View source for R-4 (missile)

{{Short description|Soviet long-range air-to-air missile}}
{{infobox weapon
| name               = R-4<br><small>AA-5 Ash</small>
| image              = [[File:Tupolev Tu-128 at Central Air Force Museum Monino pic2.JPG|300px|]]
| caption            = R-4 missile under wing of [[Tupolev Tu-128]] 
| origin             = [[Soviet Union]]
| type               = Heavy air-to-air missile
| is_missile         = yes
| service            = 1963-1990
| used_by            = [[Soviet Air Forces]]
| wars               = 
| designer           = 
| design_date        = 
| manufacturer       = [[Vympel NPO|Bisnovat]]
| unit_cost          = 
| production_date    = 
| number             = 
| variants           =
| spec_label         = R-4R
| weight             = {{convert|492.5|kg|abbr=on}}
| length             = {{convert|17|ft|10|in|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| part_length        = 
| width              = 
| height             = 
| diameter           = {{convert|310|mm|abbr=on}}
| filling            = [[High explosive]]
| filling_weight     = {{convert|53|kg|abbr=on}}
| detonation         = 
| yield              = 
| engine             = Solid-fuel rocket
| engine_power       = 
| vehicle_range      = {{convert|2|to|25|km|lk=on}}
| speed              = [[Mach number|Mach]] 1.6
| guidance           = [[Semi-active radar homing]] (R-4R)<br>[[Infrared homing]] (R-4T)
| steering           = 
| wingspan           = 
| propellant         = 
| ceiling            = 
| altitude           = 
| depth              = 
| boost              = 
| accuracy           = 
| launch_platform    = [[Tu-128]]
| transport          =
}}

The '''Bisnovat''' (later '''[[OKB-4 Molniya|Molniya]]''') '''R-4''' ([[NATO reporting name]] '''AA-5''' ''''Ash'''') was an early [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] long-range [[air-to-air missile]]. It was used primarily as the sole weapon of the [[Tupolev Tu-128]] interceptor, matching its RP-S ''Smerch'' ('Tornado') [[radar]].

==History==
Development of the R-4 began in 1959, initially designated as '''K-80''' or '''R-80''', entering operational service around 1963, together with Tu-128.{{sfn|Gunston|2000|page=435}} Like many Soviet weapons, it was made in both [[semi-active radar homing]] ('''R-4R''') and [[infrared-homing]] ('''R-4T''') versions.{{sfn|Gunston|2000|page=xvi}} Standard Soviet doctrine was to fire the weapons in SARH/IR pairs to increase the odds of a hit.{{sfn|Gunston|2000|page=xxvi}} Target altitude was from 8 to 21&nbsp;km. Importantly for the slow-climbing Tu-128, the missile could be fired even from 8&nbsp;km below the target.

In [[1973 in aviation|1973]] the weapon was modernized to '''R-4MR''' (SARH) / '''MT''' (IR) standard, with lower minimal target altitude (0.5–1&nbsp;km),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/russias-super-sized-tu-128-fighter-the-supersonic-b-52-19972|title = Russia's Super-Sized Tu-128 Fighter: The Supersonic B-52 Killer|date = April 2017}}</ref> improved seeker performance, and compatibility with the upgraded RP-SM ''Smerch-M'' radar.

The R-4 survived in limited service until 1990, retiring along with the last Tu-128 aircraft.{{sfn|Gunston|2000|page=435}}

==Operators==
; {{USSR}}
* [[Soviet Air Defence Forces]]

==Specifications (R-4T / R-4R)==
* '''Length''': (R-4T) 5.2 m (17&nbsp;ft 1 in); (R-4R) 5.45 m (17&nbsp;ft 10 in)
* '''Wingspan''': 1300&nbsp;mm (4&nbsp;ft 3 in)
* '''Diameter''': 310&nbsp;mm (12.2&nbsp;in)
* '''Launch weight''': (R-4T) 480&nbsp;kg (1,058&nbsp;lb); (R-4R) 492.5&nbsp;kg (1,086&nbsp;lb)
* '''Speed''':  [[Mach number|Mach 1.6]]
* '''Range''': (R-4T) 2–15&nbsp;km (9.35&nbsp;mi); (R-4R) 2–25&nbsp;km
* '''Guidance''': (R-4T) [[infrared]] homing; (R-4R) [[semi-active radar homing]]
* '''Warhead''':  53&nbsp;kg ( 116.6&nbsp;lb) high explosive

==References==
<references />
* {{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}}
* {{cite book|last=Gunston|first=Bill|title=The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft|publisher=Osprey|location=Oxford|year=2000|isbn=978-1-84176-096-4}}

==External links==
*[http://www.airwar.ru/weapon/avv/k80.html К-80, Р-4] - description in Russian, with pictures.

{{Russian and Soviet Aircraft Ordnance}}
{{Russian and Soviet missiles|AAM}}
{{Russian and Soviet military designation sequences}}

[[Category:Air-to-air missiles of the Soviet Union|R-004]]
[[Category:Cold War air-to-air missiles of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Vympel NPO products]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1960s]]