R-73 (AA-11) Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile | Air Power

The R-73 (NATO codename: AA-11 Archer) is an infrared-homing short-range air-to-air missile developed by Russian Spetztekhnika Vympel NPO. The PLA obtained the R-73 missile as a part of the weapon package for its Su-27 and Su-30MKK fighters purchased from Russia. The R-73 is the most advanced Russian SRAAM with wide off-boresight angle and exceptional aerodynamic performance. The missile is believed to be more capable than most Western-designed SRAAM in current service, and has significantly improved the close air combat capability of the PLA.

The R-73 (AA-11 Archer) SRAAM was developed by Russian Vympel Design Bureau (now Spetztekhnika Vympel NPO) in the 1980s for the fourth-generation fighters of the Soviet Air Force such as Su-27 and MiG-29. The PLAAF received its first batch of the R-73 (AA-11 Archer) SRAAM in the early 1990s along with the Su-27 fighter it ordered from Russia. This acquisition has made the PLAAF the first Asian air force to be equipped with an all-aspect attack, helmet-mounted sight (HMS) guidance air-to-air missile.

The R-73 uses a two stage nose canard design and thrust vectored exhaust to achieve turn rate performance well beyond established missiles such as the AIM-9L/M Sidewinder. The combined with an all-aspect IR seeker with a substantial off-boresight capability enables the R-73 to exploit engagement geometries which were unavailable to earlier third generation missiles such as the AIM-9L/M, as well its seeker allows its user to fire the missile in geometries which were unusable by earlier missiles. Because the missile has such high aerodynamic and seeker agility, the opponent would have little chance of defeating the missile through aggressive manoeuvre.

The Su-27 and Su-30MKK fighters in service with the PLAAF are both equipped with helmet mounted sights (HMS) which allows the pilot to lock the missile on to a target well before the fighter's nose is "swung" to a position where the Air Intercept (AI) radar could lock up the target. A third generation missile such as the AIM-9L/M has an all-aspect seeker which is slaved to the fighter's radar, and therefore can only be locked on to what the radar can geometrically "see". The Su-27 and Su-30MKK would therefore get many and earlier firing opportunities if well flown.

The PLAAF deployment of the R-73 missile and the Flanker series fighter provides a combination of missile capability and airframe manoeuvrability which would allow a competent pilot to get earlier firing opportunities, higher missile kill rates and better survivability against a Western fighter such as F-15 or F-16 fighter shooting a third generation missile such as AIM-9L/M Sidewinder. Additionally, the R-73 has an effective range of 300 metre to 30km (increased to 40km on later variants), and is capable of 12g manoeuvre, therefore allowing the maximum flexibility in using the missile for visual-range air combat.

The missile design features a canard aerodynamic configuration: control surfaces are positioned ahead of the wing at a distance from the centre of mass. The airframe consists of modular compartments accommodating the homing head, aerodynamic control surface drive system, autopilot, proximity fuse (radio or laser), warhead, engine, gas-dynamic control system and aileron drive system. The lifting surfaces have a small aspect ratio. Strakes are mounted ahead of the aerodynamic control surfaces.

The combined aero-gas-dynamic control gives the R-73 highly manoeuvrable flight characteristics. During flight, yaw and pitch are controlled by four aerodynamic control surfaces connected in pairs and by just as many gas-dynamic spoilers (fins) installed at the nozzle end of the engine. Control with engine not operating is provided by aerodynamic control surfaces. Roll stabilization of the missile is maintained with the help of four mechanically interconnected ailerons mounted on the wings. Drives of all missile controls are gas, powered from a solid-propellant gas generator.

The R-73 employs an "agile" gimballed seeker, believed to use a multiple detector cross array, capable of tracking targets at very large off boresight angles reported to be around 60 degrees, at high angular tracking rates. This enables the R-73 to be locked on to targets in an engagement geometry where an older missile cannot see the opponent. It also means that once the missile is fired, it can maintain its seeker locked on to its target despite violent manoeuvring which would force the target out of the seeker's field of view (FOV) with any older missile.

Missile length: 2.90m
Missile diameter: 0.17m
Wingspan: 0.51m
Launch weight: 105kg (R-73M1), or 115kg (R-73M2)
Warhead: 7.4kg HE expanding rod warhead
Propulsion: One solid-propellant rocket motor
Off-Boresight Capability: +/-60 degree
Speed: Mach 2.5
G Limit: 40G
Range: 20km (R-73M1), or 30km (R-73M2)
Guidance: All-aspect infrared homing + helmet-mounted sight