Vympel R-33

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R-33 on MiG-31 at Zhukovski, 1999
Vympel R-33
General characteristics
Length	4.15 m (13 ft 7 in)
Wingspan	1.16 m (3 ft 8 in)
Diameter	380 mm (16 in)
Launch Weight	490 kg (1,080 lb)
Warhead and guidance
Warhead	47.5 kg (104 lb)
Guidance	inertial and semi-active radar homing
Mobility
Speed	Mach 3.5
Range	160 km (100 mi)

The Vympel R-33 (Russian: Вымпел Р-33, NATO reporting name: AA-9 Amos) was the most advanced long-range air-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union. The missile is for use as "main caliber" of MiG-31 interceptors. Its intended targets included the SR-71 Blackbird, the B-1 Lancer bomber, and the B-52 Stratofortress.

The R-33/MiG-31 missile/interceptor combination is similar to the earlier Bisnovat R-40/MiG-25 combination, although it is much more versatile and modern in that the MiG-25 was very heavily specialised for the interception of large supersonic targets such as the North American Aviation XB-70 bomber, and as such lacks maneuverability and is not really suitable for air combat maneuvering. The MiG-31 is a much more versatile and capable aircraft and is still able to employ the older R-40.

Similar in function and configuration to the U.S. Navy AIM-54 Phoenix, it uses a combination of semi-active radar homing, for initial acquisition and mid-course update, and inertial navigation to reach the target at extreme range. It is also much cheaper. The "Zaslon" phased array radar of MiG-31 is the core of the new aerial interception system. It differs from radar of F-14 in the way it scans the space: American radar uses mechanical scanning, while the Russian one uses electronic beam switching. This helps to guide up to 4 missiles simultaneously for 4 targets and simplify the missile on-board equipment.

The R-33 AAM remains in service with the CIS and Russian forces (See MiG-31 operators). It has never seen active combat as the MiG-31 has never been deployed in a war.

Development

The history of the R-33 missile is tightly bound to the story of its carrier, MiG-31 interceptor.

The development of the E-155MP (modernized MiG-25, MiG-31 to come) was authorized by a governmental decision of 24 May 1968. There was a competition for future missiles for the E-155MP. Izdeliye 410 by "Vympel" of A.L.Lyapin won, and K-50 by PKPK of M.R.Bisnovat lost. The missile was assigned the development name K-33 to continue the series of K-13 and K-23 missiles. The development was headed by vice-chief designer V.V.Zhuravlev and leading designer Y.K.Zakharov.

Two prototypes were built in 1968 (with "duck" scheme to fit underwing carriage like K-40).

The draft project was completed in 1970 and conversion of flying labs was initiated. One of these labs was converted from early MiG-25 (aircraft P-10) and was used in 1972 for autonomous test launches of the first K-33 from upgraded carriages. A MiG-21 was converted into LL-21 flying lab to test guiding heads, and Tu-104 was converted into LL-104-518 (also known as LL-2) to test the "Zaslon" radar along with guiding heads mounted in missile mockups.

There were development versions of the K-33 with semi-active radar homing, active radar homing, heat seeker, and combined IR/radar homing. The final decision was made in favour of semi-active radar homing with inertial initial stage.

The missile design was changed to allow use of bigger radar and to fit the missiles to the new underfuselage carriage. The new design was started in the new draft project of 1972 (top wings folding, reduced wingspan (from 1100mm to 900mm), catapult launch only, enlarged warhead). One dummy, 5 programmed, and 8 trial missiles were built in 1972 for the new design.

Three of those 14 missiles were launched from MiG-25P-10 in 1973. The test of warheads (high explosive fragmentation and continuous-rod warhead) and flight tests of homing head and aircraft radar were conducted in 1973.

The 1974 was filled with 11 more launches from MiG-25P-10, 40 more trial missiles, the first AKU-33 launchers and B-410 warheads were built. MFBU-410/"Zaslon" tests were continued at Akhtubinsk using LL-2.

The first flight of future MiG-31 was on 16 September 1975 (and 12 more flights by the end of the year). 20 more launches were performed from the MiG-25-P-10 (then the aircraft was sent to the factory to upgrade launchers). The first launches from LL-2 (Tu-104, it's the root of legend of "Tu-104 missile carrier" and "Soviet armed civil aircraft") of telemetric missiles were performed that year.

Development continued in 1976, including launches at parachute targets in April of that year. The factory tests were completed in 1977, with 32 launches (the first launch against a MiG-17 drone was on 26th March 1977). The guidance head was improved during 1978, including a simultaneous launch at 4 targets in August of that year.

State trials started in March 1979 using MiG-31. They were successfully completed in 1980. A governmental decision of 6 May 1981 recommended the R-33 into the service.

R-37

References

1. R. Arkhangelski and V. Korovin. "Home made guided AA missiles" in Technics and Munition yesterday, today, tomorrow (Russian: ) magazine, №2.06, subscribtion index 71186, Monograph.

External links

• [GlobalSecurity.org page]
• [Federation of American Scientists page]

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