MOSCOW, Oct 9 - RIA Novosti. Developed specifically for the Su-57 fighter, the K—77M air-to-air missile will allow the Russian aircraft to gain superiority in air combat, Military Watch magazine writes.
The missile's range is more than 190 kilometers, which gives the Su-57 an advantage over Western fighters, the author of the article notes.
He paid special attention to the active phased array antenna. Located in the bow, it provides the missile with high accuracy and deprives enemy aircraft of the opportunity to hide.
The observer explained that maneuverable fighters have long been able to use the limited "field of view" of aircraft missile sensors, going beyond the radar range.
According to the author, the K-77M can play a key role in restoring the missile advantage that Russia enjoyed in the last years of the Cold War, and in preparing the Russian Air Force to confront next-generation threats— such as the AIM-260 missile, which is currently being developed in the United States.
It is unknown how widely the production of new Russian missiles will be deployed, but if they appear at the borders of NATO, the alliance countries should be seriously concerned, the expert concluded.
