https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/514167-mig-21pfm-missing-r-55/&ct=1612210632
Vehicle(s) involved: MiG-21PFM (CCCP)
Problem: The MiG-21PFM lacks modifications and magazines for the R-55 air-to-air missile.
Corrections needed: Added an R-55 air-to-air missile and a payload (2x R-55) to the MiG-21PFM modification.
General Information :
Of the R-55 missile, there are a number of variants with similar or often confusing names, so here I will explain which missile was used by the MiG-21PFM. The AA-1C designation includes all air-to-air missiles based on the fuselage of the “Izdeliye 67” missile. These include the RS-2US, the R-55 (also called K-55 or K-5 in the Soviet version) and the K-55M (a prototype that never entered mass production). The missile in question on the MiG-21PFM is the R-55, which in the simplest terms is an RS-2US with a new front section, including a new infrared seeker (type C-59), new front wings and new front thrusters, and a new missile (type NOV-55 Roza). It also removes the control missiles that used to be on the RS-2US (and also on the X-66/23/M that we have in the game). For training purposes, the R-55 can be equipped with the new single large smoke emitter.
Here is a photo of the R-55 rocket on display:
R-55 in the Vympel Museum
Here is a diagram of the R-55 compared to the PC-1U and PC-2US with scales :
R-55 – lower rocket, scale on the right side of the diagram.
What does this have to do with the MiG-21PFM?
The first test aircraft for the infrared version of the R-55 was the MiG-21PFM (airframe number 3523), because it was the most modern aircraft in service in the Soviet Union at that time and because it was suitable for the RS-2US missile from which the R-55 was derived. By the time the R-55 was developed, the MiG-21PFM had been in service for several years. It served the K-55 until its retirement, after which it was used to train pilots on the missile, just as the MiG-21PFM served on the MiG-21bis.
Already in the game (in the red box), the control of the launch of the K-5 missile is simulated in the cockpit of the MiG-21PFM crew:
The red box is the switch that turns on the R-55 to boot.
The MiG-21PFM (red 54) is on display at the Ukrainian Air Force Museum in Vinnitsa, along with 2 K-55s on which smoke training modules are mounted. The aircraft was in Soviet service, but at some point it was fitted with modern Ukrainian markings over Soviet emblems :
R-55 at the fair in Ukraine (1)
R-55 at the fair in Ukraine (2)
R-55 at the fair in Ukraine (3)
The MiG-21PFM is also mentioned in Karpenko’s book in section P-55 :
From Karpenko.
The test bench and serial number are listed further down in the article on militaryrussia.ru :
Test Bench S/N
Specifications by category as indicated in the data :
The following specifications are taken from the “Missile History” forum post by EpicBlitzkrieg87. Available here: https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/487049-vympel-kaliningrad-history-design-performance-of-russian-air-to-air-missiles-ir-sarh-arh-updated-august-2020/.
Physical properties :
Weight (start): 92 kg
Mass (after combustion): As in X-23/66, source unknown.
Length: 2760 mm
Width: 202 mm (body diameter), 530 mm (from vintop to vintop).
Engine Specifications :
Engines: as in the game X-23/66, sources unknown.
Rough acceleration: Same as X-23/66 in the game, unknown from sources.
Burning time: as in Kh-23/66, unknown from sources.
Chargeable: no
Characteristics of missiles and nuclear warheads :
Explosive mass (equivalent to TNT): 11 kg (warhead type GSCB-47).
Contactless fuse: Yes (fuse type CCB-589 NOV-55 Pink)
Range of the nearest fuse: 12 m
Leadership Capabilities :
Viewfinder type: IR (S-59 type viewfinder)
Duration of the tutorial: 30 seconds
Viewfinder warm-up: 5 seconds
Search for a Sandman: 20 seconds
Field of view: 5 degrees
Cardanic suspension: 35 degrees
Tracking speed: 10 degrees per second
Age-neutral perception: yes
Maximum angle of switch-on: 10 degrees
Minimum angle of the sun: unknown
Rear locking range: 10 km
Full lock range: 0.2 km (or N/A for in-game targets, which is similar for other AIM-9B/E/G missiles).
Maybe a radar: yes
Can lock after startup: No
Launch limit G: 3 G (one source says 5, but several sources say 3, so 3 is probably correct).
Flight characteristics :
Max speed: 1.8 mah
Maximum driving distance: 10 km
Maximum take-off distance: 8 km
Maximum load G: 18 G
Vectorization of trusts: no
Sources:
The books:
(1) “Russian missile weapons 1943-1993” by A. V. Karpenko
Available here (table page 132, MiG-21PFM listed under R-55): https://docviewer.yandex.ru/view/0/ ?*=HaihFa4YfAbujUHW7JybOcN0Qlt7InVybCI6InlhLWRpc2stcHVibGljOi8vWTFoRzYzUVBRUS90clhCQ2svaWpkWkV6TU9PSXdIaC9BeGZPbTAzeFZBQT0iLCJ0aXRsZSI6ImthcnBlbmtvLXJvc3NpaXNrb2UtMTk5My5wZGYiLCJub2lmcmFtZSI6ZmFsc2UsInVpZCI6IjAiLCJ0cyI6MTYxMTI4NTA3ODI1MCwieXUiOiIzODMxNTgwMDIxNTc3NDAxNzI4In0%3D
This book has been recognized as a valuable resource by Smin and LordMustang.
2) “Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21: The Famous Russian Plane” by Efim Gordon
3) “Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons since World War II” by Yefim Gordon
Websites: (These websites were used to gather information about the characteristics of the rocket. They all have a bibliography. I have contacted the GosNIIAS Museum to see if they can send me a copy, as they have done in the past).
1) http://militaryrussia.ru/blog/topic-86.html
2) http://www.loneflyer.com/2016/05/22/rs-1u2uusr-55-aa-1-alkali/
3) https://ruslet.webnode.cz/technika/ruska-technika/letecka-vyzbroj/protiletadlove-rs/r-55-aa-1c-alkali-/
Newspapers:
1) http://militaryarticle.ru/tekhnika-i-vooruzhenie/2005/11603-otechestvennye-upravljaemye-rakety-klassa-vozduh (hereafter referred to as MiG-21PFM #3523, as it served as a test bed for the R-55).
Primary sources :
1) https://royallib.com/read/avtor_neizvesten/tehnika_i_voorugenie_2005_09.html#0
This source provides the serial number and test data for the MiG-21PFM with the R-55. Thanks to csla1972 for finding this page.
2) http://ktrv.ru/tour/
Digital tour of the Vympel NPO Museum, a plaque for the R-55 mentions its trials at the PFM.
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