The R-73 is short-range air-to-air missile, close-combat standardized missile was developed in the Vympel Machine Building Design Bureau, and became operational in 1984. The R-73 is included in the weapon complex of MiG-23MLD, MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters and their modifications and also of Mi-24, Mi-28 and Ka-50 helicopters. It also can be employed in flying craft which do not have sophisticated aiming systems.
The R-73 was developed to replace the earlier R-60 (AA-8 'Aphid') weapon for short-range use by Soviet fighter aircraft.The R-73A, an earlier variant of this missile, has a 30 km range, while the most recent R-73M can hit targets at a distance of 40 km.
The missile is used for engaging modern and future fighters, attack aircraft, bombers, helicopters, drones and cruise missiles, including those executing a maneuver with a g-force up to 12. It permits the platform to intercept a target from any direction, under any weather conditions, day or night, in the presence of natural interference and deliberate jamming. It realizes the "fire and forget" principle.
The R-73 is a highly maneuverable missile and mock dogfights between USAF and German Air Force MiG-29s (inherited from the former Air Forces of the National People's Army) equipped with the R-73/helmet mounted cueing have indicated that the high degree of "off-boresight" capability of the R-73 would make a significant difference in combat. The missile also has a mechanically simple but effective system for thrust-vectoring. The R-73 prompted the development of a number of western air-to-air missiles including the ASRAAM, IRIS-T, MICA IR, Python IV and the latest Sidewinder variant, the AIM-9X which entered squadron service in 2003.
Design
The missile design features a canard aerodynamic configuration: control surfaces are positioned ahead of the wing at a distance from the center of mass. The airframe consists of modular compartments accommodating the homing head, aerodynamic control surface drive system, autopilot, proximity fuze, 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 maneuverable 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 passive infrared homing head supports target lock-on before launch. Guidance to the predicted position is by the proportional navigation method. The missile's combat equipment consists of an active proximity (radar or laser) fuze and impact fuze and a continuous-rod warhead. The engine operates on high-impulse solid propellant and has a high-tensile steel case.
Variants
R-73 - Standard model with ±45° off-boresight.
R-73M - Improved model.
R-74 (izdeliye 740) - Improved model with ±60° off-boresight.
RVV-MD - Export model of the R-74.
K-74M (izdeliye 750) - Improved model with ±75° off-boresight.
K-74M2 (izdeliye 760) - Further improved variant with reduced cross-section for the PAK FA. Intended to match the AIM-9X and ASRAAM.
Specifications
Weight 105 kilograms (231 lb)
Length 2.93 metres (9 ft 7 in)
Diameter 165 millimetres (6.5 in)
Warhead 7.4 kilograms (16 lb)
Engine solid-fuel rocket engine
Wingspan 510 millimetres (20 in)
Speed Mach 2.5
Guidance system
Complex controls with movable vanes, fins fore and aft of fixed cruciform surfaces at the nose control surface at the trailing edge of each tail fin 4 x thrust-vectoring cont-vanes in rocket motor stream/efflux
Launch platform
MiG-21(Upgraded), MiG-23-98, MiG-25, MiG-27, MiG-29, MiG-31, MiG-35
Sukhoi Su-24, Su-25, Su-27, Su-30, Su-33, Su-34, Su-35, PAK FA (future)
Mil Mi-24, Mil Mi-28, Kamov Ka-50, Kamov Ka-52
Yak-141, Yak-130
HAL Tejas
J-10