Equipment / Missile / R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer)

R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer)

Missile Systemconfirmed

R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer)

The R-73 (NATO reporting name AA-11 Archer) is a short-range air-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union. It is known for its high maneuverability, wide off-boresight capability, and thrust vectoring control.

Specifications

TypeMissile System
OriginSoviet Union
ManufacturerVympel NPO
Introduced1984
StatusIn service
Speed3,062 km/h
Range40 km
Weight0.105 t

History

Developed in the Soviet Union by Vympel NPO, it entered service in 1984 and significantly enhanced the close-combat capabilities of Soviet and later Russian fighter jets.

Operators

CountryQuantityConfidence
India—confirmed
Egypt—confirmed
Indonesia—confirmed
Iran—confirmed
Ukraine—confirmed
Vietnam—confirmed

Text adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo from Wikimedia Commons; see the Wikipedia article for author and license.

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