AA-8 Aphid (R-60)
TYPE:
Short range IR air-to-air missile.
DEVELOPMENT:
AA-8 'Aphid' is the NATO designation and code for the
Russian third generation air-to-air missile designated
R-60 by Russia. 'Aphid' was developed in the late 1960s
to early 1970s, as a replacement for the AA-2 'Atoll'.
Although there are reports of a semi-active radar
version, none has been seen and it seems likely that
the IR version is the only version to enter production.
An improved version, R-60M, was developed in the late
1970s.
DESCRIPTION:
AA-8 has four rectangular fixed canards and four
triangular moving control fins at the nose, with four
long chord clipped-tip delta wings at the rear. The
four fixed delta wings have 'Sidewinder' type rollerons
at the trailing edge for roll stabilisation. 'Aphid'
is
2.08 m long, has a body diameter of 130 mm, a wingspan
of 0.43 m, and a weight of about 65 kg. The missile has
two active radar fuze aerials located aft of the moving
control fins, and a single strake running down the
forward half of the body. The 6 kg HE fragmentation
warhead contains 1.6 kg of uranium. The earlier 'Aphid'
missiles were restricted to tail-aspect engagements
only. It is believed that an improved AA-8 version
(Russian designator R-60M) has an electro-optical fuze,
to match an all-aspect engagement capability; this
version probably has an increased range to around 5 km
in the forward hemisphere.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 2.08 m
Body diameter: 130 mm
Wingspan: 0.43 m
Launch weight: 65 kg
Warhead: 6 kg HE fragmentation
Fuze: Active radar or active laser (R-60M)
Guidance: IR
Propulsion: Solid propellant
Range: 3 km or 5 km (R-60M)