Images posted on Russian social media on 14/4 show a Ural military truck on a road in Oryol city, with a launcher carrying 4 R-77-1 medium-range air-to-air missiles mounted on the back.

Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported that the R-77-1 missile cluster's loading and unloading system operates similarly to the BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher. Details about this system, including the missile guidance method, have not been released.

Truck carrying R-77 missile launcher in Oryol city, Russia, in an image published on 14/4. Photo: *War Gonzo*

Some Russian military news sites reported that a similar launcher previously appeared in documents released in 5/2024, but it used a different chassis.

Semyon Pegov, a Russian war correspondent, stated that the air defense launcher seen in Oryol operates similarly to the NASAMS system developed by the United States and Norway, where AIM-120 and AIM-9X air-to-air missiles are fitted to ground-based launchers to fill the medium-range air defense gap.

This solution helps utilize existing air-to-air missile stockpiles, but it has the disadvantage of significantly reduced missile range compared to launches from fighter jets, as it cannot leverage the aircraft's altitude and speed.

According to Pegov, Russian engineers previously tested launching R-77 missiles from the combat vehicle of the 2K12 Kub air defense system and from a launcher mounted on a 57 mm anti-aircraft gun. The effective range of the R-77 when launched from the ground is 12 km, capable of hitting targets at altitudes between 20 and 9,000 m.

"The creation of 'Frankenstein-style' modified air defense launchers was abandoned during the Cold War but is now being resumed. This decision stems from the increasing number of targets, the diminishing role of fighter jets, and Russia's substantial inventory of older air-to-air missiles," the correspondent explained.

R-77 missile launched from a ground platform in a video published in 5/2024. Video: *VK/Rusvmeste*

The R-77 is a medium-range air-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union in the 1980s. The original model has a range of 80 km, while the R-77-1 and R-77M variants developed by Russia can hit targets at distances of 110 km and 190 km, respectively.

The missile features an inertial guidance system and a data link for flight path updates after launch, along with an active radar seeker to autonomously lock onto targets in the terminal phase without needing aircraft guidance. The R-77 also has the ability to home in on jamming sources, allowing it to directly attack enemy aircraft carrying electronic warfare equipment.

Nguyen Tien (According to Rossiyskaya Gazeta, RIA Novosti)