AA-9 `AMOS' (R-33)
Type
Long-range, radar-guided, air-to-air missile.
Development
AA-9 `Amos' is the NATO designation for this Russian fourth-generation air-to-air missile, with the Russian designator R-33.
An earlier version of this missile may have had the Russian designator R-100. AA-9 development started in 1973 to improve
on the performance of AA-7 `Apex', and to mirror the capabilities of the US AIM-54 Phoenix missile, which AA-9 `Amos'
resembles. The missiles were first photographed off the coast of Norway in autumn 1985, being carried by a MiG-31
`Foxhound'. `Amos' has been cleared for carriage by the MiG-31 and may also have been cleared on the Su-27 `Flanker'. A
modified `Amos', with the Russian designator R-33S, was first seen in 1993. This version has four additional fixed canard fins
just behind the radome. A follow-on replacement for AA-9 `Amos' is in development by Vympel, with the Russian designator
R-37.
Description
AA-9 has four clipped delta-wings and four rectangular fins at the rear. The missile is 4.15 m long, has a body diameter of
380 mm, a wing span of 0.9 m and a finspan of 1.11 m. The missile weighs 490 kg and appears to be built in five sections: the
radome; guidance and fuzing; warhead; boost and sustainer motor; and the rear control section. The warhead is an HE
blast/fragmentation type, with a weight of 47 kg. It is possible that AA-9 design was influenced by AIM-54 Phoenix, which
was developed for the US Navy in the late 1960s to early 1970s, as the AA-9 is quite different in shape from other Russian
missiles. In consequence it can be assumed that the AA-9 missile has similar guidance and performance capabilities to the
Phoenix, and when combined with the MiG-31 `Foxhound' Zaslon phased-array pulse Doppler I-band radar, with its reported
tracking range of 90 km against fighter aircraft, 200 km against bombers, and ability to track up to 10 targets and to guide
missiles to four targets simultaneously, this makes a formidable weapon system. In addition, the MiG-31 has a semi-recessed
infra-red search and track (IRST) system in the nose, enabling tracking of targets without using the main radar. AA-9 `Amos'
has inertial mid-course guidance, probably with command updates and a semi-active radar terminal guidance seeker. The
missile is reported to have the ability to engage cruise missile targets at low level, down to 50 m and at ranges up to 35 km. A
range of 120 km is also quoted against large bomber aircraft with engagement altitudes of up to 28 km (about 95,000 ft). AA-9
has a minimum engagement range of 2.5 km. The MiG-31 `Foxhound' carries four AA-9 missiles on either extending trapeze
launch rails or ejection launchers (AKU-470) below the fuselage, but the missiles are not recessed and the wings/fins can be
folded during carriage. `Amos' can reach a flight speed of M3.5, but this would be dependent upon the aircraft speed at launch.
Two further mid-wing pylons on the MiG-31 are for self-defence AA-8 `Aphid' missiles, and reports indicate that four AA-8
`Aphid' missiles are often carried.
Operational status
It is believed that AA-9 entered service with the Russian Air Force in 1980, and that production has now ceased. AA-9 missiles
are believed to have been exported to Belarus, China and Ukraine.
Specifications
Length: 4.15 m
Body diameter: 380 mm
Wing span: 0.9 m
Launch weight: 490 kg
Warhead: 47 kg HE blast/fragmentation
Fuze: Active radar
Guidance: Inertial, command updates and semi-active radar
Propulsion: Solid propellant
Range: 120 km
Contractor
Vympel NPO
Moscow.
Рисунки и фотографии с моей точки зрения - не очень. Но я не спец в авиации.