麻雀导弹二十多年来一直是美国标准的中距空对空导弹。但从一九八六年起它将由新的标准弹,即休斯飞机公司的 AIM-120先进中距空空导弹(AMRAAM)来替代。AIM-7麻雀导弹于一九五八年服役。在1965～1969年之间仅有不到10%的麻雀弹击中了它的目标。一九六九年以后又先后出现了 AIM-7E 2,7E,7M。尽管麻雀弹自发展以来在不断改进,但它始终没有克服其基本缺点——半主动雷达寻的制导。 Sparrow missiles have been the U.S. standard medium-range air-to-air missiles for more than two decades. However, it will be replaced by a new standard missile, the Hughes Aircraft Company’s AIM-120 AMRAAM, since 1986. The AIM-7 Sparrow missile was commissioned in 1958. Between 1965 and 1969 less than 10% of the sparrows hit its target. After 1969, AIM-7E 2,7E and 7M successively appeared. Despite its continuous improvement since its development, the Sparrow has never overcome its fundamental weakness - semi-active radar guidance.