| R-73 / R-74 AA-11 Archer | |
|---|---|
 A mock up of RVV-MD - the export variant of the R-74M | |
| Type | Short-range air-to-air missile |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1984–present |
| Used by | SeeOperators |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Moscow Kommunar Machine-Building Plant,Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing,TAM Management |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 105 kilograms (231 lb) |
| Length | 2.93 metres (9 ft 7 in) |
| Diameter | 165 millimetres (6.5 in) |
| Wingspan | 510 millimetres (20 in) |
| Warhead | 7.4 kilograms (16 lb) |
| Engine | Solid-fuel rocket engine |
Operational range | |
| Maximum speed | Mach 2.5 |
Guidance system | All-aspectinfrared homing |
Launch platform | |
TheVympelR-73 (NATO reporting nameAA-11Archer) is a short-rangeIR-homingair-to-air missile developed byVympel NPO that entered service in 1984.[7] It was later developed into the more advanced R-74.
TheR-73 was developed to replace the earlierR-60 (AA-8 'Aphid') weapon for short-range use bySovietfighter aircraft. Work began in 1973 initially as theK-73,[N 1] operational in 1982 and the first missiles formally entered service in 1984.[7]
The R-73 is aninfrared homing (heat-seeking) missile with a sensitive,cryogenic cooled seeker with a substantial "off-boresight" capability: the seeker can detect targets up to 40° off the missile's centerline.[8] It can be targeted by ahelmet-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 theMiG-29,MiG-31,Su-27/33,Su-34 andSu-35, and can be carried by newer versions of theMiG-21,MiG-23,Sukhoi Su-24, andSu-25 aircraft.[9]
Shortly afterGerman reunification in 1990, Germany and other ex-Warsaw Pact countries found themselves with large stockpiles of the R-73 missiles orAA-11 Archers as designated by NATO, and had concluded that the R-73/AA-11's capabilities had been noticeably underestimated by the West.[10] In particular, the R-73 was found to be both far more maneuverable, and far more capable in terms of seeker acquisition and tracking than the latestAIM-9 Sidewinder.[11] This realization started the development of newer missiles to help compete, including theASRAAM,IRIS-T andAIM-9X.
According to an interview in 2022 with a Ukrainian pilot, the R-73 does not track well in clouds. This makes the missile difficult to use againstShahed-136 drones, forcing pilots to rely on their 30 mm cannon.[12]
Further developments include theR-74 (izdeliye 740) and its export variantRVV-MD. These are expected to supplement previous variants of the R-73 in service.[13]
An improved version of the R-74, theR-74M (izdeliye 750) features fully digital and re-programmable systems, and is intended for use on theMiG-35,MiG-29K/M/M2,Su-27SM,Su-30MK andSu-35S. A further upgrade, known as theR-74M2 (izdeliye 760), is intended for thefifth-generationSu-57 aircraft. This missile has an inertial navigation system, a smaller cross-section with the fin span reduced to 434 mm (17.1 in) to fit in internal weapon bays, has IRCCM (infrared counter-countermeasures), and is designed to match the performance of theAIM-9X,IRIS-T and theASRAAM. The R-74M2 completed trials in 2019, and its export variantRVV-MD2 was unveiled in 2023.[14] A clean sheet design, the K-MD (izdeliye 300), is expected to supersede the R-74M2 in the future.[15][16]
On 24 February 1996, twoCessna 337s of theBrothers to the Rescuewere shot down while flying over international waters 10 nautical miles outside of Cuban airspace by aCuban Air Force MiG-29UB.[17] Each of the aircraft was downed by an R-73 missile.[18]
During theEritrean-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-homingR-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 GeorgianElbit Hermes 450 UAV overAbkhazia. The MiG-29 destroyed the UAV with an R-73 missile.[19]
On 27 February 2019, Indian officials claims that an IAFMiG-21 Bison had successfully engaged and shot down a PakistaniF-16 with an R-73E missile during the2019 Jammu and Kashmir airstrikes.[20] Pakistan denied the loss of its aircraft.[21]
On 7 May 2022, Ukrainian ColonelIhor Bedzai was killed when hisMi-14 helicopter was shot down by a Russian Su-35. It is reported that after missing its first shots using its30 mm cannon, the Su-35 resorted to launching an R-73, which destroyed the helicopter.[22][23]
According to an unconfirmed report, Serbia developed and used a ground-launched version of the R-73 in 1999. Two missiles were fitted on a modifiedM53/59 Praga chassis with the twin 30 mm cannons replaced by two launch rails.[24]
TheHouthi movement's Missile Research and Development Centre and the Missile Force have tried to fire R-27/R-60/R-73/R-77, fromYemeni Air Force stocks, against Saudi aircraft. The issue for the R-27R and R-77 is the lack of a radar to support their guidance to the target. However the R-27T, R-73 and R-60 are infrared heat seeking missiles. They only require power, liquid nitrogen "to cool the seeker head", and a pylon to launch the missile. These missiles have been paired with "US made FLIR Systems ULTRA 8500 turrets". However the drawback is that these missiles are intended to be fired from one jet fighter against another. So the motors and fuel load are smaller than a purpose-built surface to air missile. Only one near miss has been verified and that was a R-27T fired atRoyal Saudi Air Force F-15SA.[25]
According to theWar Zone the Houthi designation for modified R-73s isThaqib-1. Ground-based improvised infrared sensors systems and radars are believed to be used to help the missiles acquire and track their targets.[6]
During theRussian invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainians have repurposed their inventory of R-73s for thesurface-to-air role, mounting them on a large variety of platforms including theGravehawk, modified9K33 Osas,Humvees, and naval drones.[6]
On 6 May 2024, Russia released footage of aKa-29 helicopter using gunfire on aSea Baby naval drone. The drone was armed with a R-73 infrared missile, to defend it from helicopters. One missile had been fired, at aMi-8 helicopter, but missed before the drone was destroyed by gunfire.[26] In December of the same year, Ukraine released footage of aMagura V5 naval drone firing an R-73 missile and hitting a Russian Mi-8 helicopter. According to theMain Directorate of Intelligence (HUR), the Mi-8 was shot down, while a second helicopter was damaged but managed to return to base.[27][28]
Algeria[30]
Angola[31]
Armenia[32]
Azerbaijan[33]
Bangladesh[34]
Belarus[35]
Bulgaria[36]
China[37]
Cuba[38]
Egypt[39]
Eritrea[40]
Ethiopia[41]
Georgia − Used onSu-25KM Scorpion[42]
India − Used by theNaval Air Arm andAir Force[43]
Indonesia[44]
Iran[45]
Kazakhstan[46]
North Korea[47]
Malaysia[48]
Mongolia[49]
Myanmar[50]
Peru[51]
Poland[36]
Russia − Used byNaval Aviation andAerospace Forces[52]
Serbia[53]
Sudan[54]
Turkmenistan[55]
Uganda[56]
Ukraine[57]
Uzbekistan[58]
Venezuela[59]
Vietnam[60]
Czechoslovakia[62] Czech Republic[24]
East Germany[62]
Germany[24]
Hungary[24]
Iraq[24]
Moldova[24]
Romania[24]
Serbia and Montenegro[24]
Slovakia[24]
Soviet Union − Passed to successor states.
Syria[63]
Yemen[24]
Yugoslavia − Passed on to successor states[24]
United States − 100 missiles purchased in 1997[24]
