K-5 (missile)

Not to be confused with K-5 (ballistic missile).

K-5 AA-1 Alkali
K-5M
Type	Short-range air-to-air missile
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1957-1977
Used by	Soviet Air Force
Production history
Manufacturer	Kaliningrad Series Production Plant
Variants	K-55
Specifications
Mass	82.7 kg (182 lb)
Length	2.49 m (8 ft 2 in)
Diameter	200 mm (7.9 in)
Warhead	High explosive
Warhead weight	13 kg (29 lb)
Engine	Rocket
Operational range	2 to 6 kilometres (1.2 to 3.7  mi)
Maximum speed	2,880 km/h (1,790 mph) (Mach 2.33)
Guidance system	beam riding
Launch platform	MiG-17, MiG-19, MiG-21, Su-9

The Kaliningrad K-5 (NATO reporting name AA-1 Alkali), also known as RS-1U or product ShM, was an early Soviet air-to-air missile.

History

The development of the K-5 began in 1951. The first test firings were in 1953. It was tested (but not operationally carried) by the Yakovlev Yak-25. The weapon entered service as the Grushin/Tomashevich (Russian : Грушин/Томашевич) RS-2U (also known as the R-5MS or K-5MS) in 1957. The initial version was matched to the RP-2U (Izumrud-2) radar used on the MiG-17PFU, MiG-19PM. An improved variant, K-5M or RS-2US in PVO service, entered production in 1959, matched to the RP-9/RP-9U (TsD-30) radar of the Sukhoi Su-9. The People's Republic of China developed a copy under the designation PL-1, for use by their J-6B fighters.

The difficulties associated with beam-riding guidance, particularly in a single-seat fighter aircraft, were substantial, making the 'Alkali' primarily a short-range anti-bomber missile. Around 1967 the K-5 was replaced by the K-55 (R-55 in service), which replaced the beam-riding seeker with the semi-active radar homing or infrared seekers of the K-13 (AA-2 'Atoll'). The weapon was 7.8 kg (17 lb) heavier than the K-5, but had a smaller 9.1 kg (20 lb) warhead. The K-55 remained in service until about 1977, probably being retired with the last of the Sukhoi Su-9 interceptors.

Specifications (RS-2US / K-5MS)

• Length: 2,500 mm (8 ft 2 in)
• Wingspan: 654 mm (2 ft 1.7 in)
• Diameter: 200 mm (7+7⁄8 in)
• Launch weight: 82.7 kg (182 lb)
• Speed: 800 m/s (2,880 km/h; 1,790 mph)
• Range: 2–6 km (1+1⁄4–3+3⁄4 mi)
• Guidance: beam riding
• Warhead: 13.0 kg (28.7 lb)

Operators

Map with former K-5 operators in red

Current operator

  North Korea

Used on MiG-21PFM.

Former operators

  Soviet Union

Both the Soviet Air Force (VVS) and the Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO) operated the K-5.

  Albania

The Air Force of the Albanian People's Army received 400 PL-1 from China in 1965 and 1966 for its Shenyang F-5 (MiG-17F) aircraft ^[1]

Bulgaria

Used by the Bulgarian Air Force as late as December 1984 ^[2]

  China

The People's Liberation Army Air Force operated licensed Chinese copy of Kaliningrad K-5 designated as PL-1 (PL: short for Pi Li or Pili, meaning thunderbolt).

  Cuba

Used by the Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force as late as December 1984 ^[3]

  Czechoslovakia

The Czechoslovak Air Force operated RS-2U and RS-2US.

  East Germany

The Air Forces of the National People's Army operated RS-2U on MiG-19PMs and MiG-21PF.

  Hungary

The Hungarian Air Force operated RS-2US on MiG-19PMs, MiG-21PFs and MiG-21MFs.

Iraq

Used by the Iraqi Air Force as late as December 1984 ^[4]

Mali

Malian Air Force ^[5]

Poland

The Polish Air Force operated RS-2US on MiG-19PMs and MiG-21s. ^[6] Remained in service as late as December 1984 ^[7]

  Romania

Locally produced A-90 copy by Electromecanica Ploiesti (1984)

See also

• List of missiles

References

Citations

1. "Arms transfer database". SIPRI. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
2. International Institute for Strategic Studies 1984, p. 97.
3. International Institute for Strategic Studies 1984, p. 150.
4. International Institute for Strategic Studies 1984, p. 123.
5. Cooper et al. 2011 , p. 47
6. SRCP-WR z ITWL. pl.
7. International Institute for Strategic Studies 1984, p. 98.

Bibliography

• Cooper, Tom; Weinert, Peter; Hinz, Fabian; Lepko, Mark (2011). African MiGs, Volume 2: Madagascar to Zimbabwe. Houston: Harpia Publishing. ISBN   978-0-9825539-8-5.
• Gordon, Yefim (2004). Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons Since World War Two. Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing. ISBN   1-85780-188-1.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (December 1984). Correll, John T (ed.). "The Military Balance 1984/85". Air Force Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 12. Arlington, Virginia: Air Force Association. ISSN   0730-6784 . Retrieved 13 January 2026– via Google Books.

External links

• RS-2U - Air-to-Air missile at aviation.ru
• K-5 at airwar.ru
• (in Russian) K-5 Archived 2020-08-24 at the Wayback Machine at missiles.ru
• - Electromecanica website: Air-to-Air missile ^{[ permanent dead link ]}