R-4 (missile)

Bisnowat R-4 (Russian Бисноват Р -4) is the name for the Soviet air - to-air missile with the NATO designation AA -5 ' Ash '. Other Soviet designations are K-80 or R -80, the name of the experimental design offices Bisnowat was later changed to " Molniya " (Russian молния, " flash " ) changed.

History and use

The development of the missile began in 1959 and led to fruition in 1963. Principal and originally conceived purpose was to use on the heavy interceptor Tupolev Tu -128 ( NATO reporting name " Fiddler "), which could carry four of these missiles, and has been used for long distance patrols. Operations of MiG -21 and MiG -25 took place only for testing purposes.

Variants

Two basic versions were built, the R -4R with semi-active radar guidance and the R -4T with infrared steering. Thought objectives were particularly high-flying bombers, since the missile could hit targets at altitudes of 8-21 km. In 1973, the newer variants R- 4MT and R -4MR were introduced, which also lower flying targets could combat (up to about 500 m altitude ). With withdrawal of the Tu- 128 disappeared towards the end of the Cold War, the R-4 from the scene.

  • Bisnowat R -4R (K- 80 and AA -5 ' Ash ' ) semi-active radar- controlled short-range air - to-air guided missile
  • Bisnowat R -4T (K- 80 and AA -5 ' Ash ' ) infrared- controlled short-range air - to-air guided missile
  • Bisnowat R -4MR (K- 80 and AA -5 ' Ash ' ) semi-active radar- controlled short-range air - to-air guided missile
  • Bisnowat R- 4MT (K- 80 and AA -5 ' Ash ' ) infrared- controlled radar- controlled short-range air - to-air guided missile

Specifications

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