Municiones

Misil aire-aire de corto alcance Vympel R-73

Also known as
  • AA-11 Archer
  • Archer

El Vympel R-73, conocido por la OTAN como AA-11 Archer, es un misil aire-aire infrarrojo de corto alcance de diseno sovietico, construido para combates cerrados entre cazas. Entro en servicio en 1984 y se hizo notable por la designacion mediante mira montada en casco, los disparos de alto angulo fuera del eje y las mejoras posteriores de la familia R-74.

Misil aire-aire de corto alcance Vympel R-73, Misil aire-aire de corto alcance guiado por infrarrojos, Municiones
Image source: Wikimedia Commons R-73.jpg

Role in Conflicts

2019 India-Pakistan Border Skirmishes
Side
India
Role in conflict
Interceptacion aire-aire de corto alcance

Informes indios dicen que el Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman disparo un R-73 desde un MiG-21 Bison durante el enfrentamiento aereo del 27 de febrero de 2019.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Union Sovietica
Built by
Vympel
Type
Misil aire-aire de corto alcance guiado por infrarrojos
Service note
Diseno de la Guerra Fria aun en servicio en cazas modernos
Designer
Vympel Design Bureau
Designed
Decada de 1970-1984
Developed into
R-74M / R-74M2 / RVV-MD2

Specifications

Longitud
2.9 m
Diametro
170 mm
Envergadura
510 mm
Peso de lanzamiento
105 kg
Ojiva
Ojiva de varillas de 8 kg
Guiado
Guia infrarroja pasiva de todos los aspectos
Control
Control por vectorizacion de empuje
Alcance
Hasta 30 km
Velocidad
Mach 2.5
What Made The R-73 Distinct

El R-73 fue construido para el combate cercano entre cazas, mas que para la interceptacion de largo alcance.

CaracteristicaImportancia respaldada por fuentes
Designacion mediante mira montada en cascoDefense Advancement dice que el misil podia ser apuntado con la linea de vision del piloto, ampliando la envolvente de combate.
Apuntamiento de alto angulo fuera del ejeLa misma fuente dice que el misil podia atacar blancos en angulos extremos fuera del arco frontal de la aeronave.
Control por vectorizacion de empujeDefense Advancement describe un sistema de control por vectorizacion de empuje que mejoraba el rendimiento en giros cerrados durante combates aereos.
Buscador infrarrojo de todos los aspectosRosoboronexport describe el R-73E de exportacion como un misil con guia infrarroja pasiva de todos los aspectos.
Variants
  • R-73E
  • R-73M
  • RVV-MD
  • R-74M
  • R-74M2
  • RVV-MD2
Plataformas de lanzamiento

El R-73 fue construido para el combate de cazas a corta distancia y esta documentado en aeronaves indias que usaron el misil en contextos de entrenamiento y combate.

LauncherLauncher typeLaunch evidence
MiG-21 Bison, Upgraded supersonic fighter-interceptor, Aircraft & UAVsMiG-21 BisonCaza interceptor

ThePrint informo que Abhinandan Varthaman pilotaba un MiG-21 Bison cuando engancho un F-16 y disparo su R-73 el 27 de febrero de 2019.

Sources: IAF officer told Wg Cdr Abhinandan to turn back, but he couldn't hear her

HAL Tejas, Single-engine multirole light combat aircraft family, Aircraft & UAVsHAL TejasAvion ligero de combate

PIB dijo que Tejas habia integrado por completo el HMDS y demostrado con exito el disparo del misil R73E en diciembre de 2013.

Sources: LCA Tejas Gets Initial Operational Clearance for Induction into IAF

Timeline

Misil aire-aire de corto alcance Vympel R-73 Key Events

  1. Entrada en servicio

    Defense Advancement dice que el R-73 entro en servicio en 1984 y se convirtio en un arma estandar en cazas rusos modernos y de la era sovietica.

    Sources: R-73 Missile | Vympel R-73 / AA-11 Archer Missile

  2. Tejas demuestra el disparo del R73E

    PIB informo que Tejas habia integrado por completo un HMDS y demostrado con exito el disparo del misil R73E mediante ese sistema.

    Sources: LCA Tejas Gets Initial Operational Clearance for Induction into IAF

  3. Disparo de combate reportado sobre Cachemira

    ThePrint informo que Abhinandan Varthaman disparo un R-73 desde un MiG-21 Bison durante el combate aereo del 27 de febrero.

    Sources: IAF officer told Wg Cdr Abhinandan to turn back, but he couldn't hear her

Media

Misil aire-aire de corto alcance Vympel R-73 Images

Misil aire-aire de corto alcance Vympel R-73, Misil aire-aire de corto alcance guiado por infrarrojos, Municiones - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons R-73 HuAF.jpg
Misil aire-aire de corto alcance Vympel R-73, Misil aire-aire de corto alcance guiado por infrarrojos, Municiones - view 2
Source: Wikimedia Commons HAL Tejas carrying R-73 missile and Drop Tank.jpg
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MiG-21 Bison, Upgraded supersonic fighter-interceptor, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsMiG-21 BisonUpgraded supersonic fighter-interceptorThe MiG-21 Bison was India's final MiG-21bis upgrade, combining the Soviet-origin Fishbed airframe with a Kopyo radar, modern navigation/attack avionics, countermeasures, helmet-cued short-range missile employment, and beyond-visual-range missile compatibility. Its most tightly documented combat use in the catalog is the 27 February 2019 India-Pakistan aerial engagement over Kashmir; the type left Indian Air Force service in September 2025.

Sources

R-73EPublisher: Rosoboronexport | Note: Supports R-73 manufacturer background and core technical specifications for the export variant. | Accessed: 2026-06-21R-73 Missile | Vympel R-73 / AA-11 Archer MissilePublisher: Defense Advancement | Note: Supports the missile's 1984 service entry, Vympel Design Bureau origin, high off-boresight and helmet-mounted-sight context, thrust-vectoring control, fighter-user background, and variant family development. | Accessed: 2026-06-26LCA Tejas Gets Initial Operational Clearance for Induction into IAFPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports Tejas HMDS integration and the successful R73E missile firing demonstration in December 2013. | Accessed: 2026-06-26IAF officer told Wg Cdr Abhinandan to turn back, but he couldn't hear herPublisher: ThePrint | Note: Supports 2019 India-Pakistan Border Skirmishes direct use; ThePrint says Abhinandan fired his R-73 from a MiG-21 Bison during the 27 February dogfight. | Accessed: 2026-06-26Abhinandan's last radio message said he had locked on to Pak F-16Publisher: Times of India | Note: Supports 2019 India-Pakistan Border Skirmishes direct conflict-use: Indian reporting says the R-73 was fired by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman during the 27 February 2019 aerial engagement. | Accessed: 2026-06-21Wikimedia Commons R-73.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain licensing context for the primary R-73 missile image. | Accessed: 2026-06-21Wikimedia Commons R-73 HuAF.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and Creative Commons licensing context for the mounted R-73 reference image. | Accessed: 2026-06-21Wikimedia Commons HAL Tejas carrying R-73 missile and Drop Tank.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public image context for a fighter-mounted R-73 reference image. | Accessed: 2026-06-21