Is RVV-AE opertional missile?

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

Export version of the R-77 missile is RVV-AE. There are numerous reports that hundreds of RVV-AE's were sold to India for their fleet of Su-30MKI as well as MiG-21bis airplanes. Does anybody have any pictures of operational RVV-AE's on any of these airplanes?

 

Also, has China ever purchased any RVV-AE's?

[Groove]

Could you please link the reports to that hundreds of RVV-AE's sold to India?

[EtherealN]

Regarding China, what I recall is that they were looking at the missile but decided to continue with development of their own program. That's a foggy memory though, so no clue on where to look for details.

[Falcon_S]

Could you please link the reports to that hundreds of RVV-AE's sold to India?

 

Source: http://eng.ktrv.ru/production_eng/323/503/505/

 

17.07.2009

 

 

On Export Deliveries of Air-to-Air Missiles of RVV-AE Type

 

In view of recently emerged publications about the alleged claims of Indian military authorities on the Russian-made air-to-air missiles of RVV-AE type, Tactical Missiles Corporations JSC would like to make some clarifications.

Air-launched medium-range missile of RVV-AE type is an export version of a Russian-made missile developed back in the 1980s in the USSR. At present this missile remains one of the best air-to-air weapons in the world in terms of performance. At the range of up to 80 km it can engage targets flying at various (including high) speeds at the altitudes from 20 m up to 25 km.

High efficiency of RVV-AE was proved during state tests and repeatedly held combat and training launches. From the beginning the missile attracted attention of foreign military specialists.

Over two thousand missiles of this type have been delivered to foreign customers within the framework of military and technical cooperation. India as one of the major importers of the Russian-made weapons and military equipment promptly took interest in RVV-AE missile. The first specimens of the missile were delivered to India back in the 1990s. The last lot was delivered in July 2002. In fact, India was the first foreign customer of this weapon. It is common knowledge that in the first years of operation of new, rather sophisticated weapons (like air-to-air guided missiles) it is hardly possible to avoid certain shortcomings related to either design deficiencies or mastering of operation and maintenance techniques. They emerged during deliveries of the first lots of RVV-AE missiles to India and were addressed.

Both fulfilling its contractual obligations and taking an initiative, the Russian side has rendered technical assistance to the Indian side. In the process of operation of RVV-AE measures have been taken to eliminate failures of the missiles by means of replacement of units and aggregates as well as by their upgrading to increase reliability. All the defects found during operation of the first lots of RVV-AE missiles were eliminated, and the missiles were put into operation.

The missiles delivered afterwards were manufactured with consideration of the experience gained during their previous operation. Live launches held at the end of last year in India demonstrated high efficiency of the missiles and proved their reliability and specified performance characteristics.

It is noteworthy that the Russian specialists constantly monitor operation of RVV-AE missiles both in Russia and abroad. In accordance with the approved programmes of reliability control activities are carried out on a regular basis, including live launches at Russian test sites.

It is also worth saying that no serious claims have been made by any other foreign customers in relation to RVV-AE missiles.

Publications on allegedly low quality of RVV-AE missiles held in India must have been caused by marketing efforts of the manufacturers of competitive products.

[Falcon_S]

...

 

Also, has China ever purchased any RVV-AE's?

 

Moscow Defense Brief 3/2008 PDF

 

"In the mid-1990s, Vympel began series production of an export version of the RVV-AE missile, which has since become a core component of the armaments of all new and modernized Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters, bringing significant incomes to TMC. In addition to China and India,

which purchased large batches of the RVV-AE, deliveries have been made to Algeria, Malaysia, Venezuela, Yemen, Peru, Vietnam, Indonesia, and other countries."

[combatace]

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Current/Fighters/Su30MKI/MKI-Armed-12AAMs.jpg.html

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Current/Fighters/Su30MKI/MKI-Armed-11AAMs.jpg.html

[RIPTIDE]

Export version of the R-77 missile is RVV-AE. There are numerous reports that hundreds of RVV-AE's were sold to India for their fleet of Su-30MKI as well as MiG-21bis airplanes. Does anybody have any pictures of operational RVV-AE's on any of these airplanes?

 

Also, has China ever purchased any RVV-AE's?

