RUSSIAN SURFACE-to-air missile (SAM) design house Fakel is attempting to break into new markets by offering two air-to-air versions of secret SAM development projects. Both weapons are being offered for the Sukhoi Su-27M (Su-35) Flanker.
Fakel is working on an active-radar-guided medium-range missile (box right in picture) and what is thought to be an infra-red, or imaging infra-red, dogfight weapon.
Mock-ups of the missiles have been shown to potential customers as part of a range of weapons available for the Su-27M.
One missile, is understood to be based on the naval 9M96 active-radar-guided SAM now in development. The naval weapon and the proposed air-launched derivative resemble the in-service 9M330 (SA-N-9/SA-15).
Fakel officials admit to working on air-to-air-missile (AAM) projects, with an active-radar seeker from design bureau Agat being used in at least one AAM.
The missile-design bureau is known to be working on another new SAM design as well as the 9M96, the 9M100.
The 9M100 designator may be related to the tail-control-only missile mock-up displayed in front of a Su-27M privately displayed at Zhukovsky, near Moscow, for an unknown client. The missile's dimensions are broadly similar to those of the British Aerospace Dynamics new Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile.
No Vympel R-77s (AA-1R Adder) are displayed either on, or in front of, the aircraft, although this is a standard display missile for the advanced Flanker derivative.
The Russian air force is known to have a requirement for a successor to the Vympel R-73 (AA-11 Archer) dogfight missile. Vympel has tried to move into the SAM market with the R-77-3PK.
Source: Flight International
