MiG-ieS / SIM-20 / SIM-2D/P / SM-K/1 / SM-K/2

These four modified MiG-19S were used to develop and test air-to-sur – face winged homing missiles. During flight tests the SM-20 was carried under the fuselage of a Tu-95 bomber. The pilot was in tbe fighter cockpit, but tbe engines were off. When the preselected altitude was reached, the pilot started the engines and released his airplane from the bomber. He then had to check on the operation of the radio remote control enabled by the mother aircraft and to return to his base when the test was oyer. The first SM-20 was built in 1956, and tests started in October of that year.

The second "flying simulator” or SM-20/P was built in early 1957. The aircraft was modified to help the engines start at high altitudes—a problem that had plagued the SM-20. On this version, ignition of the combustion chamber was aided by a carburetor. In all other respects the SM-20/P was identical to the SM-20. Both aircraft were flight-tested by Sultan Amet-Khan of the LII and V. G. Pavlov of the ministry of radio equipment industry research center. The chief engineer respon­sible for both programs was A. I. Vyushkov.

Two more flying simulators were tested in 1957 and 1958, the SM – K/l and SM-K/2. Both were derived from the MiG-19S and were also intended to help in the development of flight management and guid­ance systems for air-to-surface winged missiles.