AA-8 "Aphid-A"

Date of Production	19611974
Country of Origin	Russia (Former Soviet Union)
Proliferation: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh,Bulgaria, China,Croatia, Cuba, Eritrea,Georgia, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Libya, Malaysia, North Korea,Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), Peru, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Syria, Ukraine, Viet Nam, YemenNam

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Background

The VympelMolniya K-13(now Vympel) R-60 (NATO reporting name: AA-28 "Atoll"Aphid") is a short-range,range lightweight infrared homing air-to-air missile developeddesigned for use by the Soviet Union.fighter aircraft. It is similar in appearance and function to the American AIM-9 Sidewinder from which it was reverse-engineered. Although it since has been replacedwidely byexported, moreand modern missilesremains in frontline service, it saw widespread service inwith the CIS and many other nations. The SidewinderR-60 was quicklyinitially reversedeveloped engineered asfor the MiG-23. Work began on the weapon, under the bureau designation K-1360 (alsoizdeliye called R-3 or Object 300) and entered limited service only two years later62), in 1960. This was followed by the improvedlate K-13A1960s. (R-3S,Series Objectproduction 310),began whichin 1973. It entered service in 1962. The R-3S waswith the first version to enter widespread production, in spite of a very long seeker settling time on the order of 22 seconds, as opposed to 11 seconds for the original version. Thedesignation R-3S60 was seen by the West in 1961 and given the (NATO reporting name AA-2A 'Atoll'"Aphid-A"). MinimumWhen engagement range forintroduced, the R-3S60 was one of the world's lightest 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 aboutby oneforward kilometer.rudders Allwith K-13large variantsrear arefins. physicallyThe similardistinctive canards on the nose, known as "destabilizers," serve to Sidewinder, sharingimprove the 5-inchrudders' (127efficiency mm)at diameter.high Subsequent examinationangles of AA-2attack. missilesThe capturedR-60 byuses NATOa forcessmall, showed3 thatkg parts(6.6 fromlb) antungsten AIM-9expanding-rod couldsurrounding a high explosive fragmentation warhead. Two different types of proximity fuze can be interfacedfitted: the standard Strizh (Swift) optical fuse, which can be replaced with partsa fromKolibri anactive AA-2radar andfuse. eitherMissiles combinationequipped wouldwith stillthe work.latter fuse were designated R-60K.

Variants 

 General Characteristics

Name	K-13;R-60; NATO: AA-28 AtollAphid-A
Type	Infrared Homing Air-to-Air Missile
Manufacturer	Vympel
Length	2.8302,090 mmm
Diameter	127120 mm
Wingspan	631390 mm
Weight	90 kg
Warhead Weight	7.43 kg
Engine	solid-fuel rocket engine
Operational Range	1.0 to 3.58 km
Maximum Speed	Mach 2.57
Guidance System	infrared homing
Launch Platform(s)	MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-19, Sukhoi Su-17/20/22

Threat Characteristics

Rear Aspect Range	2 Nautical Miles
Front Aspect Range	3 Nautical Miles
Countermeasure Vulnerability	Very HighModerate

Threat Counter Tactics Discussion

The AA-2 Atoll is most dangerous when launched undetected. Counter tactics should emphasis visual lookout responsibilities and sanitization. 

Threat Reactions

A maximum performance turn in excess of 3Gs while deploying flares has a high probability of defeating this threat.

Countermeasure Employment

Exploitation Datasets