The missile is designed to engage both modern and prospective air targets, including strategic, tactical and naval aircraft, strategic cruise missiles, air-launched missiles, tactical and battlefield ballistic missiles and other air attack weapons over a wide range of combat environments.
The 5V55R is a single-stage missile employing the normal aerodynamic configuration, with control surfaces unfolded after launch.
The missile is kept in a hermetically sealed launch canister and need not be tested and adjusted during its service life.
The missile is equipped with a highly efficient solid-propellant motor and comprises sections housing a radio direction finder, onboard control units (made as a monoblock), high-explosive fragmentation warhead, solid-propellant motor and control surface actuators.


The missile is launched vertically by the canister catapult without a preliminary turn of the launcher toward the target.
After ignition of the motor, the missile is tilted in the required direction depending on the target position.
The missile employs the track-via-missile guidance principle.
The high maneuverability of the missile and powerful high-explosive fragmentation warhead provide effective target destruction. (less info)