Description:
The R-73 is a short range, air-to-air missile designed to be employed against highly maneuverable targets by Mig-29, Su-27 and latest Mig-23 fighter aircraft. The advanced R-73 missile features Thrust Vectoring Control (TVC) that offers unprecedented maneuverability in an air-to-air engagement as well as the capability of engage lateral targets to the aircraft through a helmet-mounted sight. Soviet Mig-29 and Su-27 fighter aircraft equipped with the R-73 and a helmet-mounted sight have demonstrated its superiority in a short range engagement over NATO fighter aircraft.
The R-73 missile has been designed to operate in all weather, day/night, and jamming environments. It is a fire and forget missile with a passive Infrared seeker which locks on the target before launch.
The IRIS-T, AIM-9X and ASRAAM missiles have been developed to counter the R-73 outstanding performance in a dogfight scenario.
Specifications Dimensions: Diameter 170 mm, Length 2.9 m, Width 510 mm
Weights: Max Weight 105 kg (231 lb), Warhead 7.5 kg (16.5 lb)
Performance: Max Range 20,000 m (65,617 ft), Top Speed 830 mps (Mach 2.50)
Algeria
China
Eritrea
Germany / 
India
Kazakhstan
Poland
Russia
Slovakia
Ukraine