Russia Develops New Airborne Weapons

Tactical Missiles Corporation, the Russian missile design house, has successfully developed several new products. In particular, TMC had completed the testing of the Kh-31PD, RVV-MD, RVV-SD, and RVV-BD missiles. 

The Kh-31PD is the latest modification of the AS-17 Krypton missile family powered by a combined rocket/ramjet motor. It is equipped with a passive radar seeker and can hit radar stations at a maximum range of up to 250 km.

The short-range air-to-air RVV-MD is a further development of the R-73 heat-seeking design, while the medium-range radio-guided RVV-SD is believed to be an improved version of the RVV-AE (AA-12 Adder). Both missiles were unveiled in 2009 and are believed to be intended for Su-35 fighters.

The RVV-BD, first presented in 2011, is based on the in-service R-33 (AA-9 Amos) design and has a reported range of 200 km. The RVV-BD has an active radar seeker supplied by the Agat Moscow Research Institute and is designed to be carried by the modernized MiG-31BM supersonic interceptor as well as by the Russo-Indian FGFA aircraft.