Missile R-27 (AA-10 Alamo)
Summary
| NATO Designation | AA-10 Alamo |
| Category | Air-to-Air Missiles |
| Sub-type | Semi-active radar-guided air-to-air missile |
| Origin country | 🇷🇺 Russia 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR |
| Manufacturer | Vympel |
| Status | In service |
| Year of service | 1983 |
Technical specifications
| Warhead | High Explosive |
| Diameter | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Span | 772 mm (30.4 in) |
| Length | 4,080 mm (160.6 in) |
| Flight altitude | 27,000 m (88,583 ft) |
| Weight | 253 kg (558 lb) |
| Range | 80 km (50 mi) |
| Max. speed | 5,556 km/h (Mach 5.6) |
R-27 scale diagram
Operators
Description
The AA-10 Alamo, also known as the R-27, was an air-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union for fighter aircraft. Initial work on the R-27 began in the 1970s to produce a missile with greater range and advanced guidance compared to earlier Soviet air-to-air weapons.
The R-27 entered service in the 1980s and was carried by fighters like the MiG-29 and Su-27. It came in semi-active radar homing and infrared-homing variants, giving it the flexibility to engage targets beyond visual range in all weather conditions. The infrared models could be used in a "fire and forget" mode against rear-aspect targets.
With an effective range of up to 80 miles, the R-27 gave Soviet fighters an extended reach in air combat compared to American AIM-7 Sparrows of the period. The Alamo established Russia's first truly long range air-to-air capability. It was produced in updated variants with improved guidance and propulsion up through the 1990s.
The R-27 remains in service today as a benchmark Russian long range air-to-air missile. It equipped fighters exported around the world and saw combat in conflicts like the Ethiopian-Eritrean War. The AA-10 Alamo and its evolved variants remain important in Russia's air arsenal today.