Not exactly a news but,
reading various things about Su-35S with RVV-SD (R-77-1) missiles in Syria
in english speaking part of internet it seems people dont "get" this whole R-77 story
So , who is who in R-77 family
In 1982 "Vympel" starting K-77 programm , this missile for Mig-29S have range 50km and active radar homing head 9B1348 , in 1987 there is decision about stopping R-27EA and K-77 programms and starting K-77M (old K-77M) , K-77M have range 70km (80km against "some" targets) and active radar homing head 9B1348M1 (16km lock range against 5 m2 RCS target) , this thing known as izd. 170 and after ending trials in Akhtubinsk recive designation R-77.
After end of trials in 1994 there is 200 missiles left in Akhtubinsk and this is one and only batch of R-77 that was in Russian Air Forces, in 1998 special committee
of VVS try to find this missiles and find nothing , most of them sold to China or India or used in training
RVV-AE (izd. 190) is missile created by "Vympel" and "Agat" but without Ukrainean parts in active radar homing head , instead "Agat" create 9B1348E export variant of 9B1348M1
there is ~1600 missile in India and 1500 in China (most likely extracting 9B1348E for PL-12[:)]) also varios other smaller contracts
RVV-SD , R-77-1 (izd. 170-1) in 2003 Russian MoD starting R-77-1 programm, this missile have range 110km and active radar homing head 9B1103M-200PA (20km lock range against 3m2 RCS targets), R-77-1 intended to be used not only with modern but also with modernized fighters, so since all this Su-27SMs ,Mig-31BM and various old Mig-29 have problems with datalink or old datalinks with insufficient range , 9B1103M-200PA came with solution:
"The antenna seeker 9B-1103M-200PA - combined. In active mode, a homing head operating in the Ku-band, using a waveguide slot antenna,in semi-active mode, the antenna use array of 16 dipoles mounted on the front surface of the antenna"
prostheses in aviation ,well all for older planes can use modern missiles without high cost upgrade[:(]
this is what Russian aviation buy currently and this is what we see in Syria
izd.180 missile (RVV-SD for PAK-FA bays),range 140km active radar homing head 9B1103M-200PS(15km lock range against 3m2 RCS target) ,have :
"Passive mode allows to direct the missile on noise sources and emitting radar enemy aircraft."
with range of passive detection of enemy signals 200km
and finaly RVV-AE-PD (izd.180-PD) ramjet part of family , range 250km (against "some" targets ) active radar homing head 9B1103M-200PS
See when people talk about "this is R-77 ,in service from 90s" , "many planes in RuAF can use this missile without problem" or "finaly Russia buy RVV-AE" really hurts
