The Russian Sukhoi Su-34 “Fullback” fighter-bombers deployed in Syria are now equipped with air-to-air missiles for self-defense. This is what the Russian Aerospace Forces communicate.
"From today, all Su-34s will fly with short and medium range missiles capable of hitting targets 60 kilometers away".
The Russian command has not released details of the air-to-air equipment of the Fullback, but we are almost certainly talking about a mixed armament formed by the AA-10 "Alamo" and the AA-11 "Archer" (Vympel R-73).
The "Alamo", produced in different variants, have a warhead of 39 kg and are able to frame enemies at a maximum distance of 50 km.
The “Archers”, on the other hand, are infrared guided missiles for maneuvered combat.
According to Vympel, the company that makes them, the aiming capability integrated in the pilot's helmet combined with the vector thrust of the missile, make the R-73 the most lethal weapon system on the planet in the dogfight.
