FOCUS: Air to ground Sidewinder project

[overscan (PaulMM)]

FOCUS
The fixed-aperture optical contrast universal spectra (FOCUS) missile was an air-to-surface version of Sidewinder that was designed to guide to light-emitting sources, such as searchlights and headlights.

Source:
D. G. Blanchard "A brief history of Air-Intercept Missile 9 (Sidewinder)"

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-87.html

In the late 1960s, the Naval Weapons Center (NWC) at China Lake developed a derivative of the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile for air-to-ground use. An unknown number of AIM-9B missiles were converted by General Electric and designated AGM-87A Focus I. The AGM-87A was used in Vietnam during 1969/70 for night attacks against visible IR emitters, such as truck headlights. It is said that the Focus was quite successful in its specialized role, but the program was discontinued for reasons unknown to me.