Aircraft missile R-4 (K-80)

In accordance with the Decree of the CPSU Central Committee and the USSR Council of Ministers N 608-293 of June 4, 1958 began the development of long-range aircraft and missile intercepting complex Tu-28-80 as the basis for the first stage of an echelonized defense system against flying on the shortest intercontinental route through the circumpolar areas of U.S. strategic bombers. To solve this problem, as well as to cover the perimeter of the northern borders of the USSR, it was required a long flight range and duration of the barrage.

Tupolev's heavy interceptor 128 was taken as the basis for the complex. (planned name in the series - Tu-28), which was a development of unclaimed front bomber "98". To fighters, this car could be attributed only with a high tension. Given the very limited maneuverability, one could not count on guaranteed timely turnaround with access to the rear hemisphere of the target. Therefore, from the very beginning of the work, for the first time in domestic practice, the requirement of all-roundness was imposed on missile weapons. However, taking into account the low sensitivity of infrared GSNs in the late 1950s in relation to the "thermal" version of the missile, this requirement was replaced by less stringent: it was necessary to ensure an attack in the rear hemisphere with a view to 3/4 in the horizontal plane. The modest value of the heavy interceptor ceiling determined the requirement to defeat targets flying with a significant excess in relation to the "128" aircraft.

Based on the specified long range of detection of the U-5B-80 radar, which was created under the leadership of Tikhomirov, up to 100 km (with the transition to auto tracking at 70 km) and a significant carrying capacity of the carrier, it was planned to develop a heavy missile equipped with a powerful BC with a launch range approximately twice as long as the already proven samples (K-7, K-8M, K-9).

The missile was to engage targets flying at altitudes of 5 to 23 km (including altitudes exceeding 5 to 6 km relative to the interceptor) with a speed of 800 to 1600 km/h (in the front hemisphere up to 2000 km/h), at ranges of up to 13 km from the rear hemisphere and 4 to 20 km from the front hemisphere with a volley of two missiles with a probability of 0.8-0.9.

The development of the semi-active radar SLN was assigned to Tikhomirov's team at the Design Bureau-339 and thermal SLN to Nikolaev at the Central Design Bureau-589. Presentation of the complex for factory tests was determined in the first quarter of 1961, for state tests - at the end of the same year. A year later, by the decree of July 4, 1959, the requirements for the complex were tightened in terms of target acquisition at speeds up to 1800-2200 km/h at altitudes up to 25-26 km. It was also proposed to increase the maximum range of missile launches to 60 km.

In the future, the managers of the creation of aircraft and missile equipment were replaced. Work on the radar, called "Smerch", headed by FF Volkov, on radar GSN - NA Viktorov in Research Institute-648, on thermal GSN - DM Khorol.

The first flight of the plane "128" took place in April 1961. After only 3 months, July 9, 1961, it flew over the field of the airfield Tushino, carrying two models of missiles under the wing. In the same year, the first autonomous launches of K-80 missiles were held - four from the ground and from the flying laboratory.

In 1962, launches were carried out both from a specially equipped flying laboratory Tu-104LK, and from three Tu-128. Along with four autonomous launches, nine launches of telemetry rockets with thermal and "radial" GSN on parachute targets PM-2, PM-4109 and VUM began firing thermal missiles at targets on the IL-28. At first, several launches failed due to the fault of the airborne radar. The first unmanned bomber was shot down on September 27, and by the end of the year two more such targets had been hit. Shooting at the IL-28 from the front hemisphere was worse: out of eight targets, 15 missiles were hit by only one. Only after finalization of the main "culprit" of failures - the radio detonator - it was possible to shoot down another IL-28 from the front hemisphere. The results of overflights of high-altitude versions of Yak-25 confirmed the possibility of firing targets flying with a significant excess. To facilitate the operation of missiles in the troops refined the design of wing attachment.

Beginning in April 1963, began testing the third prototype of the aircraft "128", first equipped with a full set of BREO, including the radar "Smerch", which made it possible to begin full-scale development of "radium" missiles. In the period from August 1963 to May 1965, the aircraft missile weapons were tested in conjunction with other elements of the complex during the second phase of state testing. The main targets in dozens of launches were still the same targets on the IL-28 base, fired from the front and rear hemispheres by missiles with both thermal and radar CNS, equipped first with radio detonators and then optical non-contact fuses.  Two targets were also fired at the Yak-25PV flying at an altitude of 17500 m and exceeding 4500 m above the carrier. To study the process of targeting the interceptor with a target taken on auto-accompanying CNS missiles continued flying from different angles Tu-16, Su-9, MiG-19 and Yak-25RV. Taking into account the information received on the new American A-11 reconnaissance aircraft, the process of targeting high-altitude targets was simulated.

In 1965, during the launch of four telemetry and three combat missiles, three IL-28 drones were shot down. In addition, performed a couple of autonomous launches, 23 flights of the flying laboratory Tu-104LK. Based on the positive results of state tests, the complex was recommended for adoption in service and official put into mass production. The first aircraft "128", assembled at the serial plant number 64 in Voronezh, went into the air as early as May 13, 1961. From 1965 to 1966, serial production of missiles R-4 ("item 36") was carried out at the Kaliningrad plant number 455 (Kaliningrad mechanical plant), and later at the Kiev plant named after Artem.

In total, 23 targets were shot down during the tests, including five Yak-25RV, nine IL-28 and three Tu-16 targets. September 13, 1964 Chief Air Officer Vershinin approved the act of the State Commission.

Adoption for service was approved by a decree of April 30, 1965, giving the name of the complex Tu-128-80, the aircraft - Tu-128, radar - RP-28, and the rocket - R-4. In this case, for the missile was determined the maximum range of 20-25 km when shooting at targets flying at speeds up to 2000 km / h in the front hemisphere, and 10-12 km at a target speed of 1250 km / h - in the rear hemisphere. Targets were fired at altitudes between 8 and 21 km (including those flying in excess of 7-8 km). The suspension of the missiles lowered the maximum interceptor speed from 1910 to 1665 km/h, a value that determined the process of targeting.

After weaponization, launches continued to be conducted in order to eliminate identified shortcomings and enhance the missile's combat capabilities. In 1966, experimental launches were made against targets at low altitudes (500 m), but they failed due to failures and failures of onboard equipment. In 1967, work was carried out to reduce the lower boundary of the kill zone to 5 km, to eliminate the interference from the rocket engine from the "radius" CNS. In 1969 there were 12 launches of MiG-17, IL-28 and M-6 to test a modified fuse NOV-80M, the next year - to determine the causes of missiles divergence from the tracks. At the same time a couple of launches of R-4 on automatic drifting aerostats were made. In some years it was carried out up to fifty rocket launches.

During the development of the K-80 changed the tactics of the aircraft of the probable enemy, which moved to a breakthrough to the target at low altitudes. On this basis, the Decree of December 26, 1968 ¹ 1044-381 was given to develop an upgraded version of the complex, which was carried out by the beginning of the seventies. Tests in Vladimirovka were held from March 10, 1973 to July 24, 1974.

By the Order of the Minister of Defense No. 00104 of June 10, 1979, the upgraded Tu 128-80M complex with K-80M missile was adopted for service.

The foreign press also provides information on the development of a version of the missile with a passive radar CNS, designed to hit aircraft such as AVAKS and interference at ranges up to 40 km.