R-73 (AA-11 "Archer") Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile

Model	R-73E	R-73M1	R-73M2
Entered service in	?	1982	?
Range against closing target	< 30 km	30 km	40 km
Range against receding target	< 15 km	15 km	?
Weight	115 kg	105 kg	110 kg
Weight of warhead	7.4 kg	8 kg	?
Type of warhead	expanding rod
Speed	Mach 2.5
Guidance	infrared
Kill probability	?	0.6	?
Length	2.9 m
Diameter	0.17 m
Fin span	0.51 m
Carried by	Ka-50, Ka-52, MiG-29, MiG-31, Su-25, Su-27, Su-30, Su-33, Su-34, Su-35, Su-37, Su-39, Yak-141

The R-73 short-range air-to-air missile was developed by "Molniya" (recently the special design bureau Nr.4) design bureau. It's team at the beginning of the 1970s developed the R-60 missile and the R-73 was intended to replace it. It is known as the AA-11 "Archer" with NATO countries.

Missile features a wide angle infrared seeker and extreme maneuverability. The R-73 is completed with a vectored trust system to make Artist's impression on the R-73 (AA-11 "Archer") short-range air-to-air missile very tight turns. It's minimum range of fire is 0.3 km and missile is intended as a dogfight weapon in close air combats. Furthermore the R-73 is considered to be the most dangerous weapon system in close visual combat.

There were developed later variants of the R-73 missile:

   - The R-73E missile features extended range;
   - The R-73M1 (sometimes designated as R-73 RDM-1) features improved overall performance;
   - The R-73M2 (R-73 RDM-2) has even better performance characteristics than it's predecessor - the R-73M1;
   - The K-74ME.

All these missiles have the same AA-11 "Archer" NATO designation.

Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile

R - 73