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Vympel R-27R
Vympel R-27R
	;
Type	Medium-range, air-to-air tactical missile
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1983- present
Production history
Manufacturer	Vympel
Unit cost	N/A
Specifications
Weight	253 kg
Length	4.08 meter
Diameter	23.0 cm
Warhead	39 kg blast/fragmentation, or continuous rod.
Detonation; mechanism	radar-proximity and impact fuzes
Engine	High performance, w. directed-rocket motor;
Wingspan	77.2 cm
Operational; range	R-27R/T: 200 meters to 80 km; R-27ER/ET: 200 meters to 130 km
Flight altitude	N/A
Speed	Mach 4
Guidance; system	semi-active radar homing
Launch; platform	the fighter planes Su-27, MiG-29, Mig-23, Yak-141;

R-27 T

R-73Ae, R-27R1(AeR1), R-27T1(AeT1), and Kh-59MAe at MACS, Zhukovski, 1999.

The Vympel R-27 missile (with the NATO reporting name AA-10 Alamo) is a medium-to-long-range air-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union. It remains in service with the Russian Air Force and air forces of the former Commonwealth of Independent States.

The R-27 is manufactured in infrared-homing (R-27T), semi-active-radar-homing (R-27R), and active-radar-homing (R-27AE) versions, in Russia and Ukraine. This missile is carried by the Mikoyan MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27 fighters, and some of the later-model MiG-23MLD fighters were also adapted to carry it. The R-27 missile is also license-produced in the PRC, though the production license was bought from the country of Ukraine instead of Russia. The Chinese-licensed production does not include the active-radar-homing version, and China developed its own active-radar version by adapting into it the active-radar seeker of the Vympel R-77 missile, which was sold to the PRC by Russia in the R-27 missile.

[edit] Versions of the R-27 missile

R-27R AA-10 Alamo-A, semi-active radar homing. Range up to 80 km under optimal conditions ^[1]
R-27T AA-10 Alamo-B, infrared homing, passive homing using the Avtomatika 9B-1032 (PRGS-27) IR seeker head. Weight 248 kg. Range 3.0 km to 70 km.
R-27ER AA-10 Alamo-C, the semi-active-radar homing extended-range version, which is 70 cm longer and slightly wider. Range 130 km. Entered service 1990.
R-27ET AA-10 Alamo-D, the infrared-homing extended-range version, which is 70 cm longer and slightly wider, using the Avtomatika 9B-1032 (PRGS-27) seeker head. Range 120 km. Weight 348 kg. Entered service in 1990.
R-27AE AA-10 Alamo-E, active-radar-homing long-range version. Range 1.0 km to 130 km. Weight 349 kg.
R-27EM, the naval version. Semi-active-radar homing with an upgraded seeker head, enabling it to engage targets flying at three meters above the sea.
R-27P, a passive anti-radiation missile, similar to the US/NATO "Shrike" missile.

[edit] Operational service

In the Gulf War of 1990-1991, Iraqi pilot Khudai Hijab managed to damage an American B-52G, nicknamed "In Harm's Way" with a R-27R missile from a MIG-29.^[2]

During the Eritrean-Ethiopian War from May 1998 to June 2000, R-27 missiles were used in combat by both Ethiopian Su-27s and Eritrean MiG-29s. Even if a number of aircraft from both sides were reported shot down, it cannot be determined whether they were downed by R-27s, or infrared-guided R-73s or R-60s, or by air-to-air gunfire.