Missile R-98 (AA-3 Anab)

Development of the K-8 medium-range air-to-air missile began in 1955 to equip Soviet interceptor aircraft. The missile was upgraded to the R-8M standard in 1961, which provided the semi-active radar homing variant with head-on intercept capability. It was further upgraded to the R-8M1 in 1963 for compatibility with the RP-11 Oryol-D radar used on the Su-15 and Yak-28P. In 1965, the R-8M2 variant, also designated R-98, was introduced with longer range and improved seekers compatible with the RP-11 Oryol-M radar. The final variant, designated R-98M1, entered service in 1973, featuring improved countermeasures resistance, longer range, and compatibility with the Taifun-M radar on Su-15TM and Yak-28PM interceptors. A short-range variant designated K-88 was developed in 1960 but did not enter service. An inert training version of the missile was designated UR-8M.

The R-98 is a medium-range air-to-air missile configured with either semi-active radar homing or infrared homing seeker heads. The R-98MR variant employs semi-active radar homing, while the R-98MT variant utilizes infrared homing. The missile is armed with a blast fragmentation warhead. Depending on the variant, the missile was compatible with various radar systems, including the Uragan-5B, RP-11 Oryol-D, RP-11 Oryol-M, and Taifun-M.

The R-98 was operated by the Soviet Air Defence Forces of the Soviet Union. The missile system remained in active service through the 1980s and was retired alongside the withdrawal of the last Su-15 interceptors. In operational use, an R-98 missile was used to shoot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007 on September 1, 1983.