AA-9 'AMOS' (R-33)
TYPE:
Long range radar guided air-to-air missile.
DEVELOPMENT:
AA-9 'Amos' is the NATO designation for this Russian
fourth generation air-to-air missile, with the Russian
designator R-33. AA-9 development probably started in
the late 1960s to improve on the performance of AA-7
'Apex', and to mirror the capabilities of the US AIM-54
Phoenix missile which AA-9 'Amos' resembles. The
missiles were first photographed off the coast of
Norway in autumn 1985, being carried by a MiG-31
'Foxhound'.
DESCRIPTION:
AA-9 has four clipped delta wings and four rectangular
fins at the rear. The missile is 4.15 m long, has a
body diameter of 380 mm, a wingspan of 0.9 m and
finspan of 1.18 m. The missile weighs 490 kg and
appears to be built in five sections: the radome;
guidance and fuzing; warhead; boost and sustainer
motor; and the rear control section. The warhead is an
HE fragmentation type, with a weight of 47 kg. It is
possible that AA-9 design was influenced by AIM-54
Phoenix, which was developed for the US Navy in the
late 1960s to early 1970s, as it is quite different in
shape from other Russian missiles.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 4.15 m
Body diameter: 380 mm
Wingspan: 0.9 m
Launch weight: 490 kg
Warhead: 47 kg HE fragmentation
Fuze: Active radar
Guidance: Inertial, command updates and semi-active
radar
Propulsion: Solid propellant
Range: 100 km