plane films a Sparrow III air-to-air missile launched by an F3H Demon during live fire trials in January 1959. 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, and United States Marine Corps, as well as other various air forces and navies. The Sparrow and its derivatives were the West's principal beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile from the late 1950s until the 1990s. While some of the latest versions remain in service, they are being phased out in aviation applications in favor of the more advanced AIM-120 AMRAAM.