We know from a few sources that India certainly has close to a 1000 of them. IIRC about 500 are in good order. We know this primarily from the Indian Auditor General Office who issues reports on various aspects of the Indian government, generally slating everyone in their path. (I wish my own government had such a powerful checking authority) :D. They published a report that said because of lack of adequate storage conditions many of the RVV-AE's had become defective. Seems that you can store the rugged and older tech R-60's anywhere at all... but there are special conditions with storing more advanced missiles. The RVV-AE was no exception and the Indian authorities failed to act on it. There was also then another academic report released detailing the best way to store them in the proper enviromental conditions. The same was true for the LGB's and many other more advanced items in their inventory.

 

As for CHina. SMoke and mirrors. Nobody knows for sure. I mean, even on this board there were members saying that the J-20 was a photoshop with all sorts of analysis added to the argument. Then it taxied... then it took off. :) So for china, if ones best guess is arguing over the posibility of photoshops, then nobody will know except the Chinese themselves, and some folk in the intelligence community. My best hunch is that copies have been made.

Edited April 26, 2011 by RIPTIDE

[Pilotasso]

AFAIK Russia sold aprox 2000 RVVAE's to india, and a smaller number to china and other countries. The Chinese are replacing it with the SD-10 and the Indians will follow suite with the ASTRA missile.

[nscode]

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Current/Fighters/Su30MKI/MKI-Armed-12AAMs.jpg.html

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Current/Fighters/Su30MKI/MKI-Armed-11AAMs.jpg.html

 

Those are wood sticks. On the other hand, how many times did anyone see pics of live R-27 ;)

[Pilotasso]

In pictures about Ethiopia VS Eritrea conflict to start with? :huh:

[nscode]

so there you have it, first conflict involving alleged owners, and we will have hard proof of AE... god forbid.

 

... or a live fire excersise

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

Could you please link the reports to that hundreds of RVV-AE's sold to India?

Aviation Week reports the following:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/R77081309.xml

 

Also, this site reports an order of 2000, and 1000 delivered:

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/nearly-half-of-russian-airtoair-missiles-with-iaf-have-homing-ageing-problems-cag-report/490055/0

 

Here, the operational use of RVV-AE is confirmed (missile count is not mentioned):

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-25/india/29471043_1_medium-range-missiles-visual-range-enemy-aircraft

Edited April 26, 2011 by =4c= Hajduk Veljko

[Sov13t]

Now what comes after RVV-AE? We will see soon find out... :hehe:

Edited April 26, 2011 by Sov13t

[Groove]

Thanks for sharing that links!

[Pilotasso]

Now what comes after RVV-AE? We will see soon find out... :hehe:

 

RVV-MD and RVV-SD google them. :)

[Sov13t]

RVV-MD and RVV-SD google them. :)

 

:) not quite what I am talking about... can't google it (at least for now) ;)

[Pilotasso]

The other projects are further in the future, if they materialize. The RVV series is what you will see sooner and probably for quite some years in the inventories of Russia and its clients.

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

Now, we have established, without a doubt that the RVV-AE is operational missile. The next question is about R-77? Was R-77 operational during the USSR time? Has it been operational in RAF, UAF or any other former soviet republic, now independent country?

[Pilotasso]

Dont push your luck. :)

[Sov13t]

Now, we have established, without a doubt that the RVV-AE is operational missile. The next question is about R-77? Was R-77 operational during the USSR time? Has it been operational in RAF, UAF or any other former soviet republic, now independent country?

 

It went through ГСИ (government trials) but never entered service, due to the lovely nineties we had in USSR.

 

@Pilotasso: I am talking about slightly different series of AA missiles that are undergoing tests now (through unconfirmed sources). Quoted as "new caliber of missiles".

[mikoyan]

no picture means that it is not real kukukukuku:lol:

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

It went through ГСИ (government trials) but never entered service, due to the lovely nineties we had in USSR.

Was it cleared through the ГСИ, certified for use, but USSR or RAF did not purchase it due to lack of funds in nineties? What about after nineties?

[Andrei]

I would suspect that those P-77 would be purchased together with Su-35 for RuAF, however googling and yandexing didn't reveal anything. I'd be very surprised if they are flying with P-27, but in Soviet Russia everything is possible :)

[nscode]

They're not. They're flying with R-73

[asparagin]

I am talking about slightly different series of AA missiles that are undergoing tests now (through unconfirmed sources). Quoted as "new caliber of missiles".

 

Something like the PGM? :D