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)[2] R-27ET: up to 120 km (75 mi) R-27ET1: up to 80 km (50 mi)[3] R-27R: up to 73 km (45 mi) R-27R1: up to 75 km (47 mi)[4] R-27ER: up to 130 km (81 mi) R-27ER1: up to 100 km (62 mi)[5] 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)[6][7]
R-27T (Second from bottom) and R-27R (First from bottom)9B-1101K, inertial semi-active homing head for R-27R missiles.
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).[12]
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.[4]
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).[12]
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.[2]
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).[12]
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.[5]
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).[12]
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.[3]
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.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14] 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.[12]
Other variants:
R-27PAA-10 Alamo-E, passive radiation homing with a range of up to 72 km (45 mi).[citation needed]
R-27EPAA-10 Alamo-F, a longer range passive anti-radiation missile with a range of up to 110 km (68 mi).[6]
R-27EA, active radar homing with 9B-1103K active seeker, range of >130 km (81 mi).[7]
R-27EM, active radar homing with 9B-1103K active seeker, range of >170 km (110 mi).
In the 1999 Eritrean-Ethiopian War, Eritrean MiG-29s fought Ethiopian Su-27s both piloted by Russian mercenaries.[15] Only one R-27 fired by an Ethiopian Su-27 at an Eritrean MiG-29 proximity-fuzed near enough the MiG that the damaged aircraft eventually crashed on landing.
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.[16] Russian officials denied any involvement.[17]
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.[20][21] 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.[22] 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.[23]
On 21 March 2018, Houthi rebels released a video where they hit and possibly shot down a Saudi F-15inSaada province.[24] 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.[25][26] 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.[27][8]
^Cooper, Tom (2021). In the Claws of the Tomcat. US Navy F-14 Tomcats in Air Combat Against Iran and Iraq, 1987-2000. Warwick, UK: Helion & Company Publishing. p. 27. ISBN978-1-913118-75-4.
Bibliography
Gordon, Yefim (2004). Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons Since World War Two. Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing. ISBN1-85780-188-1.
Algeria
Angola[28]
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh[29]
Belarus
Bulgaria
People's Republic of China[29]: 264–265 
Cuba
Egypt
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Georgia
India[29]: 273–274 – Ordered 300 missiles in 2019 & 800 in 2020 for Su-30MKI & MiG-29UPG aircraft. R-27R1/ER1 and R-27T1/ET1 variants.[30][31][32] Used in SAMAR Air Defence System[33]
Indonesia[29]: 278 
Iran
Kazakhstan
Malaysia[29]: 293 
Myanmar[29]: 297 
North Korea[29]: 286 
Peru[34]
Poland
Russia[19]
Serbia[35]
Sudan[36]
Syria
Ukraine[37]
Venezuela
Vietnam[29]: 320 
Yemen
Czechoslovakia
Slovakia (all given to Ukraine in March/April 2023)
East Germany (all given to West German Air Force in 1990)
Germany (all given to the Polish Air Force with MiG-29s in 2004)
Hungary
Iraq[38]
Soviet Union (passed on to successor states except 
Lithuania, 
Latvia and 
Estonia)
Romania
Yugoslavia/
Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro
