R-27 (air-to-air missile)

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R-27T

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. It remains in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces, air forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States and air forces of many other countries as the standard medium-range air-to-air missile despite the development of the more advanced R-77.

The R-27 is manufactured in infrared-homing/IR (R-27T, R-27ET),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> semi-active radar homing/ SARH (R-27R, R-27ER),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and active-radar homing/ARH (R-27EA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> versions. R-27 family missiles are produced by both Russian and Ukrainian manufacturers. The R-27 missile is carried by the Mikoyan MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27 family fighters. The R-27 missile is also license-produced in China,<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> though the production license was bought from Ukraine instead of Russia.

Variants

File:Lipetsk Air Base (437-24).jpg

R-27T (Second from bottom) and R-27R (First from bottom)

File:R-27 missile homing head, Kyiv 2018, 02.jpg

9B-1101K, inertial semi-active homing head for R-27R missiles.

R-27R: AA-10 Alamo-A, semi-active radar homing. Missile can be used at Template:Convert altitude (launch platform or target). Effective kill range for a target at same altitude: Template:Convert head-on, Template:Convert tail-on. Maximum range: Template:Convert. Maximum allowed vertical separation between target and launch platform: +/− Template:Convert.<ref name="Su-27 Flight Manual pg129">Template:Cite book</ref>
R-27R1: Export model of the R-27R. The missile has a maximum range of Template:Convert with Template:Convert warhead.<ref name="R-27R1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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R-27T: AA-10 Alamo-B, infrared homing, passive homing using the Avtomatika 9B-1032 (PRGS-27) IR seeker head. Missile can be used at Template:Convert altitude. Effective kill range for a target at same altitude: Template:Convert head-on, Template:Convert tail-on. Maximum range: Template:Convert. Maximum allowed vertical separation: +/− Template:Convert.<ref name="Su-27 Flight Manual pg129"/>
R-27T1: Export model of the R-27T. The missile has a maximum range of Template:Convert with Template:Convert warhead.<ref name="R-27T1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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R-27ER: AA-10 Alamo-C, the semi-active-radar homing extended-range version. Missile can be used at Template:Convert altitude. Effective kill range for a target at same altitude: Template:Convert head-on, Template:Convert tail-on. Missile cannot be fired at altitude less than Template:Convert against a target with background earth, if launch range is less than Template:Convert. Maximum range: Template:Convert. Maximum allowed vertical separation: Template:Convert.<ref name="Su-27 Flight Manual pg129"/>
R-27ER1: Export model of the R-27ER. The missile has a maximum range of Template:Convert with Template:Convert warhead.<ref name="R-27ER1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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R-27ET: AA-10 Alamo-D, the infrared-homing extended-range version, Weight Template:Convert. Missile can be used at Template:Convert altitude. Effective kill range: Template:Convert head-on, Template:Convert tail-on. Maximum range: Template:Convert. Maximum allowed vertical separation: Template:Convert.<ref name="Su-27 Flight Manual pg129"/>
R-27ET1: Export model of the R-27ET. The missile has a maximum range of Template:Convert with Template:Convert warhead.<ref name="R-27ET1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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R-27R and ER variants can be used in any meteorological conditions. Launch can made at less than 5 g overload and less than 50 deg/s roll rate.<ref name="Su-27 Flight Manual pg129"/> 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.<ref name="Su-27 Flight Manual pg151">Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref name="Su-27 Flight Manual pg150">Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref name="Su-27 Flight Manual pg129"/>

Other variants:

R-27P AA-10 Alamo-E, passive radiation homing with a range of up to Template:Convert.Template:Citation needed. This variant was developed in tandem with the R and T versions, intended to destroy any radar emitting air targets by homing in on their emissions, for example fighters and AWACS. The first test launches were conducted in 1984 from a MiG-29, and the missile considered ready for service in 1987. However it wouldn't be used until much later as the radar warning receivers in use at the time were not precise enough and didn't provide enough target information for reliable targeting. With the introduction of the L-150 "Pastel" RWR, that would be fixed, and it was first offered for export in early 2004.<ref name="Su-27: History of the Fighter">Template:Cite book</ref>
R-27EP AA-10 Alamo-F, a longer range passive anti-radiation missile with a range of up to Template:Convert.<ref name="The Russian Philosophy of Beyond Visual Range Air Combat">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> It uses the same seeker as the R-27P, but with the stronger motor found on the R-27ER.<ref name="Su-27: History of the Fighter">Template:Cite book</ref>

R-27A(K-27A), a proposed active radar homing version of the R-27R with the 9B-1103 seeker. Several examples were made, and 12 test flights were made on a MiG-29 testbed. 2 guided launches were carried out as well. However, funding was diverted in 1989 and the project cancelled. The correct name of the missile is K-27A as it never left the prototyping stage.<ref name="Su-27: History of the Fighter">Template:Cite book</ref>
R-27EA(K-27EA), active radar homing with 9B-1103 active seeker, range of >Template:Convert.<ref name="ausairpower.net">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> This was a proposed longer ranged version of the aforementioned K-27A with the R-27ER motor, cancelled at the same time as the 27A in 1989. None were made.<ref name="Su-27: History of the Fighter">Template:Cite book</ref>

R-27EM(K-27EM), semi-active radar homing with RGS-31 semi-active seeker, range of Template:Convert. This was intended to be a combined guidance version with an inertial control system and linear radio correction, which would have reduced the affect of the multipath effect and allowed it to hit extremely low targets. No missiles were produced, but several RGS-31 seeker heads were built and bench tested before funding was cut in July 1991.<ref name="Su-27: History of the Fighter">Template:Cite book</ref>

Operational service

Ethiopia and Eritrea

In the 1999 Eritrean-Ethiopian War, Eritrean MiG-29s fought Ethiopian Su-27s both piloted by Russian mercenaries.<ref>Smith, Charles. "Russian Mercenaries Flying For Ethiopia." Template:Webarchive WorldNetDaily, 18 July 2000. Retrieved: 24 October 2010.</ref> 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.<ref name="Kiyv Post">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Russian officials denied any involvement.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The R-27 was used by both sides during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="russian aggressor">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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 a F-15.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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 to 'a technical issue' and reporting that the pilots ejected and were recovered by friendly forces.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref>

On 21 March 2018, Houthi rebels released a video where they hit and possibly shot down a Saudi F-15 in Saada province.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the video a R-27T air to air missile adapted for surface to air use was launched, appearing 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. Saudi forces confirmed the hit, while saying the jet safely landed at a Saudi base.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="janes.com"/>