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Vympel R-73
Vympel R-73
	; R-73 mock-up at 2007 MAKS Airshow
Type	short-range air-to-air missile
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1982
Production history
Manufacturer	Vympel
Specifications
Weight	105 kg (231 lb)
Length	2900 mm (9 ft 6 in)
Diameter	170 mm (6.7 in)
Warhead	7.4 kg (16.3 lb)
Engine	solid-fuel rocket engine;
Wingspan	510 mm (20 in)
Operational; range	R-73E: 20km (12 miles); R-73M: 30km (18.75 miles)
Speed	Mach 2.5
Guidance; system	All-aspect infrared homing
Launch; platform	MiG-21(Upgraded), MiG-23-98, MiG-29, MiG-31, MiG-35; Sukhoi Su-24, Su-27, Su-30, Su-33, Su-35, Su-34; Mil Mi-24, Mil Mi-28, Kamov Ka-50, Yak-141; HAL Tejas, J-10;

The Vympel R-73 (NATO reporting name AA-11 Archer) developed by Vympel machine-building design bureau, is the most modern Russian short-range air-to-air missile.

[edit] Development

The R-73 was developed to replace the earlier R-60 (AA-8 'Aphid') weapon for short-range use by Soviet fighter aircraft. Work began in 1973, and the first missiles entered service in 1982.

The R-73 is an infrared-guided (heat-seeking) missile with a sensitive, cryogenic cooled seeker with a substantial "off-boresight" capability: the seeker can "see" targets up to 60° off the missile's centerline. It can be targeted by a helmet-mounted sight (HMS) allowing pilots to designate targets by looking at them. Minimum engagement range is about 300 meters, with maximum aerodynamic range of nearly 30 km (18.75 mi) at altitude.

The R-73 is a highly maneuverable missile and mock dogfights have indicated that the high degree of "off-boresight" capability of the R-73 would make a significant difference in combat. The missile also has a mechanically simple but effective system for thrust-vectoring. Altogether this prompted the development of Sidewinder and other SRM successors like AIM-132 ASRAAM, IRIS-T, MICA IR, Python IV and the latest Sidewinder variant, AIM-9X, that entered squadron service in 2003.

From 1994 the R-73 has been upgraded in production to R-73M standard, which entered CIS service in 1997. The R-73M has greater range and a wider seeker angle (to 60° off-boresight), as well as improved IRCCM (InfraRed Counter-Counter Measures).

An improved version of the R-73M, the R-74M features fully digital and re-programmable systems, and is intended for use on the MiG-35 or MiG-29K/M/M2 and Su-27SM, Su-30MK and Su-35BM.

The weapon is used by the MiG-29, Su-27, Su-34 and Su-35, and can be carried by newer versions of the MiG-21, MiG-23, Sukhoi Su-24, and Su-25 aircraft. India is looking to use the missile on their HAL Tejas. It can also be carried by Russian attack helicopters, including the Mil Mi-24, Mil Mi-28, and Kamov Ka-50.

[edit] Operational history

During the Gulf War in 1991, Iraqi MiG-29 were armed with R-73 missiles, but there is no information about actual firing of any of the missiles against allied aircraft.

The same happened during 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in spring 1999. There is a known photo ^[2] of a shot down and burned out Yugoslav MiG-29 showing a crashed R-73 next to it.

In April 1996, a Cuban MiG-29 shot down two Cessna Skymasters of the Brothers to the Rescue activist organization using two R-73 missiles ^[3].

During Eritrean-Ethiopian War from May 1998 to June 2000, R-73 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 in air combat, it cannot be determined if they were downed by R-27 or IR guided R-73 and R-60.

On 21 April 2008, a Russian MIG-29 allegedly shot down a Georgian UAV with an IR guided missile, most likely an R-73. The downing was recorded by the shot down UAV itself.