The Russian Vympel R-77 (RVV-AE) Missile (NATO reporting name: AA-12 Adder) is a medium range, air-to-air, active radar-guided missile system. It is the Russian counterpart to the American AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, thus gaining a nickname: Amraamski.
The aerodynamics are novel, combining vestigial cruciform wings with tail control surfaces of a lattice configuration (similar devices are used on the R-400 Oka). 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. Referred to by the Russians as gas dynamic declination devices, 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.
The missile uses a multi-function doppler-monopulse active radar seeker developed by OAO Agat. 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.
If the seeker is jammed, it switches automatically to a passive mode and homes on the source of jamming. Fired against high-altitude non-maneuvering targets approaching head-on, the R-77RVV-AE has a range of 100 km (62 mi), with the seeker locking on at around 15 km (9.3 mi), and a maximum speed of Mach 4 (3,045 mph (4,900 km/h)). At short range, it can engage targets maneuvering at up to 12g. The basic version of this missile is said to have a maximum range of 90 km (55 mi). The missile can also be used from internal carriages where the control fins and surfaces will fold flat until it is catapulted clear of the aircraft for motor ignition. Future plans call for increasing the missile range well beyond 150 kilometres (93 mi).
| R-77/RVV-AE (NATO reporting name: AA-12 Adder) | |
|---|---|
| Type | Medium-Range Active-Radar Homing Air-to-Air Missile |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1994 (R-77) |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Vympel |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 175 kg (R-77), 226 kg (R-77M1) |
| Length | 3.6 m (R-77) |
| Diameter | 200 mm |
| | |
| Warhead | 22 kg HE, fragmenting |
| Detonation mechanism | laser proximity fuze |
| | |
| Engine | Solid fuel rocket motor (R-77), air-breathing ramjet (R-77M1) |
| Wingspan | 350 mm |
| Operational range | Strongly varying according to source: R-77:40 km (21.6 nm) - 50 km (27 nm) - 80 km (43.2 nm) R-77M1:60 km (32.4 nm) - 80 km (43.2 nm) - 160 km (86 nm) |
| Flight altitude | 5 m-25 km (16.5-82,000 ft) |
| Speed | Mach 4.5 (R-77) |
| Guidance system | Inertial with mid-course update and terminal active radar homing |
| Launch platform | Mikoyan MiG-21-93/Lance/Bison, Mikoyan MiG-29, Mikoyan MiG-31, Mikoyan MiG-35, Sukhoi Su-27SM, Sukhoi Su-30, Sukhoi Su-34, Sukhoi Su-35, Sukhoi Su-37, Sukhoi Su-47, Yakovlev Yak-141 Future Platforms: HAL Tejas, Sukhoi PAK FA |
