R-27 (AA-10 Alamo)

A Soviet-designed medium-range air-to-air missile family fielded with semi-active radar, infrared and passive anti-radiation seekers.

Overview

The Vympel R-27, designated AA-10 Alamo by NATO, is a family of medium-range air-to-air missiles developed for the MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter families. It entered Soviet service in 1983 and subsequently became a standard weapon across Russia, other former Soviet states and numerous export air forces. The family encompasses semi-active radar-homing R/ER missiles, infrared-guided T/ET models and passive-radar P/EP variants, with published maximum ranges varying substantially by seeker, motor and source.

The R-27 is unusual among Soviet weapons in having established production lines in both Russia and Ukraine. Vympel, part of Russia's Tactical Missiles Corporation, produces the Russian lineage, while Kyiv-based Artem has manufactured export versions since the Soviet period. Ukraine also sold China an R-27 production licence, according to the program history summarized by Wikipedia and reporting by Defense Express.

Although active-radar missiles such as the R-77 and AIM-120 have surpassed its semi-active variants in operational flexibility, the R-27 remains relevant because it is integrated with large surviving fleets of Soviet-designed fighters. Russia and Ukraine have both employed the family during the Russo-Ukrainian war. Ukrainian MiG-29 and Su-27 aircraft have carried R-27s on air-defense sorties against cruise missiles and uncrewed aircraft, making the weapon part of Ukraine's improvised airborne interception network as well as a legacy air-combat missile.

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