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K-5 AA-1 Alkali | |
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![]() K-5M | |
Type | Short-rangeair-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 6kilometres (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 |
TheKaliningrad K-5 (NATO reporting nameAA-1Alkali), also known asRS-1U orproduct ShM, was an earlySovietair-to-air missile.
The development of the K-5 began in 1951. The first test firings were in 1953. It was tested (but not operationally carried) by theYakovlev Yak-25. The weapon entered service as the Grushin/Tomashevich (Russian:Грушин/Томашевич)RS-2U (also known as theR-5MS orK-5MS) in1957. The initial version was matched to the RP-2U (Izumrud-2) radar used on theMiG-17PFU,MiG-19PM. An improved variant,K-5M orRS-2US inPVO service, entered production in 1959, matched to the RP-9/RP-9U (Sapfir) radar of theSukhoi Su-9. ThePeople's Republic of China developed a copy under the designation PL-1, for use by theirJ-6B fighters.
The difficulties associated withbeam-riding guidance, particularly in a single-seatfighter aircraft, were substantial, making the 'Alkali' primarily a short-range anti-bomber missile. Around1967 the K-5 was replaced by theK-55 (R-55 in service), which replaced the beam-riding seeker with thesemi-active radar homing orinfrared seekers of theK-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 theSukhoi Su-9 interceptors.