K-5 (missile)

2025-10-07T17:33:54Z

89.234.245.89: /* Former operators */ Polish Air Forces used Mig-17 F and PF not 17PM. That causes they did not use AA-2 on MiG-17s. They produced also own copies of MiG-17 named Lim-5 and Lim6. None of these used guided air to air missiles.

{{Short description|Soviet short-range air-to-air missile}}
{{distinguish|K-5 (ballistic missile)}}
{{one source|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name = K-5<br><small>AA-1 Alkali</small>
| image = K-5M Air-to-Air Missile.jpg
| image_size = 300
| caption = K-5M
| origin = Soviet Union
| type = Short-range [[air-to-air missile]]
| is_missile = yes
| service = 1957-1977
| used_by = [[Soviet Air Force]]
| wars =
| designer =
| design_date =
| manufacturer = Kaliningrad Series Production Plant
| unit_cost =
| production_date =
| number =
| variants = K-55
| spec_label =
| weight = {{convert|82.7|kg|abbr=on}}
| length = {{convert|8|ft|2|in|m|order=flip|abbr=on}}
| part_length =
| width =
| height =
| diameter = {{convert|200|mm|abbr=on|adj=on}}
| filling = [[High explosive]]
| filling_weight = {{convert|13|kg|abbr=on}}
| detonation =
| yield =
| engine = Rocket
| engine_power =
| vehicle_range = {{convert|2|to|6|km|lk=on|1}}
| speed = {{convert|2880|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} ([[Mach number|Mach]] 2.33)
| guidance = [[beam riding]]
| steering =
| wingspan =
| propellant =
| ceiling =
| altitude =
| depth =
| boost =
| accuracy =
| launch_platform = [[MiG-17]], [[MiG-19]], [[MiG-21]], [[Su-9]]
}}
The '''Kaliningrad K-5''' ([[NATO reporting name]] '''AA-1 ''Alkali'''''), also known as '''RS-1U''' or '''product ShM''', was an early [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[air-to-air missile]].

==History==
The development of the K-5 began in 1951. The first test firings were in 1953. It was tested (but not operationally carried) by the [[Yakovlev Yak-25]]. The weapon entered service as the Grushin/Tomashevich ({{langx|ru|Грушин/Томашевич}}) '''RS-2U''' (also known as the '''R-5MS''' or '''K-5MS''') in [[1957 in aviation|1957]]. The initial version was matched to the RP-2U (Izumrud-2) radar used on the [[MiG-17|MiG-17PFU]], [[MiG-19]]PM. An improved variant, '''K-5M''' or '''RS-2US''' in [[Soviet Anti-Air Defense|PVO]] service, entered production in 1959, matched to the RP-9/RP-9U (TsD-30) radar of the [[Sukhoi Su-9]]. The [[People's Republic of China]] developed a copy under the designation PL-1, for use by their [[Shenyang J-6|J-6]]B fighters.

The difficulties associated with [[Beam riding|beam-riding guidance]], particularly in a single-seat [[fighter aircraft]], were substantial, making the 'Alkali' primarily a short-range anti-[[bomber]] missile. Around [[1967 in aviation|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 seeker]]s of the [[K-13 missile (AA-2 Atoll)|K-13 (AA-2 'Atoll')]]. The weapon was {{convert|7.8|kg|lb|abbr=on}} heavier than the K-5, but had a smaller {{convert|9.1|kg|lb|abbr=on}} warhead. The K-55 remained in service until about 1977, probably being retired with the last of the [[Sukhoi Su-9]] interceptors.

==Specifications (RS-2US / K-5MS)==
* '''Length''': {{convert|2500|mm|ftin|abbr=on}}
* '''Wingspan''': {{convert|654|mm|ftin|abbr=on}}
* '''Diameter''': {{convert|200|mm|in|frac=8|abbr=on}}
* '''Launch weight''': {{convert|82.7|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
* '''Speed''': 800 m/s ({{convert|2,880|km/h|mph|abbr=on|disp=semicolon}})
* '''Range''': {{convert|2|–|6|km|mi|frac=4|abbr=on}}
* '''Guidance''': [[beam riding]]
* '''Warhead''': {{convert|13.0|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

== Operators ==
[[File:K-5 operators.png|thumb|400px|Map with former K-5 operators in red]]

===Current operator ===
;{{PRK}}: Used on MiG-21PFM.

===Former operators===
; {{USSR}}: Both the [[Soviet Air Force]] (VVS) and the [[Soviet Air Defence Forces]] (PVO) operated the K-5.
; {{flaglist|Albania|1946}}: The [[Air Force of the Albanian People's Army]] received 400 PL-1 from China in 1965 and 1966 for its [[Shenyang J-5|Shenyang F-5]] (MiG-17F) aircraft<ref name="SIPRI">{{cite web |title=Arms transfer database |url=https://armstransfers.sipri.org/ArmsTransfer/TransferRegister |website=SIPRI |publisher=Stockholm International Peace Research Institute |access-date=9 November 2024}}</ref>
; {{CHN}}: 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).
; {{CZS}}: The [[Czechoslovak Air Force]] operated RS-2U and RS-2US.
; {{GDR}}: The [[Air Forces of the National People's Army]] operated RS-2U on MiG-19PMs and MiG-21PF.
; {{HUN}}: The [[Hungarian Air Force]] operated RS-2US on MiG-19PMs, MiG-21PFs and MiG-21MFs.
; {{flag|Mali}}: [[Malian Air Force]]<ref>{{harvnb|Cooper|Weinert|Hinz|Lepko|2011|p=47}}</ref>
; {{POL}}: The [[Polish Air Force]] operated RS-2US on MiG-19PMs and MiG-21s.<ref>[http://www.altair.com.pl/news/view?news_id=9789 SRCP-WR z ITWL.] pl.</ref>
; {{ROU}}: Locally produced A-90 copy by Electromecanica Ploiesti (1984)

== See also ==
* [[List of missiles]]

==References==
;Citations
{{reflist}}
;Bibliography
* {{cite book |last1=Cooper |first1=Tom |last2=Weinert |first2=Peter |last3=Hinz |first3=Fabian |last4=Lepko |first4=Mark |title=African MiGs, Volume 2: Madagascar to Zimbabwe |date=2011 |publisher=Harpia Publishing |location=Houston |isbn=978-0-9825539-8-5}}
* {{cite book|last=Gordon|first=Yefim|title=Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons Since World War Two|year=2004|location=Hinckley, England|publisher=Midland Publishing|isbn=1-85780-188-1}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|RS-1U}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060108161459/http://www.aviation.ru/missile/#RS-2U RS-2U - Air-to-Air missile] at aviation.ru
*[http://www.airwar.ru/weapon/avv/k5.html K-5] at airwar.ru
*{{in lang|ru}}[http://www.missiles.ru/k5.htm K-5] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824113312/http://www.missiles.ru/k5.htm |date=2020-08-24 }} at missiles.ru
*[http://www.elmecph.ro/despre-noi/istoric.html - Electromecanica website: Air-to-Air missile]{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Russian and Soviet missiles|AAM}}
{{Russian and Soviet Aircraft Ordnance}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:K005}}
[[Category:Air-to-air missiles of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Cold War air-to-air missiles of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:China–Soviet Union relations]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1950s]]

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K-5 (missile)