SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
At Aero India 2025, held in Bengaluru from February 10-14, a significant development emerged in India’s defense manufacturing landscape. According to a report by idrw.org, Adani Defence and Aerospace has been selected by Russia’s Vympel NPO to locally produce the R-73E Within Visual Range (WVR) air-to-air missile in India, under the designation “Raya.” However, a closer look at Adani Defence’s official website reveals a twist: the missile in question is identified as the R-74E, dubbed “Raya” in India, raising questions about its specifications and role as a successor to the ageing R-73.
The R-73E, known by its NATO designation “AA-11 Archer,” has been a cornerstone of the IAF’s WVR arsenal, equipping Russian-origin platforms like the Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 UPG, and MiG-21 Bison. Renowned for its agility and infrared homing capabilities, the R-73E gained fame during the 2019 India-Pakistan skirmish, when an IAF MiG-21 reportedly downed a Pakistani F-16 with the missile—a claim Pakistan disputes but which cemented its combat pedigree.
However, the Adani Defence website’s reference to the R-74E as “Raya” suggests a shift from the R-73E narrative reported by idrw.org. The R-74E, part of the K-74E “Digital Archer” family, is an advanced evolution of the R-73 series, featuring a redesigned seeker package and enhanced capabilities. This discrepancy—whether the missile is an upgraded R-73E or a variant of the R-74M—remains unresolved, with Adani Defence yet to clarify the specifics of the “Raya” missile.
The R-74E represents Russia’s response to the eroding edge of the R-73, which has faced stiff competition from Western counterparts like Raytheon’s AIM-9X Sidewinder and MBDA’s ASRAAM. Developed by Vympel NPO, the R-74E boasts a high off-boresight capability gimballed seeker, allowing it to engage targets at extreme angles—up to 75 degrees off its centerline—coupled with thrust vectoring for superior maneuverability. These features endow it with a high G-load capacity, making it one of the most lethal short-range missiles in Russia’s arsenal for close combat scenarios.
In contrast, the R-73E, while agile with a 45-degree off-boresight capability and a 30-kilometer range, lacks the digital upgrades and extended performance of the R-74 lineage. The R-74M, an even more advanced variant with a 40-kilometer range and improved electronic counter-countermeasures, has been tailored for Russia’s Su-57 stealth fighter. Whether India’s “Raya” is a localized R-74E with incremental improvements or a derivative of the R-74M remains speculative, pending official disclosure from Adani Defence.
The IAF’s reliance on the R-73 for its Russian platforms has become a double-edged sword. While effective, the missile’s age and technological lag have prompted modernization efforts. The MBDA ASRAAM, selected to replace the R-73, has been integrated into the IAF’s Jaguar and LCA Tejas fleets, offering a 50-kilometer range and advanced imaging infrared guidance. However, MBDA’s reluctance to integrate ASRAAM onto Russian platforms like the Su-30 MKI and MiG-29—due to proprietary concerns and geopolitical sensitivities—has left a gap in the IAF’s close-combat capabilities for these aircraft.
This is where Adani Defence’s “Raya” steps in. By producing the R-74E (or an enhanced R-73E) locally, the IAF can sustain and upgrade its Russian fleet without depending on foreign integration hurdles. The move ensures operational continuity for the Su-30 MKI, which forms the backbone of India’s air power, and the MiG-29 UPG, while aligning with self-reliance goals.
If Adani Defence’s “Raya” is indeed the R-74E, it could incorporate these upgrades, offering the IAF a missile competitive with Western systems. Alternatively, if it’s an improved R-73E, the enhancements might be more modest—perhaps limited to seeker sensitivity or range tweaks—falling short of the R-74M’s full potential. Clarity on this front is crucial for assessing “Raya’s” strategic impact.
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