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R-77

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R-77/RVV-AE
(NATO reporting name: AA-12 Adder)
TypeMedium-Range Active-Radar Homing Air-to-Air Missile
Service history
In service1994 (R-77)
Production history
ManufacturerVympel
Specifications
Mass175 kg (R-77), 190 kg (R-77-1)
Length3.6 m (R-77), 3.71 m (R-77-1)
Diameter200 mm
Wingspan350 mm
Warhead22.5 kg HE fragmenting (R-77)
Detonation
mechanism
laser proximity fuze
EngineSolid fuel rocket motor (R-77), air-breathing ramjet (R-77-PD)
Operational
range
80 km (R-77), 110 km (R-77-1)[1]
Flight altitude5 m-25 km (16.5-82,000 ft)
Guidance
system
Inertial with mid-course update and terminal active radar homing
Launch
platform
Mikoyan MiG-21-93/LanceR/Bison, Mikoyan MiG-29, Mikoyan MiG-31, Mikoyan MiG-35, Sukhoi Su-27SM, Sukhoi Su-30, Sukhoi Su-33, Sukhoi Su-34, Sukhoi Su-35, Sukhoi Su-37, Sukhoi Su-47, Yakovlev Yak-141, J-10B
Future Platforms:
Sukhoi PAK FA

The Vympel R-77 missile (NATO reporting name: AA-12 Adder) is a Russian medium range, air-to-air, active radar-guided missile system. It is also known by its export model designation RVV-AE. It is the Russian counterpart to the American AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.[2]

Development

Work on the R-77 began in 1982. It represented Russia's first multi-purpose missile for both tactical and strategic aircraft for fire-and-forget use against a range of aircraft from hovering helicopters to high speed, low altitude aircraft. Gennadiy Sokolovski, general designer of the Vympel Design Bureau, said that the R-77 missile can be used against medium and long range air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-54 Phoenix, as well as SAMs such as the Patriot. The weapon has a laser fuze and an expanding rod warhead that can destroy the variable sized targets. It can be used against cruise missiles and precision-guided munitions (PGMs). First seen in 1992 at the Moscow Airshow (MAKS) 1992, the R-77 was immediately nicknamed Amraamski by Western journalists. The basic R-77 is known as the izdeliye 170, while the export variant is known as the izdeliye 190 / RVV-AE.[3]

The R-77 can be used by most of the Russian Air force fighter aircraft, since many of their aircraft, primarily MiG-29, Su-27 and MiG-31, were upgraded recently.The same is true for the PLAAF of China, who use the Su-27 as well as a copy, the J-11. The newer Su-30MKK has a N001 (Su-27 radar) with a digital bypass channel incorporating a mode allowing it to use R-77s. The radar-guided R-77 has been sold widely, with China and India placing significant orders for the weapon, as was the case for the R-73. The baseline R-77 was designed in the 1980s, with development complete by around 1994. India was the first export customer for the export variant, known as the RVV-AE, with the final batch delivered in 2002.[4][5]

There are other variants under development. One has an upgraded motor to boost range at high altitudes to as much as 120–160 km; it is known as the RVV-AE-PD. The 'PD' stands for Povyshenoy Dalnosti, which in Russian means "improved range". This variant has been test-fired and uses a solid-fuel ramjet engine. Its range puts it in the long-range class and is equivalent in range to the AIM-54 Phoenix. In another version of the R-77, a terminal infra-red homing seeker is offered. This is in line with the Russian practice of attacking targets by firing pairs of missiles with different homing systems. This complicates end-game defensive actions for the target aircraft, as it needs to successfully defeat two homing systems. This method of attack may not always be available as IR seekers typically have less range and less resistance to poor weather than radar seekers, which may limit the successful use of mixed seeker attacks unless the IR missile is initially directed by radar or some other means.[6][7]

Another improvement program was designated the R-77M, which made the missile longer and heavier, making use of a two-stage motor as well as an improved seeker.[8] A further product-improvement of the R-77, designated the R-77M1 and then the R-77-PD, was to feature a ramjet propulsion device. This missile was destined for the MiG 1.44 that for the MFI program. The weapon has a laser fuse and an expanding rod warhead that can destroy the variable sized targets. However, due to funding shortage and eventual cancellation of the MiG 1.44, development of this model may have stopped by 1999; no information or announcement regarding the R-77M and R-77-PD has appeared since.

Vympel did not have adequate funding during the 1990s and the first part of the following decade to support further evolution of the R-77, either for the Russian air force or the export market. The basic version of the R-77 is not thought to have entered the Russian air force inventory in significant numbers.[citation needed]

Further development

Tactical Missile Corp., also known as TRV, unveiled its so-called RVV-SD and RVV-MD missiles for the first time at the Moscow air show in August 2009. The RVV-SD is an improved version of the R-77 (AA-12 Adder), while the RVV-MD is a variant of the R-73 (AA-11 Archer), and the RVV-SD includes the upgrades associated with the izdeliye 170-1 designation.[3] The RVV-SD, along with the RVV-MD, seem to be part of Russia's bid for India's medium multirole combat aircraft competition. Both designations were included by MiG on a presentation covering MiG-35 Fulcrum armament during Aero India Air Show in February. The initial RVV-MD offering is likely no more than a stopgap to try to maintain its position, and to provide a credible radar-guided weapon to offer as part of fighter export packages and upgrade programs.[1]

