Strana 12
The R-3S Guided Air-Air Missile
The direct predecessor of the R-13M missile
was the R-3S. It was also intended for the
destruction of air targets day and night, under
normal weather conditions (except for clouds
and fog), with a required deviation from the
sun of more than 20°. The maximum overload
at the moment of launch was 2g (up to a height
of 12,000m) and a maximum of 1.6g (above
12,000m). Compared to the R-13M missile, it had
a shorter range, smaller permissible overload
at launch, and the photo resistor of the self-
guided infrared warhead was not cooled.
Specifications:
Length: 2838mm
Diameter: 127mm
Span: 525mm
Weight: 75.3kg
Warhead: 11.3kg
Guided Flight Endurance: 21s
Detonation Time: 21-28s
TECHNICS / EQUIPMENT
General view of the R-3S anti-aircraft guided missile,
in partial section, with a practise round in behind (with
a red longitudinal stripe).
Forward section of
the R-3S missile in
cutaway.
Main Components:
Thermal Seeker (1), used to acquire and
track thermal targets.
Control section with rudders (2), reaction
contacts (3) and communication link
(4) – using the rudders, the missile would
maneuver towards the target, the reaction
contacts would then activate the impact
fuse, which in turn activated the warhead.
The communication link connected the
guided missile via the launcher with the
aircraft's onboard systems.
Warhead (5) Detonated to eliminate the
target.
Optical proximity fuse (6) – reacts to infrared
radiation from the target if the missile passes
closer than 9m from the target. If it passes
further, the missile’s self-destruction circuits
are activated.
Solid fuel rocket motor (7) – with four
stabilizing fins, at the ends of which are, once
again, rollerons, which are fixed with locking
pins until the missile is launched.
INFO Eduard12
May 2025