Bisnovat R-40
Encyclopedia
The Bisnovat R-40 (NATO reporting name
AA-6 'Acrid') was a long-range air-to-air missile
developed in the 1960s by the Soviet Union
specifically for the MiG-25 interceptor
, but can also be carried by the later MiG-31. It is the largest air-to-air missile in the world to ever go into production.
. The resulting R-40 was initially matched with the Smerch-A ("Tornado-A") radar
of the MiG-25. It was built in semi-active radar homing
(R-40R) and infrared-homing (R-40T) versions.
In order to guarantee a kill at such high speeds and in the thin air, a large warhead was needed in order to have a sufficient blast effect. Large control fins were required to give the missile enough maneuvrability at high altitude. All this necessitated a very large missile and as a result, the R-40 is the largest air-to-air missile to ever enter production. It is slightly larger than the MIM-23 Hawk
surface-to-air missile
.
Following the defection of IA-PVO
pilot Viktor Belenko
in 1976
and the compromising of the MiG-25P's systems and the associated R-40s, Vympel developed an improved version of the missile with a better infrared countermeasures (IRCM) resistance and more sensitive seekers. The upgraded missiles were designated with the suffix -D (for 'development', "finalized"). Later -D1 versions were also developed.
Production of the R-40 ended in 1991
, but it remains in limited service arming surviving MiG-25 and some MiG-31 interceptors.
As the MiG-25 has been exported to various states in the Middle East, the R-40 has been used in combat by Iraq and probably by Syria and Libya too.
A declassified document of the CIA reports that in the first day of Desert Storm, on 17 January 1991, Scott Speicher
's F/A-18C was shot down by an R-40 fired from an Iraqi MiG-25. It is the only confirmed air-to-air kill of the Iraqi Air Force during Operation Desert Storm.
On 24 December 2002, an Iraqi MiG-25 shot down a USAF MQ-1 Predator drone
with an R-40. The RQ-1 fired an AIM-92 Stinger in return, but the MiG successfully evaded it.
Iraq: Retired. 660 missiles originally delivered.
: Retired in 2008, but recent photographs suggest the MiG-31 still operates with these missiles (2010) .
: Passed on to successor states.
NATO reporting name
NATO reporting names are classified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
AA-6 'Acrid') was a long-range air-to-air missile
Air-to-air missile
An air-to-air missile is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fuelled but sometimes liquid fuelled...
developed in the 1960s by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
specifically for the MiG-25 interceptor
Interceptor aircraft
An interceptor aircraft is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically to prevent missions of enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Interceptors generally rely on high speed and powerful armament in order to complete their mission as quickly as possible and set up...
, but can also be carried by the later MiG-31. It is the largest air-to-air missile in the world to ever go into production.
Development
The development of the Mach 3+ North American XB-70 Valkyrie threatened to make the entire interceptor and missile force of the Voyska PVO obsolete at one stroke, thanks to its incredible speed and altitude performance. In order to counter this new threat, the MiG-25 was designed, but new air-to-air missiles were also required to enable the MiG-25 to engage its intended targets at the high speeds and altitudes dictated by the requirements. The Bisnovat design bureau began development of the long-range air-to-air missile in 19621962 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1962:- Events :* Early 1962 – In Operation High Jump, the United States Navy McDonnell F4H-1 Phantom II fighter sets a number of world climb-to altitude records: 34.523 seconds to 3,000 meters , 48.787 seconds to 6,000 meters , 61.629 seconds to...
. The resulting R-40 was initially matched with the Smerch-A ("Tornado-A") radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
of the MiG-25. It was built in semi-active radar homing
Semi-active radar homing
Semi-active radar homing, or SARH, is a common type of missile guidance system, perhaps the most common type for longer-range air-to-air and surface-to-air missile systems. The name refers to the fact that the missile itself is only a passive detector of a radar signal – provided by an external ...
(R-40R) and infrared-homing (R-40T) versions.
In order to guarantee a kill at such high speeds and in the thin air, a large warhead was needed in order to have a sufficient blast effect. Large control fins were required to give the missile enough maneuvrability at high altitude. All this necessitated a very large missile and as a result, the R-40 is the largest air-to-air missile to ever enter production. It is slightly larger than the MIM-23 Hawk
MIM-23 Hawk
The Raytheon MIM-23 Hawk is a U.S. medium range surface-to-air missile. The Hawk was initially designed to destroy aircraft and was later adapted to destroy other missiles in flight. The missile entered service in 1960, and a program of extensive upgrades has kept it from becoming obsolete. It was...
surface-to-air missile
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
.
Following the defection of IA-PVO
Soviet Anti-Air Defense
The Soviet Air Defence Forces was the air defense branch of the Soviet Armed Forces. It continued being a service branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation from 1991 to 1998. Unlike Western air defense forces, V-PVO was a branch of the military unto itself, separate from the Soviet...
pilot Viktor Belenko
Viktor Belenko
Viktor Ivanovich Belenko is Soviet defector and aerospace engineer and lecturer. Belenko was sentenced to death in the Soviet Union for state treason. He was born in Nalchik, Russian SFSR in a Ukrainian family...
in 1976
1976 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1976:-January:*January 1 - Middle East Airlines Flight 438, a Boeing 720, aircraft over Saudi Arabia when bomb exploded in the forward baggage compartment, aircraft destroyed killing 81.-March:...
and the compromising of the MiG-25P's systems and the associated R-40s, Vympel developed an improved version of the missile with a better infrared countermeasures (IRCM) resistance and more sensitive seekers. The upgraded missiles were designated with the suffix -D (for 'development', "finalized"). Later -D1 versions were also developed.
Production of the R-40 ended in 1991
1991 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1991:-January:*January 16 – Eastern Air Lines is dissolved after 64 years of operation. Many of its remaining assets are parceled out to American and Continental Airlines....
, but it remains in limited service arming surviving MiG-25 and some MiG-31 interceptors.
Combat History
In Soviet service, the R-40 was never fired in anger. Standard PVO procedure was to fire a 2-missile salvo at a target; 1 heat-seeking R-40T missile followed by a SARH R-40R, in order to avoid the possibility of the heat-seeking missile locking-on to the radar-guided missile.As the MiG-25 has been exported to various states in the Middle East, the R-40 has been used in combat by Iraq and probably by Syria and Libya too.
A declassified document of the CIA reports that in the first day of Desert Storm, on 17 January 1991, Scott Speicher
Scott Speicher
Michael Scott Speicher was a United States Navy pilot who was shot down over Iraq during the Gulf War. He was the first American combat casualty of the conflict. His remains were not recovered until Aug. 2, 2009...
's F/A-18C was shot down by an R-40 fired from an Iraqi MiG-25. It is the only confirmed air-to-air kill of the Iraqi Air Force during Operation Desert Storm.
On 24 December 2002, an Iraqi MiG-25 shot down a USAF MQ-1 Predator drone
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
with an R-40. The RQ-1 fired an AIM-92 Stinger in return, but the MiG successfully evaded it.
Former Operators
Iraq: Retired. 660 missiles originally delivered.: Retired in 2008, but recent photographs suggest the MiG-31 still operates with these missiles (2010) .
: Passed on to successor states.