217/I

First anti-aircraft missile flown in the USSR. The 217/I had a conventional aircraft layout, with a main wing and aerodynamic control surfaces on the tail.

The first Russian experiments with rockets in the antiaircraft role were conducted by Russia before World War I. Tests conducted from 1909-1912 at Sestroretska were unsuccessful due to the poor performance of powder rockets of the time. N V Gerasimov (1909-1912), N A Sytenko (1909-1910), I V Volovskiy (1912) and others all conducted tests at this time. Despite the lack of success in Russia, rockets were used as a weapon against hydrogen-filled German dirigibles during the war. Ernst Lehmann, who would later die aboard the Hindenberg, described a rocket attack on his zeppelin LZ-90 in January 1916. He was dropping 3000 kg of bombs at the rail yard at Bar-le-Dieu, France, when enemy rockets forced him to climb to 3260 m altitude.

Korolev's experimental 217 rocket was envisioned to be developed as a SAM.

Manufacturer: Korolev. Liftoff Thrust: 18.140 kN (4,078 lbf). Total Mass: 120 kg (260 lb). Total Length: 2.27 m (7.44 ft). Span: 2.20 m (7.20 ft). Maximum range: 6.80 km (4.20 mi). Boost Propulsion: Solid rocket. Boost engine: PTP propellant, 17.5 kg, 3.5 sec burn time. Maximum speed: 300 kph (180 mph). Ceiling: 3,000 m (9,800 ft).

• Yeftifyev, M D, Iz istorii sozdaniya zenito-raketnovo shchita rossii, Vuzovskaya kniga, Moscow, 2000. Comprehensive history of development of the development of surface-to-air and anti-ballistic missiles in the Soviet Union, with summaries of work in other countries as well. Accessed at: http://www.eastview.com/xq/ASP/sku=A2010232/f_locale=/Evtif'ev/MD/Moskva/Russia/Russian/qx/russian/books/product.asp.