R-73 (missile)

R-73 AA-11 Archer
R-73 mock-up on a Hungarian Air Force MiG-29 at Kecskemét Air Show 2008
Type	short-range air-to-air missile
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1984-present
Production history
Manufacturer	Vympel NPO (former), Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing (current)
Specifications
Weight	105 kilograms (231 lb)
Length	2.93 metres (9 ft 7 in)
Diameter	165 millimetres (6.5 in)
Warhead	7.4 kilograms (16 lb)

Engine	solid-fuel rocket engine
Wingspan	510 millimetres (20 in)
Operational range	R-73E: 20 kilometres (12 mi) R-73M1: 30 kilometres (19 mi) ^[1] R-74: 40km (24.7 miles)^[2]
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-25, Su-27, Su-30, Su-33, Su-35, Su-34, Su-47, PAK FA Mil Mi-24, Mil Mi-28, Kamov Ka-50, Kamov Ka-52 Yak-141, Yak-130 HAL Tejas J-10

The Vympel R-73 (NATO reporting name AA-11 Archer) is a short-range air-to-air missile developed by Vympel NPO that entered service in 1984.^[3]

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 1984.^[4]

The R-73 is an infrared homing (heat-seeking) missile with a sensitive, cryogenic cooled seeker with a substantial "off-boresight" capability: the seeker can "see" targets up to 40° off the missile's centerline.^[5] 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 (19 mi) at altitude. The weapon is used by the MiG-29, MiG-31, 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.^[6] 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.

The R-73 is a highly maneuverable missile and mock dogfights between USAF and German Air Force MiG-29s (inherited from the former Air Forces of the National People's Army) equipped with the R-73/helmet mounted cueing 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. The R-73 prompted the development of a number of western air-to-air missiles including the AIM-132 ASRAAM, IRIS-T, MICA IR, Python IV and the latest Sidewinder variant, the AIM-9X which entered squadron service in 2003.

From 1994, the R-73 has been upgraded in production to the 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). Further developments include the R-74 (izdeliye 740) and its export variant RVV-MD.^[7]

An improved version of the R-74, the K-74M (izdeliye 750) 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-35S. A further upgrade, known as the K-74M2 (izdeliye 760), is intended for the fifth-generation Sukhoi PAK FA aircraft. This missile has reduced cross section to fit in internal weapon bays and will match the performance of the AIM-9X and the ASRAAM. A clean sheet design, the K-MD (izdeliye 300), will supersede the K-74M2 in the future.^[8]^[9]

Operational history

On 24 February 1996, two Cessna 337s of the Brothers to the Rescue were shot down by a Cuban Air Force MiG-29UB. Each of the aircraft was downed by a R-73 missile.^[10]

During the 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. It was the IR-homing R-60 and the R-73 that were used in all but two of the kills.

On 18 March 2008, a MiG-29 Fulcrum of the Russian Air Force intercepted a Georgian Elbit Hermes 450 UAV over Abkhazia. The MiG-29 destroyed the UAV with an R-73 missile.^[11]

Variants

R-73 - Standard model with ±45° off-boresight.
R-73M - Improved model.
R-74 (izdeliye 740) - Improved model with ±60° off-boresight.
RVV-MD - Export model of the R-74.
K-74M (izdeliye 750) - Improved model with ±75° off-boresight.
K-74M2 (izdeliye 760) - Further improved variant with reduced cross-section for the PAK FA. Intended to match the AIM-9X and ASRAAM.

Operators

Former operators

East Germany
Germany
Hungary
Romania
Soviet Union Passed to successor states.

