R-4 AA-5 Ash | |
---|---|
Type | Heavy air-to-air missile |
Place of origin | Soviet Union |
Service history | |
In service | 1963-1990 |
Used by | Soviet Air Forces |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | Bisnovat |
Specifications (R-4R) | |
Mass | 492.5 kg (1,086 lb) |
Length | 5.44 m (17 ft 10 in) |
Diameter | 310 mm (12 in) |
Warhead | High explosive |
Warhead weight | 53 kg (117 lb) |
Engine | Solid-fuel rocket |
Operational range | 2 to 25 kilometres (1.2 to 15.5 mi) |
Maximum speed | Mach 1.6 |
Guidance system | Semi-active radar homing (R-4R) Infrared homing (R-4T) |
Launch platform | Tu-128 |
The Bisnovat (later Molniya ) R-4 (NATO reporting name AA-5 'Ash') was an early Soviet long-range air-to-air missile. It was used primarily as the sole weapon of the Tupolev Tu-128 interceptor, matching its RP-S Smerch ('Tornado') radar.
Development of the R-4 began in 1959, initially designated as K-80 or R-80, entering operational service around 1963, together with Tu-128. [1] Like many Soviet weapons, it was made in both semi-active radar homing (R-4R) and infrared-homing (R-4T) versions. [2] Standard Soviet doctrine was to fire the weapons in SARH/IR pairs to increase the odds of a hit. [3] Target altitude was from 8 to 21 km. Importantly for the slow-climbing Tu-128, the missile could be fired even from 8 km below the target.
In 1973 the weapon was modernized to R-4MR (SARH) / MT (IR) standard, with lower minimal target altitude (0.5–1 km), [4] improved seeker performance, and compatibility with the upgraded RP-SM Smerch-M radar.
The R-4 survived in limited service until 1990, retiring along with the last Tu-128 aircraft. [1]
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