Three of
the most prominent Ukrainian missile and electronics companies have agreed to
develop a new dual-mode active/passive radar-homing air-to-air missile (AAM)
seeker. This guidance package is not for a new missile programme, but would
instead be retrofitted to existing models of the Vympel R-27 (AA-10 Alamo
A/C/E/F) AAMs.
The
seeker will not be presented as an alternative to nations looking to purchase
the Russian-made RVV-AE (AA-12) active-homing AAM, "and is not an
initiative to displace Russia in its traditional markets", according to
representatives of these companies who spoke with IHS Jane's during the
AviaSvit Ukraine National Aerospace Exhibition at the Gostomel aerodrome near
Kiev.
Instead,
state Ukrainian engineers and marketing executives familiar with this design
proposal said that this seeker will be offered as an upgrade option to those
nations that have a substantial number of the R-27R/ER AAMs equipped with the
older-generation AGAT 9B-1101K semi-active homing seeker, and/or R-27P/EP
models fitted with the Avtomatika 9B-1032 passive, anti-radiation seeker still
in their inventory.
The
semi-active guided variant of the R-27 was widely exported to almost every
nation that currently has MiG-29, Su-27/Su-30-series, or other Russian-designed
fighter aircraft as part of their air force order of battle.
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