According to specifications, the izdeliye 170-1 / RVV-SD is 15 kg (33 lb) heavier than the basic R-77/RVV-AE, weighing 190 kg (420 lb) rather than 175 kg (386 lb). Maximum range is increased to 110 km (68 mi) from 80 km (50 mi). The missile is also slightly longer at 3.71 metres (12.2 ft), rather than the 3.6 metres (11.8 ft) of the basic variant. Additional improvements include upgrades to the missile's radar seeker. Russian missile manufacturer Agat previously confirmed it was working on seeker upgrades for the R-77, implying that at least two projects were underway, one for export and one for the Russian air force.[1][3]

Vympel, a which had merged to be part of TRV, has been developing a more extensive upgrade of the missile than the 170-1. Designated the izdeliye 180 / K-77M, this missile is a mid-life upgrade for the weapon and is intended to be the main medium-range missile for the Sukhoi PAK FA. This upgrade aims to provide a further improvement in range, with the design including a dual-pulse motor configuration. The izdeliye 180 will use an AESA seeker and conventional rear fins instead of the R-77's lattice fins.[3][1] Though it uses a similar designation as the earlier R-77M improvement program, it is not known if these two missiles are the same or are related.

Description

Seeker Head of Vympel R-77 at 2009 MAKS Airshow

The aerodynamics are novel, combining vestigial cruciform wings with grid fins used as tail control surfaces (similar devices are used on the R-400 Oka, and USAF uses them on MOAB). Each surface consists of a metal frame containing a blade-like grid assembly which combines a greater control area, and thus lifting force, with reduced weight and size. The development for this control concept took three years of theoretical work and testing. These surfaces require less powerful actuators than conventional fins, and have a lower RCS. The flow separation which occurs at high angles of attack enhances its turning ability, giving the missile a maximum turn rate of up to 150º per second. However, updated variants of the R-77, such as the izdeliye 180 that is destined for the PAK FA, will use conventional fins instead.[3]

The missile uses a multi-function doppler-monopulse active radar seeker developed by OAO Agat.[9] The radar features two modes of operation, over short distances, the missile will launch in an active "fire and forget" mode. Over longer distances the missile is controlled by an inertial auto pilot with occasional encoded data link updates from the launch aircraft's radar on changes in spatial position or G of the target. As the missile comes within 20 km (12.42 mi) of its target, the missile switches to its active radar mode. The host radar system maintains computed target information in case the target breaks the missile's lock-on.

Variants

R-77 Variants.
  • R-77 (izdeliye 170) - Standard model.
  • R-77P / RVV-PE - Passive homing model.[10]
  • R-77T / RVV-TE - Infrared homing model.[11]
  • RVV-AE (izdeliye 190) - Export derivative model.
  • R-77-PD / RVV-AE-PD - Ramjet model. Development stopped in 1999.
  • R-77-1 / RVV-SD (izdeliye 170-1) - Improved variant.
  • K-77M (izdeliye 180) - Highly improved variant for the PAK FA with AESA seeker, conventional fins, and two-pulse motor.
  • K-77ME (izdeliye 180-PD) - Ramjet model of the K-77M.[12]
  • R-77-SRK - Surface-to-air variant.
  • R-77-ZRK - Ship-to-air variant.

Operators

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Barrie, Douglas and Pyadushkin, Maxim. "R-77, R-73 Missile Upgrades Emerge". Aviation Week. 13 August 2009
  2. ^ "Federation of American Scientists - "AA-12 ADDER R-77"". Retrieved 2006-08-19.
  3. ^ a b c d e Butowski, Piotr. Russia and CIS Observer. 17 June 2007.
  4. ^ "R-77 (AA-12) Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile". SinoDefence.com. 2008-10-20. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  5. ^ "International Assessment and Strategy Center > Research > PLAAF Equipment Trends". Strategycenter.net. 2001-10-30. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  6. ^ "Heat Seeking Missile Guidance". Retrieved 2010-04-10.
  7. ^ Dr Carlo Kopp, SMAIAA, SMIEEE, PEng (2012-08-21). "PLA Air to Air Missiles". Ausairpower.net. Retrieved 2013-01-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/vympel-updates-its-r-77-37517/
  9. ^ "OAO Agat Website". Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  10. ^ R-77P
  11. ^ R-77T
  12. ^ T-50 completes early flight and bench tests
  13. ^ http://www.deagel.com/Air-to-Air-Missiles/R-77_a001032001.aspx
  14. ^ http://www.deagel.com /Air-to-Air-Missiles/R-77_a001032001.aspx
  15. ^ 2011 Annual Report of Tactical Missile Corporation, http://bmpd.livejournal.com/290141.html
  16. ^ http://jakartagreater.com/sukhoi-tni-au-dan-rudal-r-77/
  17. ^ "Russia Signs $35-Mln Missile Contract with Malaysia". Retrieved 2012-10-28.
  18. ^ http://baodatviet.vn/hinh-anh/201301/Thu-tuong-kiem-tra-ten-lua-cho-Su-30MK2-2214697/
  19. ^ "Gobierno eliminaría misiles rusos R-77". Retrieved 2014-05-18.

References

  • Gordon, Yefim (2004). Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons Since World War Two. Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-188-1.
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