The timing is all wrong.

The first test firings of R-33 were in 1977. It entered service in late 1981. The Shah was overthrown in February 1979.

How exactly could they have reverse engineered the AIM-54 and sent it back in time to 1977????

If any Phoenix technology found its way into the R-33 it was via traditional espionage means, not the Iranians.

Vympel have openly admitted copying the AIM-9 and AIM-7 (R-3S/R-13 and K-25), so why would they deny this for the AIM-54?

Its an early Yak-41 concept!

Look here:

I think that’s the Fokker-Republic Alliance (for NATO NBMR-3 requirement)

Arthur, according to a Russian article I read the An-71 was not designed for the carrier role at all (though it was considered for it, it wasn’t thought practical) but for rough fields in the north of Russia.

It seems be be referring to using the onboard GPS in the aircraft in combination with the optical/laser suite to achieve similar accuracy to a GPS guided bomb.

Pero is totally applicable to the N019. The N001 shares numerous components with the N019, so they are closely related radars.

A notional MiG-29 sized Zhuk-MSF would have a range reduced by about 1.5.

I disagree here, Crobato.

There is no indication that Russia is refusing to sell the improved Baguet 55-04.06 DSP to China or elsewhere- or why mention it on their website? Their website says it was developed during the development of the N001VE for the MKK, and implies it is still being tested, so it isn’t really surprising it isn’t yet fitted to Su-30MKK.

The Russian AF probably can’t afford Pero antennas. They are going for the 55-04.06 DSP upgrade rather than 55-04.02 DSP from the original N001VE as it adds a long range AA mode, vital for air defence tasking. The Russians can them claim it is better than the Chinese have- it is, currently.

The “Panda” for China, if accepted, will include both Pero *and* the 55-04.06 DSP. Each adds separate capabilities.