Molniya R-60

Infobox Weapon
is_missile=yes
name=Molniya R-60


caption=
origin=
type=Short-range Air to Air Missile
used_by=
manufacturer=Vympel
unit_cost=
propellant=
production_date=
service=1974
engine=solid-fuel rocket engine
engine_power=
weight=43.5 kg (96 lb)
length=2090 mm (6 ft 10 in)
height=
diameter=120 mm (4¾ in)
wingspan=390 mm (15¼ in)
speed=Mach 2.7
vehicle_range=8 km (5 mi)
ceiling=
altitude=20,000 m (65,615 ft)
filling=3 kg (6.6 lb)
guidance=infrared homing
detonation=proximity
launch_platform=MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-27, MiG-29, MiG-31, Su-15, Su-17, Su-20, Su-22, Su-24, Su-25, Yak-28, Yak-38, Yak-141, Mi-24The Molniya (now Vympel) R-60 (NATO reporting name AA-8 'Aphid') is a lightweight air-to-air missile designed for use by Soviet fighter aircraft. It has been widely exported, and remains in service with the CIS and many other nations.

History

The R-60 was initially developed for the MiG-23. Work began on the weapon, under the bureau designation K-60 ("izdeliye" 62), in the late 1960s. Series production began in 1973. It entered service with the designation R-60 (NATO 'Aphid-A').

When introduced, the R-60 was one of the world's smallest air-to-air missiles, with a launch weight of 44 kg (97 lb). It has infrared guidance, with an uncooled "Komar" (Mosquito) seeker head. Control is by forward rudders with large rear fins. The distinctive canards on the nose, known as "destabilizers," serve to improve the rudders' efficiency at high angles of attack. The R-60 uses a small, 3 kg (6.5 lb) expanding-rod high explosive warhead. Two different types of proximity fuze can be fitted: the standard "Strizh" (Swift) optical fuze, which can be replaced with a "Kolibri" active radar fuze. Missiles equipped with the latter fuze were designated R-60K. [Gordon, Yefim, "Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons Since World War Two" (Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing, 2004), pp. 29-32.]

According to Russian sources, practical engagement range is about 4,000 m (4,400 yd), although "brochure range" is 8 km (5 mi) at high altitude. The weapon is quite agile, and can be used by aircraft maneuvering at up to 7"g" against targets maneuvering at up to 8"g". A tactical advantage is the short minimum range of only 300 m (328 yd). The missile's principal limitation is the modest warhead, which needs a direct hit to score a kill.

Considering that Soviet practice was to manufacture most air-to-air missiles with interchangeable IR-homer and semi-active radar homing seekers, NATO speculated that there might have been a SARH version of the 'Aphid.' However, it is clear that the small size of the 'Aphid' makes a radar-homing version with an antenna of reasonable size impractical, and no such weapon appears to have been contemplated.

An inert training version, alternatively designated UZ-62 and UZR-60, was also built.

An upgraded version, the R-60M (NATO 'Aphid-B'), using a nitrogen-cooled seeker with an expanded view angle of ±20°, was introduced around 1982. Although its seeker is more sensitive than its predecessor, the R-60M has only limited all-aspect capability. Minimum engagement range was further reduced, to only 200 m (218.7 yd). [Mladenov, Alexander, "Air-to-air missiles for the fighter 'Flogger,' "International Air Power Review" vol. 14, 2004, pp. 90-91.] The proximity fuzes had improved resistance to ECM, although both optical and radar fuzes remained available (radar-fuzed R-60Ms with the "Kolibri-M" fuze are designated R-60KM). The R-60M is 42mm (1.7 in) longer, and has a heavier, 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) continuous-rod warhead, increasing launch weight to 45 kg (99 lb). In some versions the warhead is apparently laced with about 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) of depleted uranium to increase the penetrating power of the warhead [ [http://www.aeronautics.ru/archive/du-watch/us_gov_about_du.htm "Health Risks of Using Depleted Uranium," Venik's Aviation, 2001.] ]

The inert training version of the R-60M was the R-60MU.

Since 1999, a modified version of the weapon has been used as a surface-to-air missile (SAM) as part of the Yugoslav M55A3B1 towed anti-aircraft artillery system. It has also been seen carried on a twin rail mount on a modified M53/59 armored SPAAG of (former) Czechoslovakian origin. These missiles have been modified with the addition of a first stage booster motor, with the missile's own motor becoming the sustainer. This was done in lieu of modifying the missile's motor for ground launch, as in the case of the US MIM-72 Chaparral.

The current Russian dogfight missile is the Vympel R-73 (AA-11 'Archer'), but large numbers of 'Aphids' remain in service.

In operation use, several Russian reports affirm the AA-8 was widely used during the 1982 Lebanon war, and it was the main weapon used by the Syrians in air to air combat. Some Russian reports that are not acknowledged by the vast majority of western sources affirm that the R-60 was the most successful air to air missile deployed by the Syrians in Lebanon over the Bekaa Valley in 1982Fact|date=January 2008. According to Israeli reports, the vast majority of air to air combat consisted of visual range dogfights, and this has been also confirmed by Russian sources.

The Russian reports claimed several F-4s, IAI Kfirs as destroyed by R-60s among other aircraft. This has been always denied by Israel, although Israel indeed lost a few F-4s and kfirs in 1982. The Israelis affirm that SAMs were the only weapons that shot down the few aircraft they acknowledge as lost.

It has been claimed in the press that the Indian Airforce MiG-21s used infra-red homing R-60 to bring down the Pakistani Naval Breguet Atlantique allegedly violating the Indian airspace in 1999, widely known as the Atlantique Incident.

References

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