Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent example of the rare Soviet Kaliningrad K-5 Air-To-Air Missile, complete with the original targeting cone and lifting plug. The missile stands at approximately 77 inches tall and weighs nearly 70 pounds, so plan accordingly for display. It still retains almost all of its painted and stamped details, although there are some areas of fading and paint loss, none of which detract from the beauty of this missile.
Unloaded or dummy grenades, artillery shell casings, and similar devices, which are cut or drilled in an BATF-approved manner so that they cannot be used as ammunition components for destructive devices, are not considered NFA weapons. This example is in total compliance and is NOT AVAILABLE FOR EXPORT.
The missile is about 77 inches long (with tail cone) and has a base width of 27 inches, weighing in at approximately 67 pounds. It still proudly displays nearly all its original markings and paint, standing out from most missiles, bombs, or rockets that are often personalized or repainted. Remarkably, all the fins are still intact and undamaged, a rarity for an item of this size. Additionally, it includes a “lifting plug” and the targeting tail cone, both of which are often lost or destroyed, adding even more appeal to this unique offering. There is no warhead included with the missile, as they were stored separately and not installed until later.
A fantastic, hard to find example that comes more than ready for further research and display!
K-5 Missile
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 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 7.8 kg (17 lb) heavier than the K-5, but had a smaller 9.1 kg (20 lb) warhead. The K-55 remained in service through about 1977, probably being retired with the last of the Sukhoi Su-9 interceptors.
