The R-27 family

Due to some recent talk about this weapon, here’s what I have to offer…

R-27R-“short burn” SARH variant. Range 43 NM. NATO ASCC AA-10 ALAMO-A.
R-27T-s.b. IR variant. Range 37.8 NM. ALAMO-B.
R-27ER-“long burn” SARH variant. Range 70 NM. ALAMO-C.
R-27ET-l.b. IR variant. Range 64.75 NM. ALAMO-D.
R-27EA-l.b. AR variant. Range 70 NM. Not in service.
R-27EM-second l.b. SARH variant, designed for increased performance at low altitude, against targets such as sea-skimming cruise missiles. Destined for Su-33 if it ever enters service. Range 92 NM.
R-27P/EP-s.b./l.b. A-A ARMs. Rumored to be in service but still classified systems.

One of the Swedish praises of the -ER might be due to its range, which certainly outclasses the 30 NM figure given for AMRAAM, ramjet versions notwithstanding. It looks theoretically possible to engage a target at long enough range to get an impact and turn away well before coming into range of the AIM-120, or its seeker head if a launch was made.

The missile certainly seems capable on paper, but again no definitive combat information is available.

All variants can be carried by the Su-27 or derivatives, but only the short-burn variants can be carried on the basic MiG-29. The MiG-29S and subsequent variants are compatible with the long-burn variants due to improvements in the FCS. There was also the issue of the flaps having to be adjusted to not smack into the longer missiles rear fins.