Gallery

R-73 in front of an R-77
R-73Ae, R-27R1(AeR1), R-27T1(AeT1) and Kh-59MAe at 1999 MAKS Airshow.
Tejas PV-1 firing an R-73 missile during weapons trials in Goa

IRIS-T

Notes

↑ "AA-11 ARCHER R-73". Retrieved 23 December 2014.
↑ "Tactical Missiles Corporation JSC". Retrieved 23 December 2014.
↑ http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/row/aa-11.htm
↑ http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/row/aa-11.htm
↑ Reed Business Information Limited. "Vympel reveals previously classified air-to-air missiles". Retrieved 23 December 2014.
↑ http://www.uuaz.ru/production/su25ub/su25ub_wpn_e.html
↑ Barrie, Douglas and Pyadushkin, Maxim. "R-77, R-73 Missile Upgrades Emerge". Aviation Week. 13 August 2009
↑ Butowski, Piotr. Russia and CIS Observer. 17 June 2007.
↑ "Vympel plans to develop air-to-air missiles for Russia's PAK FA fighter". Jane's Missiles and Rockets. 19 May 2006
↑ http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/cases/86-99.html
↑ "Russian jet shoots Georgian drone © Reuters". YouTube. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
↑ "Weapon". Retrieved 23 December 2014.
↑ "Bangladesh Military Forces - BDMilitary.com". Bangladesh Military Forces - BDMilitary.com. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
↑ "Su-25KM SCORPION (It is made in Georgia)". YouTube. Retrieved 23 December 2014.

References

Gordon, Yefim (2004). Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons Since World War Two. Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-188-1.
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/yak_130/ 04. August 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vympel R-73.

Russian and former Soviet aircraft ordnance

Air-to-air missiles

AA-1
AA-2
AA-3
AA-4
AA-5
AA-6
AA-7
AA-8
AA-9
AA-10
AA-11
AA-12
AA-13

Air-to-ground missiles

AS-7
AS-9
AS-10
AS-11
AS-12
AS-13
AS-14
AS-18

Anti-ship and cruise missiles

AS-1
AS-2
AS-3
AS-4
AS-5
AS-6
AS-15
AS-16
AS-17
AS-20

Anti-tank missiles

AT-1
AT-2
AT-3
AT-6
AT-9
AT-16

Rockets

Bombs

Autocannons and
machine guns

7.62 mm	PV-1 DA ShKAS Savin–Norov GShG-7.62

12.7 mm	ShVAK 12.7 mm Berezin UB Afanasev A-12.7 Yak-B

20 mm	ShVAK 20 mm Berezin B-20

23 mm	VYa-23 NS-23 NR-23 AM-23 R-23 GSh-23 GSh-6-23

30 mm	NR-30 GSh-301 GSh-30-2 GSh-6-30

37/45 mm	Sh-37 NS-37 NS-45 N-37

NATO designation for Russian and former Soviet Union missiles

Air-to-air missiles complete list

AA-1 Alkali AA-2 Atoll AA-3 Anab AA-4 Awl AA-5 Ash AA-6 Acrid AA-7 Apex AA-8 Aphid AA-9 Amos AA-10 Alamo AA-11 Archer AA-12 Adder AA-13 Arrow

Air-to-surface missiles complete list

AS-1 Kennel AS-2 Kipper AS-3 Kangaroo AS-4 Kitchen AS-5 Kelt AS-6 Kingfish AS-7 Kerry AS-8 AS-9 Kyle AS-10 Karen AS-11 Kilter AS-12 Kegler AS-13 Kingbolt AS-14 Kedge AS-15 Kent AS-16 Kickback AS-17 Krypton AS-18 Kazoo AS-19 Koala AS-20 Kayak

Anti-tank missiles complete list

AT-1 Snapper AT-2 Swatter AT-3 Sagger AT-4 Spigot AT-5 Spandrel AT-6 Spiral AT-7 Saxhorn AT-8 Songster AT-9 Spiral-2 AT-10 Stabber AT-11 Sniper AT-12 Swinger AT-13 Saxhorn-2 АТ-14 Spriggan АТ-15 Springer AT-16 Scallion

Ground based	SA-1 Guild SA-2 Guideline SA-3 Goa SA-4 Ganef SA-5 Gammon SA-6 Gainful SA-7 Grail SA-8 Gecko SA-9 Gaskin SA-10 Grumble SA-11 Gadfly SA-12 Gladiator/Giant SA-13 Gopher SA-14 Gremlin SA-15 Gauntlet SA-16 Gimlet SA-17 Grizzly SA-18 Grouse SA-19 Grison SA-20 Gargoyle SA-21 Growler SA-22 Greyhound SA-23 Gladiator/Giant SA-24 Grinch Morfey S-350E

Naval based	SA-N-1 Goa SA-N-2 Guideline SA-N-3 Goblet SA-N-4 Gecko SA-N-5 Grail SA-N-6 Grumble SA-N-7 Gadfly SA-N-8 Gremlin SA-N-9 Gauntlet SA-N-10 Grouse SA-N-11 Grison SA-N-12 Grizzly SA-N-14 Grouse SA-N-20 Gargoyle

ABMs	ABM-1 Galosh ABM-3/53T6 Gazelle S-500

Ground based	SS-1 Scud SS-2 Sibling SS-3 Shyster SS-4 Sandal SS-5 Skean SS-6 Sapwood SS-7 Saddler SS-8 Sasin SS-9 Scarp SS-10 Scrag SS-11 Sego SS-12 Scaleboard SS-13 Savage SS-14 Scamp/Scapegoat SS-15 Scrooge SS-16 Sinner SS-17 Spanker SS-18 Satan SS-19 Stiletto SS-20 Saber SS-21 Scarab SS-22 Scaleboard SS-23 Spider SS-24 Scalpel SS-25 Sickle SS-26 Stone SS-27 Sickle B SS-28 Saber 2 SS-29

Naval based	SS-N-1 Scrubber SS-N-2 Styx SS-N-3 Shaddock SS-N-4 Sark SS-N-5 Sark/Serb SS-N-6 Serb SS-N-7 Starbright SS-N-8 Sawfly SS-N-9 Siren SS-N-12 Sandbox SS-NX-13 SS-N-14 Silex SS-N-15 Starfish SS-N-16 Stallion SS-N-17 Snipe SS-N-18 Stingray SS-N-19 Shipwreck SS-N-20 Sturgeon SS-N-21 Sampson SS-N-22 Sunburn SS-N-23 Skiff SS-N-23 Sineva SS-N-23 Liner SS-N-24 Scorpion SS-N-25 Switchblade SS-N-26 Strobile SS-N-27 Sizzler SS-N-28 SS-N-29 SS-N-30 SS-NX-32

Russian and former Soviet military designation sequences for radar, missile and rocket systems

Radars

Land based radar systems	P-3 P-8 P-10 P-12 P-14 P-15 P-18 P-19 P-20 P-30 P-35 P-40 P-70 P-80 P-100

Ship-borne radar systems

Airborne radar systems	N001 N002 N006 N008 N005/RP-25 N007/RP-31 N010 N011 N012 N014 N019 N025 N035 N036

Missiles

ICBM	GR-1 R-2 R-7 R-9 R-12 R-13 R-16 RS-16 RS-24 RS-26 RSS-40 R-26 R-36 R-36M R-46 RT-2 RT-2PM RT-2PM2 RT-20 RT-21 RT-23 Sarmat UR-100 UR-100MR UR-100N UR-200

Tactical Surface to Surface	9K720 R-1 R-2 R-5 R-11 R-11A R-12 R-14 RT-15 R-17 RT-23 RT-25 TR-1 OTR-21 OTR-23 P-1000

Sub-surface to Surface	P-5 P-20M/P-70 R-15 R-17 R-21 R-27 R-29 R-39 R-81 RSM-56

Surface to Surface (Naval)	P-1 P-15 P-120 P-270 P-500K P-500B P-700 P-750 P-800

Air to surface	KSR-5 RKV-500A / RK-55 KS-1 K-10S Kh-11 Kh-15 Kh-20 Kh-22 Kh-23 Kh-25 Kh-25MP Kh-26 Kh-28 Kh-29 Kh-31 Kh-35 Kh-58 Kh-55 Kh-59 Kh-59M Kh-90 P-750 9M114V 3M25A

Air to air	R-3 R-4 R-8 R-23 R-27 R-33 R-37 R-40 R-60 R-73 R-77 R-172

Anti-Tank	R-103

Unguided Rockets

Air launched Rockets	RP-1 RP-5 RP-6 RP-9 RP-15 RP-21 RS-82

Surface launched rockets

Engines

RD-8
RD-9
R-11
R-13
R-15
R-25
R-29
RK-55
RD-33
RD-45
RD-58
RD-107
RD-117
RD-120
RD-124
RD-146
RD-170
RD-180
RD-191
RD-500