Rudiment or a formidable weapon: the RF-nuclear forces of the Russian Federation lit up the R-33 rocket (photo)
On the published video, the rocket is loaded on the Mig-31 fighter, thus hinting at the nuclear potential of the P-33, although it was not officially confirmed in the Russian defense department. What is interesting about this event, the Bulgarian Military Viewers have been understood in the material of August 12. The R-33 rocket was developed in the USSR OKB "Pennant" as a replacement of an outdated K-40 missile.
The main task was to create a rocket capable of striking strategic bombers, such as B-52 Stratofortress, and high-speed goals, such as SR-71 Blackbird and XB-70 Valkyrie. It was mostly created for the use of MiG-31 interceptors and is designed to destroy high-speed and high-altitude goals, such as bombers and winged rockets.
The rocket has the following technical characteristics: its ability to affect targets at considerable distances and in difficult conditions makes it a powerful tool to protect airspace. However, the intrigue is that the Russians hint at the possibility of equipping a rocket with a nuclear warhead, adds to it strategic importance. The fact is that this concept is not new.
For example, in the United States, in the 1950s, AIM-26 Falcon, a first American rocket, equipped with a nuclear warhead designed to destroy enemy aircraft at long distances. Its main feature is the W54 nuclear warhead. This made it possible to defeat several goals within the explosion radius, which was important to protect against massive air attacks. "Although the R-33 rocket is mainly equipped with a regular warhead, it can also carry a nuclear warhead.