Strana 14
The R-3R Guided Air-Air Missile
The R-60M Guided Air-Air Missile
This variant of the missile was created by
replacing the infrared seeker of the R-3S with
a PARG-13VV semi-active radar guidance
system. This change was visible at first
glance by the fact that the guidance section
(the section in front of the forward fins)
was extended, the front part of which was
narrowed and equipped with a dielectric,
semi-transparent cover. Furthermore, the
optical proximity fuse was replaced with
a new, also non-contact, Jastreb radio
proximity device. Communication with the
on-board radar of the RP-22M type allowed
the destruction of air targets at short
distances from both the rear and, in addition,
the front hemisphere, day and night, in all
meteorological conditions. Most aircraft were
armed with a combination of radar-guided
(R-3R) and heat seeking missiles (R-3S,
or R-13M, and later the R-60/60M). Such
combinations of anti-aircraft armament can
be seen below in the images available on the
Internet.
This weapon was designed to destroy
maneuvering air targets at short distances.
The aerodynamic layout was of a canard type,
the fins, rudders and canards, the latter being
dubbed as ‘destabilizers’ being placed in an
‘X’ configuration. The task of the destabilizers
was to increase the efficiency of the rudders
(control surfaces) at high angles of attack.
At the ends of the rear fins were equipped
with rollerons that dampen the rotation
of the missile around its longitudinal axis.
The missile consists of five main parts.
The missiles can be mounted and launched
from either a single P-62-IMD launcher (also
known as APU-62-IM or APU-60-IM) or a twin
APU-62-IIM (APU-60-IIM) launcher.
TECHNICS / EQUIPMENT
R-3R air-air guided missile in cross-section. Compared to the R-3S missile, the extended section housing the
semi-active radar guidance electronics is clearly visible. In behind it is a cross-section of the R-13M missile
mounted on its launch rail.
MiG-21bis of the former Yugoslav Air Force (JRV), armed with two R-3Rs inboard
and four R-60M on twin launchers outboard during the civil war in the early 1990s.
Fuselage numbers are painted over to make identification by the enemy
more difficult.
MiG -21bis of the former German Democratic Republic Air Force (NVA DDR), this time
with a pair of R-13Ms on the inboard pylons and two R-3Rs outboard, in the period
before the reunification of Germany on October 3rd, 1990.
Overall view of an R-60M guided air-air missile with a red protective cap covering the seeker head, suspended
from a simple P-62-IMD launch rail under a MiG-21MF.
INFO Eduard14
May 2025