more data here.
so from what i read. there was a changed motor at some point. the original M112 rocket model weighted 1405 pounds. but could not operate (launch) over 7 kilometers due to temperature limitations. so they switched to a new motor called M190 also making the missile 1405 pounds (sure sure exact same lol).
as for the catalogue. they are really dumb. ADs are ground based air defence. there is AD-08 called Majjid that can be put on a drone but mainly its surface to air.
So the AD-40A is a Fakour 90 without the booster… because we’ve see the Fakour with the big booster of the HAWK in launch footage. This clears things up.
“The weight for the export oriented AD-40A is stated at 465 kg, which is 172.3 kg lighter than the 637.3 kg Fakour-90”
I did some digging
Theres AD-40 which is a ground launched hawk missile made into a SM-2 so it can fit into a canister AKA Shalamcheh2 used on Mersad 16 airdefence system.
AD-40A is the same concept an air launched Hawk. (AD-40 Air) instead of of making it another SM-2, they put the thing into a aim-54 configuration. basiclely making a fox 1 Fakour 90
now what about the engine? probably made smaller
well why isnt the AD-40A ,Fakour 90?
well, the said AD-40 was revealed in 2019
Fakour 90 was first revealed in 2016
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dispite all this i could be wrong. Fakour 90 might as well be a lie and AD-40A be the operational missile
Fakour 90 is real AD-40A is Fakour 90 without the 5 second booster and other changes so only the long sustainer 20 second that’s explain the lees range and lighter weight
Any info about F-14 AM getting R-73 or HMD upgrade?
i dont think they are touching those stuff that much
So, what is Iran’s direction to modernize the F-14?
they’re probably not gonna modernize it and buy some russian planes instead
They’ve given it new indigenous weapons like the Fakour. It’s cockpit was upgraded and they got into the software of the AWG-9 to give it updates. These updates include longer allowed ranges and so on. Engines got some tweaks but nothing’s really known about it.
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No head-on IR missile and HMD in any plan?
Well they tested the R-73 and it worked, but they had to give up the Aim-9P for it in the CADC or something like that, and without the IRST it was finicky, so while they got it integrated fine, it wasn’t used or even mounted beyond testing like the R-27 because they had limited quantity of them, better suited to the IRST-wielding, HMD-equipped, and more close quarters oriented MiG-29.
No HMD was pursued on the Iranian Cats to my knowledge. HMD systems require a lot of work to integrate to an aircraft. It’s not really a plug and play thing.
They did not, there still no proof of that, just stated plans for it at one point in time with no indication it was followed through on. And there’s no proof it’s been integrated either.
I heard that before, I hope there will be something concrete with new sources surfaced.
Given that they reported it themselves, that more evidence than you have against it. Also, they’ve integrated the R-73 on their other fighters, such as the Yak-3 and F-4 Phantom.
Just like the R-27R.
Just like the R-27R.
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What the hell, r73 on a yak 3? Proof?
Sorry I meant to type Yak-130.
Here’s footage:
Iranian Yak-130 Trainer jets engages a target drone with R-73 …
YouTube · Defence Simplified
Feb 25, 2025
Personally, the Yak-130 using R-73s isn’t that crazy, but the F-4 has a video of it.
The OG got deleted by there’s a picture in this thread.
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They reported plans to integrate it, that’s a whole other thing from actually following through on it. The lack of proof overweights the existing proof in this instance. We have no evidence the weapon was integrated, rails were capable of being mounted and integrated themselves, or again that any attempts were made for integration of any kind whatsoever.
That was followed through on with documentation and of the event, and even images following testing. it’s not the same.
Again, it has proof, the R-73 does not. The was attempted to be integrated, but it failed.
Yeah they’ve done wilder things (although I don’t believe they integrated the R-73 onto the Yak-130, as it arrived with this capability as per my understanding. The F-4 and F-5 derivatives claimed to be capable of using this missile are much better examples). However there’s sadly still no proof any attempts of any kinds were made towards this, unlike with the R-27. It’s not the same thing.
I’d also like to chime in on this if that’s ok, as I remember reading that a HMD system was developed for the Ja37D but never adopted. It was defined as a plug and play system. If that’s the case I suspect it just totally relies on the aircraft involved, its systems, and the capabilities of the people making the system and attempting to adapt it to make a plug and play system. I may be wrong given they’re totally different aircraft, but it’s possible developing a plug and play system isn’t outright impossible.
Agreed, I doubt a plane that was first flown in 1996 wasn’t designed to carry carry the r73 from the get go
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