R-27 (AA-10 Alamo) Air-to-Air Missile

The R-27 (NATO reporting name: AA-10 Alamo) is a medium-to-long-range air-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union and later Russia. It serves as the primary air-to-air missile for multiple fighter aircraft, including the MiG-29 and Su-27 families.
R-27 (AA-10 Alamo) Air-to-Air Missile
Follow DA

The R-27 missile was developed by the Vympel Design Bureau in the late 1970s and entered service in the early 1980s. It was designed to provide Soviet and later Russian fighter aircraft with a versatile weapon capable of engaging enemy aircraft at beyond-visual-range (BVR) distances. The missile has been exported extensively and remains in service with numerous air forces worldwide.

The R-27 family includes multiple variants with different guidance systems and engagement capabilities. These include infrared (IR), semi-active radar (SARH), and active radar-homing versions, allowing for flexibility in various combat scenarios. The missile can be launched in single or salvo mode and is highly maneuverable, making it effective against a wide range of aerial threats.

Design and Features

The R-27 is a modular missile system that allows for different seeker heads and propulsion options. It features long, narrow control fins and a two-stage rocket motor, giving it a significant range advantage over earlier Soviet air-to-air missiles. The missile body is cylindrical, with large aerodynamic control surfaces for enhanced maneuverability.

Variants of the R-27 include:

  • R-27R (AA-10 Alamo-A) – Semi-active radar homing (SARH) version.
  • R-27T (AA-10 Alamo-B) – Infrared (IR) homing version for passive engagement.
  • R-27ER (AA-10 Alamo-C) – Extended-range SARH version with a more powerful rocket motor.
  • R-27ET (AA-10 Alamo-D) – Extended-range IR-homing version.
  • R-27EA – Active radar-homing variant with improved seeker capabilities.

The dual-mode operation of the missile allows for high off-boresight targeting when coupled with a helmet-mounted sight, improving the aircraft’s first-shot capability in dogfight situations.

Performance and Capabilities

The R-27’s range varies depending on the variant, with engagement distances from 50 km to 130 km. It has a maximum speed of Mach 4.5 and can target aircraft at altitudes between 20 meters and 25 km.

It employs proximity and impact fuzes, ensuring high kill probability against both maneuvering and non-maneuvering targets. The warhead is a 39 kg high-explosive fragmentation type, designed to cause significant structural damage.

Example specifications below are for the R-27R (SARH) variant.

R-27 (AA-10 Alamo) Specifications

Length
4.08 m
Diameter
230 mm
Wingspan
0.77 m
Weight
253 kg
Guidance
Semi-active radar
Maximum Range
50-80 km
Speed
Mach 4.5
Posted by DA Staff Connect & Contact

Featured Content

New Line of Kinetic-Capable Unmanned Surface Vessels Introduced

Red Cat Holdings enters the maritime autonomy market with a new line of combat-proven USVs, expanding its multi-domain unmanned systems for naval operations

May 20, 2025
Next-Gen Group 2 UAS Enters Production with Extended Endurance & Upgrades

Aurora Flight Sciences upgrades the SKIRON-X Group 2 UAS with greater versatility and tactical mission endurance, as well as announcing the hydrogen-powered SKIRON-XLE variant

May 13, 2025
Discover ANELLO’s SiPhOGâ„¢ for GNSS-Denied Navigation at XPO25

CEO of ANELLO Photonics, Dr. Mario Paniccia, will present at Xponential 2025 on the company's SiPhOG-based inertial navigation technology in GPS-denied and GNSS-contested environments.

May 09, 2025
Advancing Defense Capability Through Strategic Collaboration Defense Advancement works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive defense capabilities forward.