K-5 (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
Weight	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)
Speed	2,880 km/h (1,790 mph)
Guidance system	beam riding
Launch platform	MiG-17, MiG-19, 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 1955. 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 (Sapfir) 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 (17.2 lb) heavier than the K-5, but had a smaller 9.1 kg (20.1 lb) warhead. The K-55 remained in service through about 1977, probably being retired with the last of the Sukhoi Su-9 interceptors.

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

Length: 2500 mm (8 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 654 mm (2 ft 2 in)
Diameter: 200 mm (7⅞ in)
Launch weight: 82.7 kg (183.3 lb)
Speed: 800 m/s (2,880 km/h, 1,790 mph)
Range: 2–6 km (1¼-3¾ mi)
Guidance: beam riding
Warhead: 13.0 kg (28.7 lb)

Operators

Soviet Union: Both the Soviet Air Force (VVS) and the Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO) operated the K-5.
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).
Czechoslovakia: The Czechoslovakian Air Force operated RS-2U and RS-2US.
Poland: The Polish Air Force operated RS-2US on MiG-19PMs and MiG-21s, still in use as practice target.^[1]

References

↑ SRCP-WR z ITWL. pl.

Gordon, Yefim (2004). Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons Since World War Two. Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-188-1.

External links

RS-2U - Air-to-Air missile at aviation.ru
K-5 at airwar.ru
(Russian)K-5 at missiles.ru

NATO designation for Russian and former Soviet Union missiles

Air-to-air missiles complete list

AA-1 Alkali AA-2 Atoll AA-3 Anab AA-4 Awl AA-5 Ash AA-6 Acrid AA-7 Apex AA-8 Aphid AA-9 Amos AA-10 Alamo AA-11 Archer AA-12 Adder AA-13 Arrow

Air-to-surface missiles complete list

AS-1 Kennel AS-2 Kipper AS-3 Kangaroo AS-4 Kitchen AS-5 Kelt AS-6 Kingfish AS-7 Kerry AS-8 AS-9 Kyle AS-10 Karen AS-11 Kilter AS-12 Kegler AS-13 Kingbolt AS-14 Kedge AS-15 Kent AS-16 Kickback AS-17 Krypton AS-18 Kazoo AS-19 Koala AS-20 Kayak

Anti-tank missiles complete list

AT-1 Snapper AT-2 Swatter AT-3 Sagger AT-4 Spigot AT-5 Spandrel AT-6 Spiral AT-7 Saxhorn AT-8 Songster AT-9 Spiral-2 AT-10 Stabber AT-11 Sniper AT-12 Swinger AT-13 Saxhorn-2 АТ-14 Spriggan АТ-15 Springer AT-16 Scallion

Ground based	SA-1 Guild SA-2 Guideline SA-3 Goa SA-4 Ganef SA-5 Gammon SA-6 Gainful SA-7 Grail SA-8 Gecko SA-9 Gaskin SA-10 Grumble SA-11 Gadfly SA-12 Gladiator/Giant SA-13 Gopher SA-14 Gremlin SA-15 Gauntlet SA-16 Gimlet SA-17 Grizzly SA-18 Grouse SA-19 Grison SA-20 Gargoyle SA-21 Growler SA-22 Greyhound SA-23 Gladiator/Giant SA-24 Grinch Morfey S-350E

Naval based	SA-N-1 Goa SA-N-2 Guideline SA-N-3 Goblet SA-N-4 Gecko SA-N-5 Grail SA-N-6 Grumble SA-N-7 Gadfly SA-N-8 Gremlin SA-N-9 Gauntlet SA-N-10 Grouse SA-N-11 Grison SA-N-12 Grizzly SA-N-14 Grouse SA-N-20 Gargoyle

ABMs	ABM-1 Galosh ABM-3/53T6 Gazelle S-500

Ground based	SS-1 Scud SS-2 Sibling SS-3 Shyster SS-4 Sandal SS-5 Skean SS-6 Sapwood SS-7 Saddler SS-8 Sasin SS-9 Scarp SS-10 Scrag SS-11 Sego SS-12 Scaleboard SS-13 Savage SS-14 Scamp/Scapegoat SS-15 Scrooge SS-16 Sinner SS-17 Spanker SS-18 Satan SS-19 Stiletto SS-20 Saber SS-21 Scarab SS-22 Scaleboard SS-23 Spider SS-24 Scalpel SS-25 Sickle SS-26 Stone SS-27 Sickle B SS-28 Saber 2 SS-29

Naval based	SS-N-1 Scrubber SS-N-2 Styx SS-N-3 Shaddock SS-N-4 Sark SS-N-5 Sark/Serb SS-N-6 Serb SS-N-7 Starbright SS-N-8 Sawfly SS-N-9 Siren SS-N-12 Sandbox SS-NX-13 SS-N-14 Silex SS-N-15 Starfish SS-N-16 Stallion SS-N-17 Snipe SS-N-18 Stingray SS-N-19 Shipwreck SS-N-20 Sturgeon SS-N-21 Sampson SS-N-22 Sunburn SS-N-23 Skiff SS-N-23 Sineva SS-N-23 Liner SS-N-24 Scorpion SS-N-25 Switchblade SS-N-26 Strobile SS-N-27 Sizzler SS-N-28 SS-N-29 SS-N-30 SS-NX-32

Russian and former Soviet aircraft ordnance

Air-to-air missiles

AA-1
AA-2
AA-3
AA-4
AA-5
AA-6
AA-7
AA-8
AA-9
AA-10
AA-11
AA-12
AA-13

Air-to-ground missiles

AS-7
AS-9
AS-10
AS-11
AS-12
AS-13
AS-14
AS-18

Anti-ship and cruise missiles

AS-1
AS-2
AS-3
AS-4
AS-5
AS-6
AS-15
AS-16
AS-17
AS-20

Anti-tank missiles

AT-1
AT-2
AT-3
AT-6
AT-9
AT-16

Rockets

Bombs

Autocannons and
machine guns