R-27 (air-to-air missile)

R-27
AA-10 Alamo
R-27T
German Air Force MiG-29 firing an R-27R
TypeMedium range BVR air-to-air missile
Anti-radiation missile (R-27P/EP)
Place of originSoviet Union
Service history
In service1983–present
Wars
Production history
ManufacturerVympel (Russia)
Artem (Ukraine)
Unit costN/A
Specifications
Mass253 kg (558 lb)
Length4.08 m (13.4 ft)
Diameter230 mm (9.1 in)
Wingspan772 mm (30.4 in)
WarheadBlast/fragmentation or continuous rod
Warhead weight39 kg (86 lb)
Detonation
mechanism
Radar-proximity and impact fuzes
EngineHigh performance, w. directed-rocket motor
Solid-fuel rocket motor
Operational
range
R-27T: up to 40 km (25 mi)
R-27T1: up to 80 km (50 mi)
R-27ET: up to 120 km (75 mi)
R-27ET1: up to 80 km (50 mi)
R-27R: up to 73 km (45 mi)
R-27R1: up to 75 km (47 mi)
R-27ER: up to 130 km (81 mi)
R-27ER1: up to 100 km (62 mi)
R-27P: up to 80 km (50 mi)
R-27EP: up to 130 km (81 mi)
R-27EA: up to 130 km (81 mi)
R-27EM: up to 130 km (81 mi)
Flight altitudeN/A
Maximum speedMach 4.5-5.8 (version dependent) [citation needed]
Guidance
system
Semi-active radar homing (R-27R/ER/EM)
Active-radar homing (R-27A/EA)
Infrared homing (R-27T/ET)
Passive-radiation homing (R-27P/EP)
Launch
platform
Su-27, Su-30, Su-33, Su-34, Su-35, Su-37, F-14 (done by Iran), MiG-23, MiG-29, Yak-141, J-11 (done by China), local conversion as a surface-to-air missile in Yemen

The Vympel R-27 (Russian: Вымпел Р-27; NATO reporting name AA-10 Alamo) is a family of air-to-air missiles developed by the Soviet Union during the late Cold War-era.

The R-27 is manufactured in infrared-homing/IR (R-27T, R-27ET) and semi-active radar homing/ SARH (R-27R, R-27ER) versions. The R-27 family missiles are produced by both Russian and Ukrainian manufacturers. The R-27 missile is carried by the Mikoyan MiG-29 and the Sukhoi Su-27, Su-30 and Su-35 family fighters. The R-27 missile is also license-produced in China, though the production license was bought from Ukraine instead of Russia. Plans to produce an active radar homing/ ARH version called the R-27EA were cancelled in 1989.

Variants

R-27T (Second from bottom) and R-27R (First from bottom)
9B-1101K, inertial semi-active homing head for R-27R missiles.

R-27R and ER variants can be used in any meteorological conditions. Launch can be made at less than 5 g overload and less than 50 deg/s roll rate. It is allowed to redesignate targets during flight, and can share target illumination with other aircraft.

R-27T and ET variants can be used out of cloudiness, at least 15 degrees away from the bearing of sun, and 4 degrees away from the bearing of moon and ground-based heat-contrasting conditions. In cases of maximum head-on range launches where lock-command cannot be utilized, missile can not be fired. Seeker must acquire target before launch. On the combat operations section of the Su-27 manual, this is especially recommended for head-on usage for passive attacks at targets with 0 degrees approach angle (i.e. another fighter moving to intercept), leaving target unalerted to the incoming missile. Launch can be made at 0 to 7 g, but limited to 6 g if roll induced slip is more than 2× diameter of the ball.

Other variants:

Operational service

Ethiopia and Eritrea

In the 1999 Eritrean-Ethiopian War, Eritrean MiG-29s fought Ethiopian Su-27s, both piloted by Russian mercenaries. Only one R-27 fired by an Ethiopian Su-27 at an Eritrean MiG-29 proximity-fuzed near enough to the MiG that the damaged aircraft eventually crashed on landing.

Russia and Ukraine

During the war in Donbas, the Ukrainian Air Force claimed that one of its Su-25 was shot down by a Russian Aerospace Forces MiG-29 using a R-27T on 16 July 2014. Russian officials denied any involvement.

The R-27 was used by both sides during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Yemen

During the Yemeni Civil War (2015–present) Houthis have used R-27T missiles modified to serve as surface-to-air missiles. A video released on January 7, 2018, also shows a modified R-27T hitting a Saudi led coalition fighter on a forward looking infrared camera. Houthi sources claim to have downed an F-15. Rebels later released footage showing an aircraft wreck. However, serial numbers on the wreckage suggested that the downed aircraft was a Panavia Tornado, also operated by Saudi forces. On January 8, the Saudi Press Agency admitted the loss of an aircraft over Yemen, though it did not clarify whether it was a Tornado or an F-15, blaming the crash on 'a technical issue' and reporting that the pilots ejected and were recovered by friendly forces.

