The Vympel R-77 (NATO designation AA-12 Adder) missile has eventually appeared in Syria.
The Russian Su-35S recently deployed to Syria have been accompanied by Vympel R-77 medium range, active radar homing air-to-air missile system; a weapon that can be considered the Russian counterpart of the American AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile).
Footage recently released by RT clearly shows the R-77s being loaded onto a Su-35S along with R-27T (AA-10 Alamo-B), IR-guided air-to-air missiles.
Although it’s not clear if the Sukhois always carry the missile, the arrival of the R-77 will force NATO assets over Syria to deal with an increased aerial threat: the combination of R-27T and R-77 and the different guidance of the Russian missiles could make evasion maneuvers by a combat plane targeted by both weapons quite difficult.
