R-27 (air-to-air missile)
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 | |
Mass | 253 kg (558 lb) |
Length | 4.08 m (13.4 ft) |
Diameter | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
Wingspan | 772 mm (30.4 in) |
Warhead | blast/fragmentation, or continuous rod |
Warhead weight | 39 kg (86 lb) |
Detonation mechanism | radar-proximity and impact fuzes |
Engine | High performance, w. directed-rocket motor Solid-fuel rocket motor |
Operational range | R-27R: up to 80 km R-27T: up to 70 km R-27ER: up to 130 km R-27ET: up to 120 km R-27AE up to 130 km R-27EM: up to 170km[1] |
Flight altitude | N/A |
Maximum speed | Mach 2.5 to 4.5 (Depending on altitude and weather conditions.) |
Guidance system | semi-active radar homing |
Launch platform | the fighter planes |
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 both Russia and the Ukraine. The R-27 missile is carried by the Mikoyan MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27 fighters, and some of the later-model MiG-23MLD fighters have also been adapted to carry it. The R-27 missile is also license-produced in the PRC, though the production license was bought from Ukraine instead of Russia. The Chinese versions have a different active radar seeker taken from the Vympel R-77 missile, which was sold to the PRC by Russia.
Variants
- R-27R AA-10 Alamo-A, semi-active radar homing. Launch range from Mach 1.4, 11 km altitude: 60 km (head-on) / 21 km (tail-on). Minimum launch range under same conditions 2 km (head-on) / 0.5 to 0.6 km (tail-on).[2] Up to 80 km under optimal conditions [3]
- R-27T AA-10 Alamo-B, infrared homing, passive homing using the Avtomatika 9B-1032 (PRGS-27) IR seeker head. Weight 248 kg. Range is said to be 70 km under optimal conditions. The R-27T missile does not possess a data-link, which makes it useful only at much shorter ranges at head-on engagements, however. At tail-on engagements the longer physical reach can be fully utilized.
- R-27ER AA-10 Alamo-C, the semi-active-radar homing extended-range version, which is 70 cm longer and slightly wider. Range up to 130 km under optimal conditions. Entered service 1990.
- R-27ET AA-10 Alamo-D, the infrared-homing extended-range version, which is 70 cm longer and slightly wider, range of 120 km under optimal conditions using the Avtomatika 9B-1032 (PRGS-27) seeker head. Weight 348 kg. Entered service in 1990. The R-27ET missile does not possess a data-link, which makes it useful only at much shorter ranges at head-on engagements, however. At tail-on engagements the longer physical reach can be fully utilized.
- R-27AE AA-10 Alamo-E, active-radar-homing long-range version. Range 1.0 km to 130 km.[4] Weight 349 kg.
- R-27EM, naval version. Semi-active-radar homing with an upgraded seeker head, enabling it to engage targets flying at three meters above the sea. Maximum range is 170 km[4] against a head-on target.
- R-27P, a passive anti-radiation missile, similar to the US/NATO "Shrike" missile.
Operational service
Iraq
Some Russian sources claim that in the Gulf War of 1990-1991 an Iraqi MIG-29 managed to damage an American B-52G, nicknamed "In Harm's Way" with a R-27R missile.[5] According to USAF the incident was a rather unusual case of friendly-fire: the B-52G defensive gun operator is reported to have locked onto a friendly F-4G Wild Weasel jet on his fire-control radar, suspecting it to be an Iraqi MiG. The Weasel recognized being tracked by a fire-control radar and responded by firing a HARM anti-radiation missile, which hit the B-52. This incident was also the reason the aircraft, which survived the damage, was later nicknamed "In Harm's Way".[6] The Russian sources claiming R-27 damage to the B-52 also list Iraqi MiG kills in direct contradiction to statements by Iraqi pilots, who deny such kills,[7] casting doubt upon the veracity of the claims.
Africa
In the 1999 Eritrean-Ethiopian War, Eritrean MiG-29s fought Ethiopian Su-27s both piloted by Russian mercenaries.[8] There were possibly as many as 24 R-27s fired by both sides, but they were evaded by their targets. Only one R-27 fired by an Ethiopian Su-27 at an Eritrean MiG-29 proximity-fuzed near enough the MiG that the damaged aircraft eventually crashed on landing. [9][10]
Operators
- Armenia
- Algeria
- Azerbaijan
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Bulgaria
- People's Republic of China
- Cuba
- Ethiopia
- Hungary
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Kazakhstan
- Malaysia
- North Korea
- Peru
- Poland
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Syria
- Ukraine
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- United States
Former operators
- Czechoslovakia
- Czech Republic
- East Germany
- Germany
- Iraq
- Soviet Union
- Romania
- Yugoslavia/ Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro
See also
Similar weapons
Notes
- ^ name="enemy forces.net><http://www.enemyforces.net/missiles/r_27.htm">"Enemyforces.net". Enemyforces.net. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
- ^ name="warfare.ru"><http://warfare.ru/?linkid=1668&catid=262">"AA-10 Alamo / R-27 FAMILY MISSILES". warfare.ru. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
- ^ name="enemy forces.net"><http://www.enemyforces.net/missiles/r_27.htm">"Enemyforces.net". Enemyforces.net. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
- ^ a b "Enemyforces.net". Enemyforces.net. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ "Iraqi air-air victories during the Gulf War 1991" (PDF). safarikovi.org.com. 2004. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
- ^ The B-52 Stratofortress : steeljawscribe blog
- ^ "Iraqi Air-to-Air Victories since 1967" acig.org, 2006. Retrieved: 24 October 2010.
- ^ Smith, Charles. ""Russian Mercenaries Flying For Ethiopia." WorldNetDaily, 18 July 2000. Retrieved: 24 October 2010.
- ^ Adal voice of Eritrean's / By:The Air Combat Information Group "Quarrels Over the Border.", April 18, 2008. Retrieved: 26th of October, 2010.
- ^ Cooper, Tom and Jonathan Kyzer. "Ethiopian Eritrean War, 1998 - 2000." ACIG.org, 10 February 2008. Retrieved: 24 October 2010.
References
- Gordon, Yefim (2004). Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons Since World War Two. Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-188-1.