Russian missile-design house Vympel is believed to be continuing work on a improved variant of the R-73 (AA-11 Archer, possibly carrying the in-house designation K-74). Although Vympel has never released an image of what is also referred to as the R-73M, the picture clearly shows two differently sized and shaped models of the R-73 mounted on the wingtip and outboard pylons of a Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker.
The inboard model appears to be slightly longer than that on the wingtip station, with a reduced fin depth. Likely areas of upgrade include the missile's onboard electronics, and improved flare-rejection capability, as well as an improved off-boresight seeker. Vympel has previously stated that the improved variant would have a 90¹-plus off-boresight capability. The upgraded variant of the R-73 may also be associated with the rearward-firing tests which have been carried out from a Flanker testbed.
The design bureau has also been working on a follow-on to the R-73, although, beyond confirming that such a project exists, it has released no details of the missile, or its configuration.
Vympel appears to have beaten surface-to-air missile specialist Fakel in designing the Russian air force's R-73 replacement. The Fakel submission was a tail-control-only weapon, similar in dimensions to the Matra BAe Dynamics advanced short-range air-to-air missile.
Source: Flight International