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R-73
Photo: Vitaly V. Kuzmin · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
REC // INTEL FEED

R-73

Medium-Range SAM · Russia · 1982
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R-73

R-73
R-73 Photo: Vitaly V. Kuzmin · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
* Absolute score — assessed within category · no era adjustment
Range
60
Altitude Coverage
70
Radar & Tracking
50
Engagement Capacity
80
Reaction Time
95
Mobility
85
ECCM
75
Multi-Target Capability
30
Technology
85
Cost-Effectiveness
90
Origin Russia
ManufacturerVympel
CategoryMedium-Range SAM
EraCold War
In service1982
Operators43 countries
Data Quality87%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
68
Medium-Range SAM MASS Rating
1/22
Cold War
20/123
All-Time
Medium-Range SAM · 10 axes scored
Range
60
Altitude Coverage
70
Radar & Tracking
50
Engagement Capacity
80
Reaction Time
95
Mobility
85
ECCM
75
Multi-Target Capability
30
Technology
85
Cost-Effectiveness
90
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the medium-range sam category.
01 / Overview
R-73
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1982–
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
MEDIUM-RANGE SAM · COLD WAR
1
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
92
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
68
medium-range sam category
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the medium-range sam category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General5MOD.5
  • System TypeAir-to-air missile
  • Service Entry Year1984
  • Engagement Layer (SHORAD/Med/Long)Visual-range
  • MobileYes
  • In ServiceYes
◈Effector / Missile5MOD.5
  • Missile / EffectorR-73 / R-74
  • Maximum Range40 km
  • Minimum Range0.3 km
  • Missile Speed (Mach)2.5 Mach
  • Warhead TypeHigh-explosive fragmentation
▣Guidance5MOD.5
◇Radar & Sensors3MOD.3
◆Gun (if applicable)1MOD.1
▤Mobility & Deployment2MOD.2
  • PlatformFixed-wing aircraft and helicopters
  • AmphibiousNo
⬢Production1MOD.1
  • Variants7
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
  1. 1982Production started
  2. 1997Sale: United States (100 units)
  3. 1998First deployment: Eritrean–Ethiopian War
44
years in service
40
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 3 countries retired it.
04 / Conflicts
R-73 · CONFLICTS SERVED IN0% win·100% loss
Total Conflicts
1
Victories
0
Ongoing
0
Losses
1
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
Operator Inventory1country · 100units
100active
R-73SALES1records
YearBuyerQuantityAmountPresent Value (2025)
1997United States100——
ⓘ "Present Value" is an estimated amount adjusted for inflation.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE4terms
Omni-directional protection provided by a missile system, enabling targets to be engaged from any angle.
Fire-and-forget refers to a missile guidance system where the missile guides itself to its target after launch, requiring no further input from the operator.
Mobile: a capability indicating the MANPADS can be transported and operated by a single soldier or small team, enabling rapid deployment and relocation.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources
📖 ENCYCLOPEDIA Browse the Medium-Range SAM entry →