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R-27 AA-10 Alamo
German Air Force MiG-29 firing an R-27
Type	BVR air-to-air missile; anti-radiation missile
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1983–present
Wars	Iran–Iraq War Eritrean–Ethiopian War Russo-Ukrainian War War in Donbas (alleged) Russian invasion of Ukraine Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
Production history
Manufacturer	Vympel (Russia) Artem (Ukraine)
Unit cost	N/A
Specifications
Mass	253 kg (558 lb)
Length	4.08 m (13.4 ft)
Diameter	230 mm (9.1 in)
Wingspan	772 mm (30.4 in)
Warhead	Blast/fragmentation or continuous rod
Warhead weight	39 kg (86 lb)
Detonation mechanism	Radar-proximity and impact fuzes
Engine	High performance, w. directed-rocket motor Solid-fuel rocket motor
Operational range	R-27T: up to 40 km (25 mi) R-27T1: up to 80 km (50 mi) R-27ET: up to 120 km (75 mi) R-27ET1: up to 80 km (50 mi) R-27R: up to 73 km (45 mi) R-27R1: up to 75 km (47 mi) R-27ER: up to 130 km (81 mi) R-27ER1: up to 100 km (62 mi) R-27P: up to 80 km (50 mi) R-27EP: up to 130 km (81 mi) R-27EA: up to 130 km (81 mi) R-27EM: up to 170 km (110 mi)
Flight altitude	N/A
Maximum speed	Mach 4.5
Guidance system	Semi-active radar homing (R-27R/ER) Active-radar homing (R-27EA) Infrared homing (R-27T/ET) Passive-radiation homing (R-27P/EP)
Launch platform	Su-27, Su-30, Su-33, Su-34, Su-35, Su-37, F-14 (done by Iran), MiG-23, MiG-29, Yak-141, J-11 (done by China)) local conversion as a surface-to-air missile in Yemen

The Vympel R-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 (R-27T, R-27ET), semi-active radar homing (R-27R, R-27ER), and active-radar homing (R-27EA) 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, though the production license was bought from Ukraine instead of Russia.

Variants

• R-27R: AA-10 Alamo-A, semi-active radar homing. Missile can be used at 20–25,000 m (66–82,021 ft) altitude (launch platform or target). Effective kill range for a target at same altitude: 2–42.5 km (1.2–26.4 mi) head-on, 0.7–7.5 km (0.43–4.66 mi) tail-on. Maximum range: 73 km (45 mi). Maximum allowed vertical separation between target and launch platform: +/− 10 km (6.2 mi).
• R-27R1: Export model of the R-27R. The missile has a maximum range of 75 kilometres (47 mi) with 39 kg (86 lb) warhead.
• 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 20–25,000 m (66–82,021 ft) altitude. Effective kill range for a target at same altitude: 2–33 km (1.2–20.5 mi) head-on, 0–5.5 km (0.0–3.4 mi) tail-on. Maximum range: 63 km (39 mi). Maximum allowed vertical separation: +/− 10 km (6.2 mi).
• R-27T1: Export model of the R-27T. The missile has a maximum range of 80 kilometres (50 mi) with 39 kg (86 lb) warhead.
• R-27ER: AA-10 Alamo-C, the semi-active-radar homing extended-range version. Missile can be used at 20–27,000 m (66–88,583 ft) altitude. Effective kill range for a target at same altitude: 2–65.5 km (1.2–40.7 mi) head-on, 0.7–16.5 km (0.43–10.25 mi) tail-on. Missile cannot be fired at altitude less than 3 km (1.9 mi) against a target with background earth, if launch range is less than 6 km (3.7 mi). Maximum range: 117 km (73 mi). Maximum allowed vertical separation: 12 km (7.5 mi).
• R-27ER1: Export model of the R-27ER. The missile has a maximum range of 100 kilometres (62 mi) with 39 kg (86 lb) warhead.
• R-27ET: AA-10 Alamo-D, the infrared-homing extended-range version, Weight 348 kg (767 lb). Missile can be used at 20–27,000 m (66–88,583 ft) altitude. Effective kill range: 2–52.5 km (1.2–32.6 mi) head-on, 0.7–12.5 km (0.43–7.77 mi) tail-on. Maximum range: 104 km (65 mi). Maximum allowed vertical separation: 12 km (7.5 mi).
• R-27ET1: Export model of the R-27ET. The missile has a maximum range of 80 kilometres (50 mi) with 39 kg (86 lb) warhead.

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. 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. 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. 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.

Other variants:

• R-27P AA-10 Alamo-E, passive radiation homing with a range of up to 72 km (45 mi).
• R-27EP AA-10 Alamo-F, a longer range passive anti-radiation missile with a range of up to 110 km (68 mi).
• R-27EA, active radar homing with 9B-1103K active seeker, range of >130 km (81 mi).
• R-27EM, active radar homing with 9B-1103K active seeker, range of >170 km (110 mi).

