Douglas Barrie/LONDON
The Chinese air force is discussing with Israel and Russia the acquisition of an advanced dogfight air-to-air missile (AAM), with Rafael's Python-4 and an advanced variant of the Vympel R-73 (A-11 Archer) both being considered.
Rafael has already provided many Python-3 AAMs to the Chinese air force, with some estimates placing the number of missiles in the low fighter types. Sources confirm that China has been briefed by Rafael on the Python-4.
The Python-4 and the latest variant of the R-73, the K-74ME, have a 60degrees-plus off-boresight engagement capability. The arrival of such a weapon in the Asia-Pacific region would inevitably hasten the acquisition of rival missiles by several of the region's air forces.
Sources indicate that Chinacould purchase both weapons. It already carries the R-73E on its Russian-supplied Sukhoi Su-27 Flankers, and is in the final stages of agreeing procurement of a third batch of aircraft. The Python-3 is deployed on indigenous Chengdu F-7s and Shenyang F-8s.
Vympel unveiled a mock-up of the K-74ME at the Moscow air show in August. This differs from the basic R-73 only in having a seeker with a greater look angle.
There remain indications, however, that "K-74" may also be the designator for a greater modification of the R-73. While the K-74ME has the same airframe dimensions and weight as the R-73E, Vympel has previously released details of a larger variant. A mockup of a modified R-73, which has been shown several times fitted to aircraft, has dimensions corresponding to those of a weapon which Vympel has previously described as a "reverse-start" variant of the Archer. This is a 115kg, rather than 105kg, missile, again with a 60degrees off-boresight seeker, and is also longer than the basic R-73, at 3.2m instead of 2.9m, with a narrower wingspan.
It is possible that Vympel has so far only been allowed to discuss the export of the K-74ME missile, rather than the K-74, which is intended, at least for the time being, for Russian use only.
Source: Flight International
