K-5 (missile) should not be confused with K-5 (ballistic missile).
| K-5 AA-1 Alkali | |
| Origin: | Soviet Union |
| Type: | Short-range air-to-air missile |
| Is Missile: | yes |
| Service: | 1957-1977 |
| Used By: | Soviet Air Force |
| Manufacturer: | Kaliningrad Series Production Plant |
| Variants: | K-55 |
| Weight: | 82.7kg (182.3lb) |
| Length: | 8feet |
| Diameter: | 200mm |
| Filling: | High explosive |
| Filling Weight: | 13kg (29lb) |
| Engine: | Rocket |
| Vehicle Range: | 2to |
| Speed: | 2880km/h (Mach 2.33) |
| Guidance: | beam riding |
| Launch Platform: | MiG-17, MiG-19, MiG-21, Su-9 |
The Kaliningrad K-5 (NATO reporting name AA-1 Alkali), also known as RS-1U or product ShM, was an early Soviet air-to-air missile.
The development of the K-5 began in 1951. The first test firings were in 1953. It was tested (but not operationally carried) by the Yakovlev Yak-25. The weapon entered service as the Grushin/Tomashevich (Russian: Грушин/Томашевич) RS-2U (also known as the R-5MS or K-5MS) in 1957. The initial version was matched to the RP-2U (Izumrud-2) radar used on the MiG-17PFU, MiG-19PM. An improved variant, K-5M or RS-2US in PVO service, entered production in 1959, matched to the RP-9/RP-9U (Sapfir) radar of the Sukhoi Su-9. The People's Republic of China developed a copy under the designation PL-1, for use by their J-6B fighters.
The difficulties associated with beam-riding guidance, particularly in a single-seat fighter aircraft, were substantial, making the 'Alkali' primarily a short-range anti-bomber missile. Around 1967 the K-5 was replaced by the K-55 (R-55 in service), which replaced the beam-riding seeker with the semi-active radar homing or infrared seekers of the K-13 (AA-2 'Atoll'). The weapon was 7.8kg (17.2lb) heavier than the K-5, but had a smaller 9.1kg (20.1lb) warhead. The K-55 remained in service until about 1977, probably being retired with the last of the Sukhoi Su-9 interceptors.
Mali: Malian Air Force