RVV-SD AAM The R-77, RVV-AE designation used for the export market and AA-12 Adder designation

used by Western intelligence, is an extended medium range air-toair missile featuring an active radar seeker to engage multiple airborne targets simultaneously. The RVV-SD, an evolutional development of RVV-AE features an increased maximum range of up to 110 kilometers and can engage fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft as well as cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The weapon is also suitable for intense clutter and jamming scenarios with multiple air-to-air engagements simultaneously. The RVV-SD guidance system combines the inertial navigation system (INS) and active radar seeker with datalink target correction. It is fitted with a fixed thrust solid fuel rocket motor and laser proximity fuze. The rod type warhead consists of multiple hollow charges.Aircraft catapult launcher AKU-170E is used for suspension. The missile may be adapted for deployment on foreign carriers. This missile, with unique lattice controls, is a modern BVR weapon designed to kill 12G manoeuvring targets, and credited with an A-pole range of 54nm. As the R-77 has AMRAAM-like capabilities, it permits a Flanker to launch multiple rounds and guide these concurrently, engagement geometry permitting. The RVV-SD is a greatly updated and improved model with digital signal processing chips and all round improved performance.The RVV-SD features a heavier motor, which is at least part of what gives it a 35% greater maximum claimed range over the RVV-AE. It also uses a laser proximity fuse in place of the radar fuse of the RVV-AE. According to information released by the company, the missile is 15 kg. (33 lb.) heavier than the basic R-77/RVVAE, weighing 190 kg. rather than 175 kg. Maximum range claimed is increased to 110 from 80 km. (68 from 50 mi.). The missile is also slightly longer at 3.71 meters (12 ft.), rather than the 3.6 meters of the basic variant. RVV-SD Dimensions Diameter:0.20m Length:3.71m Wingspan:0.42m Fin span: 0.68m Performance Max Range: 110km Min Range: 0.3km Target's Max Altitude: 25,000m Target's Min Altitude: 20m Weight Weight: 190 kg RVV-AE Diameter: 0.20m Length: 3.6m Wingspan: 0.4m Fin span: 0.7m

Max Range: 80km Min Range: 0.3km Max Altitude: 25,000m Min Altitude: 20m

Weight: 175kg

Points for thought Extract from forum ...namely that it clearly has a bigger engine, which in turn accounts for the increased length, weight and longer launch range. If you compare the pictures of the RVV-AE and RVV-SD and general specs accompanying them you can see that, aside from length and weight, the designs are otherwise similar - same body diameter and same aerodynamic designs. This means that the increased launch range cannot be down to a reduction in drag, while the increased weight by itself would have a negative impact on range. This leaves only a change to the rocket motor to explain extended launch range and since the published specs state that it is a single stage engine, we can further deduce that this change simply involves a lengthened motor section more "fuel" for increased burn time.