Operational service

Ethiopia and Eritrea

In the 1999 Eritrean-Ethiopian War, Eritrean MiG-29s fought Ethiopian Su-27s both piloted by Russian mercenaries. 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. Russian officials denied any involvement.

The R-27 was used by both sides during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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. 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. 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.

On 21 March 2018, Houthi rebels released a video where they hit and possibly shot down a Saudi F-15 in Saada province. 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. Saudi official sources confirmed the incident reporting that it happened at 3:48 pm local time after a surface-to-air defense missile was launched at the fighter jet from inside Saada airport.

Operators

Current

•  Algeria
•  Angola
•  Armenia − R-27R
•  Azerbaijan − R-27T and R-27R
•  Bangladesh − R-27R
•  Belarus − R-27R and R-27ER
•  Bulgaria − R-27R
•  China − Used by the Air Force and Navy
•  Cuba
•  Eritrea
•  Ethiopia
•  India − Used by the Air Force and Navy
•  Indonesia
•  Iran − R-27T and R-27R
•  Kazakhstan − R-27T, R-27ER, and R-27R
• Libyan National Army − R-27T
•  Malaysia
•  Myanmar
•  North Korea − R-27R/ER
•  Peru
•  Poland − R-27R
•  Russia − R-27T/ET, R-27R/ER, and R-27P/EP used by the Air Force; R-27T/ET used by the Navy
•  Serbia − R-27ER
•  Sudan
•  Syria
•  Uganda
•  Ukraine − R-27ET, R-27ET1, R-27ER and R-27ER1
•  Uzbekistan
•  Venezuela − R-27T/ET and R-27R/ER

•  Vietnam

Former

•  Czechoslovakia
•  Czech Republic
•  East Germany − Passed on to Germany after the German reunification
•  Germany
•  Hungary
•  Iraq
•  Romania
•  Soviet Union − Passed on to successor states
•  Slovakia
•  Yemen
•  Yugoslavia − Passed on to successor states

See also

• List of missiles
• R-77 – (Russia)

Similar weapons

• AIM-7 Sparrow – (United States)
• Aspide – (Italy)
• Super 530 – (France)
• PL-11 – (China)

References

Citations

1. "ARTEM". ARTEM. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
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4. ^ "R-27R1". Rosoboronexport. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
5. ^ "R-27ER1". Rosoboronexport. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
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18. Newdick, Thomas (13 October 2022). "Ukraine Claims MiG-29 Pilot Downed Five Drones Before Ejecting". The Drive.
19. Butowski, Piotr; Newdick, Thomas (4 October 2022). "Russian Aggressor Squadron Gets Its First Su-35S Fighter Jets". The Drive.
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32. IISS 2024, p. 250.
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34. IISS 2024, p. 78.
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36. IISS 2024, p. 429.
37. IISS 2024, p. 490.
38. IISS 2024, p. 492.
39. IISS 2024, pp. 269−270.
40. IISS 2024, p. 275.
41. IISS 2024, p. 356.
42. IISS 2024, p. 187.
43. IISS 2024, p. 371.
44. IISS 2024, p. 293.
45. IISS 2024, p. 298.
46. IISS 2024, p. 284.
47. IISS 2024, p. 449.
48. IISS 2024, p. 127.
49. IISS 2024, pp. 198, 200.
50. IISS 2024, p. 134.
51. Cooper, Tom; Weinert, Peter; Hinz, Fabian; Lepko, Mark (2011). African MiGs, Volume 2: Madagascar to Zimbabwe. Houston: Harpia Publishing. p. 150. ISBN 978-0-9825539-8-5.
52. IISS 2024, p. 387.
53. IISS 2024, p. 527.
54. IISS 2024, p. 213.
55. IISS 2024, p. 216.
56. IISS 2024, p. 456.
57. IISS 2024, p. 326.
58. ^ "Arms transfer database". SIPRI. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
59. ^ Lennox, Duncan, ed. (1997). "AA-10 'Alamo' (R-27)". Jane's Air-Launched Weapons (35th ed.). Surrey: Jane's Information Group.
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Bibliography

• Gordon, Yefim (2004). Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons Since World War Two. Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-188-1.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (2024). The Military Balance 2024. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-040-05115-3.

External links

• Р-27
• Ruská raketa typu vzduch-vzduch R-27 (AA-10 Alamo)
• ГосМКБ «Вымпел» » Управляемые авиационные ракеты «воздух-воздух»

• Anti-radiation missiles of the Soviet Union
• Air-to-air missiles of the Soviet Union
• Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles
• Cold War air-to-air missiles of the Soviet Union
• Vympel NPO products
• Military equipment introduced in the 1980s