Ask most aviation enthusiasts about the Soviet Atoll missile and they’ll likely tell you the same things. It is a copy of the AIM9B Sidewinder. Most of us also know that the original missile that was copied by the Soviets was fired by a Taiwanese F86 Sabre in the Taiwan Straits. It hit the MiG17 it was targeting, but the warhead failed to detonate.

These things are both true. But there’s more to the Atoll than just a story of fortunate acquisition and smart reverse engineering. Although it started as a very close copy of the Sidewinder, it was not exactly the same and, like the Sidewinder, it developed along its own path. Unlike the Sidewinder, that development path was terminated as the Soviet Union replaced it with an indigenous design to fit with other aspects of their tactical aviation concept.

I believe that understanding the Atoll is important if we’re to understand the history of airtoair combat in the 1960s and 1970s. In this video, I explore its history, the myths of its origin and its legacy. I hope you enjoy it!