Missile R-3 (AA-2 Atoll)

The R-3 (K-13) is a short-range air-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union as a reverse-engineered copy of the American AIM-9 Sidewinder. During the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1958, a Taiwanese F-86 Sabre fired an AIM-9 Sidewinder that became lodged in a Chinese MiG-17 without exploding. China subsequently transferred the intact missile to the Soviet Union. The missile entered limited Soviet service in 1960, with the improved R-3S variant entering widespread production in 1962.

The missile shares physical design characteristics with the AIM-9, allowing parts between the two systems to be interchanged. Early variants utilize infrared homing, though the R-3S variant is characterized by a long seeker settling time. In 1967, the R-3R variant entered service, employing semi-active radar homing for high-altitude engagements in conjunction with fighter radar systems. Later upgrades, such as the R-13M, introduced a nitrogen-cooled seeker head, increased propellant, and a new proximity fuze, though none of the infrared variants possess all-aspect capability. The missile carries a blast-fragmentation warhead detonated by proximity or contact fuzing. Training variants include the R-3U (inert body with active seeker), R-3P (operational missile without explosive warhead), and RM-3V (aerial target).

The missile was widely deployed within the Warsaw Pact, exported globally, and licensed for production in Romania as the A-91 and in China as the PL-2. It remains in active service with several air forces in Africa, Asia, and South America.

In combat, Chinese forces used the PL-2 variant to intercept United States unmanned aerial vehicles. During the Vietnam War, North Vietnamese MiG-21 pilots utilized the missile against United States aircraft, typically firing in volleys before executing high-speed egress. The Indian Air Force deployed the missile from MiG-21FL fighters during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, downing Pakistani F-104 Starfighters.

In the Middle East, Israel captured R-3 missiles during the Six-Day War and subsequently deployed them during the War of Attrition, though pilots recorded no successful engagements. Arab air forces utilized the missile during the Yom Kippur War in 1973, and the Iraqi Air Force deployed it during the Iran–Iraq War. During the 1981 Gulf of Sidra incident, a Libyan Su-22 fired an R-3 head-on at United States Navy F-14As, which successfully evaded the missile.