Russia’s state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport has inked a contract with Malaysia for the delivery of 35 Vympel R-77 RVV-AE air-to-air missiles for the Malaysian Air Force.
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Rosoboronexport’s Deputy General Director Nikolai Dimidyuk told RIA Novosti that the $35m contract was signed at the ongoing arms show, Defense Services Asia-2012 held in Malaysia.
"Russia will deliver the first batch of missiles by the end of 2012," Dimidyuk added.
The RVV-AE, referred to as the AA-12 Adder by Nato, is a medium-range active radar-guided missile that features folding lattice (electrically driven) fins, multi-target and "fire-and-forget" capabilities.
The guided missile is fitted with a warhead, can be employed from a MiG/Su-type aircraft and is capable of engaging different airborne targets such as fighters, bombers, attack aircraft, helicopters, military cargo aircraft and cruise missiles.
Equipped with a laser proximity target sensor, the 22.5kg warhead resembles a multi-shaped charge rod type.
The 3.6m-long missile has a launch weight of 175kg and can be used against ground and water surface background as well as in harsh electronic countermeasures (ECM) environment.
Powered with a fixed-thrust solid-fuel rocket engine, the missile’s guidance is a combination of inertial with radio correction datalink at the initial leg and active radar homing at the terminal leg of the missile.
Similar to the US Air Force’s Raytheon-built AIM-120 AMRAAM, the missile has been in service since 1994 and will be used by the Malaysian air force to arm its Sukhoi Su-30 aircraft.
Around 16 MiG-29N Fulcrum and 18 Su-30MKM Flanker fighter jets are currently in service with the Malaysian air force, which form its combat aircraft fleet.
Image: A Vympel R-77 RVV-AE missile put on display during MAKS Airshow 2009. Photo: Allocer.