On 21 March 2018, Houthi rebels released a video where they hit and possibly shot down a Saudi F-15 in Saada province. In the video, an R-27T air-to-air missile adapted for surface to air use appeared to have successfully hit a jet. As in the video of the previous similar hit recorded on 8 January, the target, while clearly hit, did not appear to be downed. The Saudi forces confirmed the hit, while saying the jet safely landed at a Saudi base. Saudi official sources confirmed the incident reporting that it happened at 3:48 pm local time after a surface-to-air missile was launched at the fighter jet from inside Saada airport.

Operators

Operators
  Current
  Former

Current

A pair of R-27ERs installed on a Vietnamese Su-30MK2

Former

See also

Similar weapons

References

Citations
  1. ↑ "ARTEM". ARTEM. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  2. 1 2 "R-27T1". Rosoboronexport. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  3. 1 2 "R-27ET1". Rosoboronexport. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  4. 1 2 "R-27R1". Rosoboronexport. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  5. 1 2 "R-27ER1". Rosoboronexport. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Фомин, Андрей (2004). Су 27. История Истребителя, издание (3rd ed.). РА Интервестник. pp. 183–184. ISBN 5-93511-008-3.
  7. 1 2 "Saudi Arabia says F-15 survived SAM hit over Yemen - Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018.
  8. ↑ "Tactical Missiles Corporation JSC". eng.ktrv.ru. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014.
  9. ↑ "Tactical Missiles Corporation JSC". eng.ktrv.ru. Archived from the original on 15 September 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Arms transfer database". armstransfers.sipri.org. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  11. 1 2 "Arms transfer database". armstransfers.sipri.org. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Su-27 Flight Manual booklet-1. 2001. p. 129.
  13. ↑ Su-27 Flight Manual booklet-1. 2001. p. 151.
  14. ↑ Su-27 Flight Manual booklet-1. 2001. p. 150.
  15. ↑ Kopp, Carlo (2012). "The Russian Philosophy of Beyond Visual Range Air Combat". ausairpower.net. p. 1. Archived from the original on 30 January 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  16. ↑ Dr C Kopp (15 March 2008). "The Russian Philosophy of Beyond Visual Range Air Combat". p. 1. Archived from the original on 30 January 2012.
  17. ↑ Smith, Charles. "Russian Mercenaries Flying For Ethiopia." Archived 27 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine WorldNetDaily, 18 July 2000. Retrieved: 24 October 2010.
  18. ↑ "Russian military plane shot down Ukrainian Su-25 aircraft in Ukraine". Kyiv Post. 17 July 2014. Archived from the original on 15 November 2015.
  19. ↑ "Russia Rejects 'Absurd' Accusation Over Downed Ukrainian Jet". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. 17 July 2014. Archived from the original on 17 July 2014.
  20. ↑ Newdick, Thomas (13 October 2022). "Ukraine Claims MiG-29 Pilot Downed Five Drones Before Ejecting". The Drive.
  21. ↑ Butowski, Piotr; Newdick, Thomas (4 October 2022). "Russian Aggressor Squadron Gets Its First Su-35S Fighter Jets". The Drive.
  22. ↑ "Yemen's Houthis Claim Saudi F-15 Kill with SAM over Capital City of Santis". 9 January 2018. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
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  29. ↑ "Coalition fighter jet unsuccessfully targeted by defense missile over Saada". Al Arabiya. 21 March 2018. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018.
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  31. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 472.
  32. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 179.
  33. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 181.
  34. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 250.
  35. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 183.
  36. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 78.
  37. ↑ IISS 2024, pp. 259−260.
  38. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 429.
  39. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 490.
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  41. ↑ IISS 2024, pp. 269−270.
  42. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 275.
  43. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 356.
  44. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 187.
  45. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 371.
  46. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 293.
  47. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 298.
  48. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 284.
  49. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 449.
  50. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 127.
  51. ↑ IISS 2024, pp. 198, 200.
  52. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 134.
  53. ↑ Cooper, Tom; Weinert, Peter; Hinz, Fabian; Lepko, Mark (2011). African MiGs, Volume 2: Madagascar to Zimbabwe. Houston: Harpia Publishing. p. 150. ISBN 978-0-9825539-8-5.
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  55. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 527.
  56. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 213.
  57. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 216.
  58. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 456.
  59. ↑ IISS 2024, p. 326.
  60. 1 2 3 "Arms transfer database". SIPRI. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
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Bibliography