AA-2 'ATOLL' (R-3, R-13)
TYPE:
Short range IR and radar guided air-to-air missile.
DEVELOPMENT:
AA-2 'Atoll' is the NATO code and designation for a
Russian missile believed to be K13, R-3 or R-13. The
missile started development in 1959 when the
Experimental Design Bureau (OKB-134) at Tushino was
assigned the task of copying the AIM-9B Sidewinder
design. Since then there have been at least two further
development phases and probably more. In the late 1960s
a variant of AA-2, designated 2C by NATO and sometimes
known as the advanced 'Atoll', was developed with a
semi-active radar homing head and given the Russian
designation R-3R. A second development took place in
the late 1960s and early 1970s, providing an IR seeker
with improved performance on the original 'Atoll' but
still restricting the engagements to tail-aspect only.
This latter variant was designated 2D and was given the
Russian designation R-13M. The missile is carried by
MiG-21 'Fishbed', MiG-23 'Flogger B/F/G', MiG-27
'Flogger D/J', Su-17 'Fitter D', Su-20 'Fitter C' and
Su-21 'Flagon' aircraft.
DESCRIPTION:
The AA-2C 'Atoll' looks similar to the AIM-9C
Sidewinder, has a length of 3.50 m, a body diameter of
127 mm and a wingspan of 0.53 m. The missile weighs
about 93 kg. The semi-active radar seeker operates with
the J-band (10 to 20 GHz) pulse radar of the MiG-21.
The 'Atoll 2D' looks similar to an AIM-9G Sidewinder,
has a length of 2.83 m, a body diameter of 127 mm and
a
wingspan of 0.53 m. The missile weighs about 75 kg. The
IR seeker has a tail-aspect engagement capability only.
Both the 'Atoll' 2C and 2D versions have an 11.0 kg
blast fragmentation warhead, with an IR fuze, and both
missiles have a solid propellant motor with a burn time
of around 20 seconds.
SPECIFICATIONS:
'Atoll' 2C
Length: 3.50 m
Body diameter: 127 mm
Wingspan: 0.53 m
Launch weight: 93 kg
Warhead: 11 kg HE blast fragmentation
Fuze: IR
Guidance: Semi-active radar
Propulsion: Solid propellant
Range: 8 km
'Atoll' 2D
Length: 2.83 m
Body diameter: 127 mm
Wingspan: 0.53 m
Launch weight: 75 kg
Warhead: 11 kg HE blast fragmentation
Fuze: IR
Guidance: IR
Propulsion: Solid propellant
Range: 3 km