RUSSIAN MISSILE R-40R AA-6 ACRID

The AA-6 Acrid (also known as R-40) is a Soviet air-to-air guided missile from the Cold War period. The first prototypes of the missile were created in the late 1950s, and its serial production started around 1960. The length of the missile in the R-40RD radar guided version was 629 cm with a diameter of 31 centimeters. The mass of the missile ready to fire was about 475 kg, while the weight of the warhead could reach up to 100 kg. However, the effective range of the shot did not exceed 80 kilometers. It is fairly widely accepted that the AA-6 Acrid missile was developed by the Soviets specifically for the MiG-25 heavy interceptor, and its main purpose was to combat new American strategic bombers, which were to evolve from the prototype designated as XB-70 Valkyrie and which would fly at speeds of Mach 2.5-3. It is true that this threat never finally materialized, but the command of the Soviet aviation decided to implement the MiG-25 machine, and with them AA-6 Acrid missiles. When working on this missile, it was assumed from the beginning that it would develop a considerable maximum speed, as well as its long range, but also that it would be dedicated to operations at high altitudes. This, in turn, forced the large size of the missile itself, which ultimately made the AA-6 Acrid probably the largest air-to-air missile introduced into the line during the Cold War! Two main variants of the AA-6 Acrid were developed in the course of production: R-40R semi-active and R-40T infrared. It is worth adding that the only aircraft capable of carrying the presented missile were the MiG-25 and the MiG-31.