R73

The R-73, designated by NATO as the AA-11 Archer, is a short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union in the late 20th century. It was designed to provide close-in, high-agility engagement capability to modern fighter aircraft and to complement longer-range missiles. The R-73 was intended to be compact, fast, and effective against highly maneuverable targets in the visual or near-visual range.

In design terms, the R-73 uses a passive infrared seeker to home on a target. It incorporates features that enable high off-boresight aiming when paired with helmet-mounted sights, allowing pilots to lock onto targets in many directions relative to the aircraft's nose. The missile employs a solid-propellant rocket motor and a compact warhead, with guidance and fuzing tailored for rapid acquisition and hit probability in close-range dogfights. An export version, the R-73E, was widely supplied to allied air forces, sometimes with performance adjustments.

Variants and upgrades were produced to maintain operability across generations of Soviet and Russian fighter aircraft, and to provide compatibility with export platforms. The R-73 saw widespread service on aircraft such as the Su-27 family and the MiG-29, and it became a staple of Soviet and later Russian air-to-air armament, as well as a common choice for many export operators.

Operational history reflects its role in close-range air combat and its long service life in various air forces. While superseded in some roles by newer missiles, the R-73 remains a notable example of a compact, high-off-boresight infrared AAM from the late Cold War era and a foundational element of many fleets’ short-range air combat capability.