Military Knowledge: R-73 Air-to-Air Missile

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Originally published by IslamicWorldNews

The R-73 missile is a short-range, infrared-guided air-to-air missile designed by Vympel NPO. Entering service in 1984, it is known in NATO designation as the AA-11 Archer.

Work on the R-73 began in 1973, with the goal of replacing the R-60 (AA-8 ‘Aphid’) missile. The R-60 was considered the lightest infrared missile in the world, weighing only 43.5 kilograms, but its small warhead of 3 kilograms made it largely ineffective against fighter aircraft. After twelve years of development, the R-73 entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1985.

At the nose of the R-73 is an infrared seeker, responsible for directly tracking the target. Behind it are four proximity fuzes, which allow the missile to detonate when it comes close to the target. Following this section are two rows of canards, placed sequentially, enabling rapid directional changes. Next comes the control unit and additional sensors, followed by the warhead, then the solid-fuel propellant and rocket motor. At the rear, in addition to the motor, the missile is equipped with four stabilizing fins to ensure flight stability.

R-73 missile components

The seeker of the R-73 missile is an infrared seeker that tracks the heat emitted by aircraft—particularly from the engine section—and can detect targets up to 60 degrees off the missile’s central line of sight. The R-73 also features an “off-boresight” capability. This means that a helmet-mounted sight (HMS) allows the pilot to simply look at a target and fire, without turning the aircraft toward it. In this mode, the missile rotates in the direction of the pilot’s gaze, locks on with its nose-mounted seeker, and then attacks the target.

After the reunification of Germany in 1990, several R-73 missiles came into the possession of the United States. Tests revealed that the R-73 was superior to the American AIM-9M Sidewinder. Compared to the Sidewinder M variant, the R-73 demonstrated greater maneuverability and stronger target acquisition and tracking capabilities. However, its performance was degraded in cloudy conditions. This limitation prompted the development of newer short-range infrared missiles such as the AIM-132 ASRAAM, IRIS-T, MICA IR, Python IV, and AIM-9X, all designed to surpass the R-73.

R-73 missile (AA-11 Archer)

The R-73 missile has been produced since 1994 under the designation R-73M, also known as R-74EM, and entered service with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in 1997. This upgraded missile was designed to resist Infrared Counter-Counter Measures (IRCCM). It is carried by aircraft such as the MiG-29, Su-27, Su-34, and Su-35, and can also be deployed by newer versions of the MiG-21, MiG-23, Su-24, and Su-25. Additionally, it is compatible with Russian attack helicopters including the Mil Mi-24, Mil Mi-28, and Kamov Ka-50. India has also sought to integrate this missile into its light combat aircraft.

In 2009, a version called RVV-MD was introduced as the export model of the R-74 (izdeliye 740). These missiles are expected to complement earlier R-73 variants still in service.

An enhanced version was unveiled in 2016 under the name R-74M (izdeliye 750). This model features fully digital, reprogrammable systems and is designed for use on advanced fighters such as the MiG-35, MiG-29K/M/M2, Su-27SM, Su-30MK, and Su-35S.

An image of the RVV-MD missile, an export version of the R-74M, with its infrared seeker in its nose and control fins

A more advanced version, designated R-74M2 (izdeliye 760), has been developed specifically for the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet. This missile is equipped with an inertial navigation system, features a smaller radar cross-section, and its fin span has been reduced to 434 millimeters to fit inside the Su-57’s internal weapons bay.

The R-74M2 incorporates Infrared Counter-Countermeasure (IRCCM) technology, designed to achieve performance comparable to the AIM-9X, IRIS-T, and ASRAAM. Testing of the R-74M2 was completed in 2019, and its export version, known as RVV-MD2, was unveiled in 2023.

RVV-MD2 mock-up at the 2023 Dubai Airshow

A futuristic design project known as K-MD (izdeliye 300) is currently under development as a short-range air-to-air missile intended for close combat. It is expected that this version will eventually replace the R-74M2.

The Yemeni military also possesses a variant of this missile, designated Thaqib-1, which has been modified for use as a surface-to-air defense weapon. This version was unveiled by Yemen in March 2020 and has reportedly achieved several successful interceptions of fighter aircraft and drones.

Specifications of the R-73 Air-to-Air Missile

Type: Short-range air-to-air missile
Designer: Former Soviet Union and Russian Federation
Manufacturer: Vympel NPO
Design Year: 1973
Service Entry: 1985
Length: 2.93 meters
Wingspan: 0.51 meters (51 cm)
Diameter: 0.165 meters (16.5 cm)
Weight: 105 kilograms
Engine: Single-stage solid-fuel rocket motor
Range: Up to 30 kilometers
Speed: Maximum of Mach 2.5
Warhead: 7.4 kilograms
Guidance: Passive infrared homing with proximity fuse
Seeker Off-Boresight Angle: ±45° to ±75° depending on variant
Launch Platforms: MiG-29, Su-27, Su-34, Su-35; selected versions of MiG-21, MiG-23, Su-24, Su-25 and Mil Mi-24, Mil Mi-28, Kamov Ka-50

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