- Yes
- No
Hello, today I want to suggest a new air-to-air missile for the Soviet Air Forces - the R-24M, a modernised version of the R-24R. This missile would only be available for the MiG-23MLD, and possibly the MiG-23ML and MLA. In brief, this was a 1980s revision of the R-24R semi-active radar-homing (SARH) missile with greater maneuverability, countermeasure resistance, accuracy and low-altitude performance.
Comparison of the R-24R and R-24M. Note the minor changes in the seeker and the different fins.
The R-24R (NATO name AA-7C “Apex-C”) was formally adopted as the standard weapon by decree on April 6, 1981. It had been tested on the MiG-23ML and MiG-23P throughout the late 1970s, and was successfully used in combat in Lebanon in 1982. By this time, however, efforts to further upgrade the missile were being considered - in late 1981 the air force considered a version of the R-24 with an Active Radar-Homing (ARH) seeker, and while research on this front commenced and made progress to the point of feasibility, ultimately the idea was dropped in favour of pursuing other missile designs. But before the cancellation of the ARH version of the R-24, a decree was issued on October 28, 1983 by joint decision of the Ministry of Radio Industry, Ministry of Aviation Industry of the USSR and the Air Force for a modernised version of the R-24R missile.
Four test launches of the “K-24M” missile were carried out by 1984. In 1985, MiG-23M no. 420 carried out five launches of the K-24M - four combat and one telemetric (i.e. test version) - in 1986, another eight launches were carried out against MiG-21 test drones to simulate cruise missiles. The next year, R-24M was adopted for service as “Product 140M” or izdeliye 140M «изделие 140M». The NATO designation was AA-7E Apex-E. The R-24 family remained in service with the Soviet and later post-Soviet/Russian air force until 1997.
The R-24M - sometimes also called R-24RM - is somewhat obscure due to its late service entry and limited time in service. In Russian sources, the missile is little more than a footnote, in English sources, it’s hardly mentioned at all. Frustratingly, sometimes it can be hard to tell if the sources are referring to the R-24M or regular R-24R - so if I’ve gotten something wrong, please correct me. What can known for certain is that the R-24M had:
- Greatly increased accuracy and target acquisition, especially at low altitude,
- Greatly increased Chaff and countermeasure resistance,
- Possibly increased maneuverability/overload characteristics.
The R-24M had a new seeker and redesigned fins - the primary use of the new seeker was its resistance to Chaff and radar jammers, but it was also much more accurate in target acquisition and tracking - combined with the redesigned fins, this allowed it to maintain a target lock much more strongly whilst pulling much harder turns: in other words, it could pull harder turns and not “lose sight” of the target. This was especially apparent at lower altitudes, where it was much more successful at maintaining a target lock and ignoring noise/interference with the radar.
The R-24M would be available to the planes that used it - the MiG-23ML, MiG-23MLD and MiG-23MLA. Perhaps increasing their BR to 12.0 might be in order. In a nutshell, the R-24M would be a superior version of the R-24R in all forms, even if the differences in design were minor. It was more accurate - both in acquiring and hitting targets - it ignored chaff better, and it could hold on to a target more strongly. It would be another powerful tool in the arsenal of the flogger.
Thanks for reading.
Sources:
- Р. Ангельский, В. Коровин - Отечественные управляемые ракеты класса «воздух-воздух» Часть 2. Ракеты средней и большой дальности - Техника и вооружение, No. 6 2006 (In Russian - read here)
- В. Марковский, К. Перов - Советские авиационные ракеты “воздух-воздух”, 2005 (In Russian - read here)
- General info on the R-24 and R-23 here (Aircraft missile R-24 (K-24) | Missilery.info)
- Other related info on the R-24 and R-23 (Aerei Militari - Vympel R-23 e R-24 (AA-7 Apex))
