Military Knowledge: Vympel R-27 Missile

The R-27 is manufactured in infrared-homing (R-27T), semi-active-radar-homing (R-27R), and active-radar-homing (R-27EA) versions, in both Russia and Ukraine.
The R-27 missile is carried by the Mikoyan MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27 fighters, and some of the later-model MiG-23MLD fighters have also been adapted to carry it. The R-27 missile is also license-produced in China, though the production license was bought from Ukraine instead of Russia.

Manufacturer: Vympel
Production: Former Soviet Union / Russia, China (under license), Ukraine
Weight: 253 kg
Length: 4.08 meters
Diameter: 230 mm
Engine: Solid fuel
Warhead weight: 39 kg (86 lbs)

Variants:
– R-27R AA-10 Alamo-A
Missile can be used at 20 to 25,000 meters altitude.
Effective kill range for a target at same altitude: 2 to 42.5 km head-on, 0.7 to 7.5 km tail-on.
Maximum range: 73 km.
– R-27T AA-10 Alamo-B
Missile can be used at 20 to 25,000 meters altitude.
Effective kill range for a target at same altitude: 2 to 33 km head-on, 0 to 5.5 km tail-on.
Maximum range: 63 km.
– R-27ER AA-10 Alamo-C
Missile can be used at 20 to 27,000 meters altitude.
Effective kill range for a target at same altitude: 2 to 65.5 km head-on, 0.7 to 16.5 km tail-on.
Maximum range: 117 km.
– R-27ET AA-10 Alamo-D
Missile can be used at 20 to 27,000 meters altitude.
Effective kill range: 2 to 52.5 km head-on, 0.7 to 12.5 tail-on.
Maximum range: 104 km.
– R-27P AA-10 Alamo-E
Passive radar homing with a range of up to 72 km.
– R-27EP AA-10 Alamo-F
A longer range passive anti-radiation missile with a range of up to 70 nm (110 km)
– R-27EA
Active radar homing with 9B-1103K active seeker, range of >130 km.
– R-27EM
Active radar homing with 9B-1103K active seeker, range of >170 km.

Maximum speed Mach 2.5 to 4.5 (depending on altitude and weather conditions)

Wars:
Iran – Iraq war
Eritrean-Ethiopian War
Yemen War (2015 – Today)

Different projects:
Attempted to synchronize with the F-14 fighter which failed.
Turned into a surface-to-air missile that hunted down a Saudi F-15.

Successes:
– In the Eritrean-Ethiopian war in 1999, according to the two countries statistics, a total of 24 missiles were used. Meanwhile, an Ethiopian Su-27 shot down an Eritrean Mig-29.
– Ukraine claims a Su-25 was shot down by an R-27 fired by a Russian Mig-29 during the country’s civil war. Russia has denied this.
– In the Yemeni war, a modified R-27T aircraft was able to shoot down a Saudi F-15. (This is the only official downing of the F-15.)