[XMAA] AA-12 Adder / R-77

R-77 / AA-12 Adder

ORIGIN: (Real World)
Russian Federation

GAMES FEATURED IN:
Ace Combat 05: The Unsung War
Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War
Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception
Ace Combat 06: Fires of Liberation

COMPATIBLE AIRCRAFT:
Su-27 Flanker, Su-32/34 Strike Flanker, Su-33 Flanker

OVERVIEW:
The R-77, AKA the AA-12, is a Russian fire and forget missile. It is comparable to the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. Due to the similarities, it was nicknamed the AMRAAMski in the west. This missile was developed in 1982, and is one of the best BVR missiles in the world.

The missile features four conventional planar fins mid-body and four grid fins in the rear (similar devices are used on the R-400 Oka). The basic version of this missile is said to have a maximum range of 90 km (55 mi). Upon launch, the missile is inertia-guided with updates from the launch platform aircraft. As the missile comes within 20 km (12.42 mi) of its target, the missile is guided by a nose-mounted terminal active radar. A product-improvement of the R-77 Adder is in the works, codenamed the R-77M1, and will feature a ramjet propulsion device. This heavier missile system will have a much greater range, and will surely be the primary beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air weapon in upcoming fifth generation Russian front line fighters.

The R-77 is also being developed to match developments abroad. The RVV-AE-PD (often referred to as the R-77M) is under development and has the four side fins replaced with ram jets. In addition to a new loft trajectory, it is expected to have a range exceeding 120km and limited primarily by the launch platform's radar.

To date, the R-77 can be used by most of the Russian Air force due to the fact that many of their aircraft were upgraded recently. The same is true for the PLAAF of China, who license build the Su-27. The newer Su-30MKK has a N001 (Su-27 radar) with a digital bypass channel incorporating a mode allowing it to use R-77s. Newer Russian aircraft from the MiG-29S (N019M radar) onward are not restricted in this regard.

Source:
GlobalSecurity.org

*Original Article by ICE*