R-37 (missile)
Russian long-range air-to-air missile
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Vympel R-37 (NATO reporting name: AA-13 Axehead)[5] is a Russian long-range air-to-air missile. The missile and its variants also had the names K-37, izdeliye 610 and RVV-BD (Ракета Воздух-Воздух Большой Дальности (Raketa Vozduh-Vozduh Bolshoy Dalnosti), "Long range air-to-air rocket"), and the NATO codenames "Axehead" and "Andi".[3] It was developed from the R-33.
_(524-21).jpg)
| Vympel R-37M NATO reporting name: AA-13 Axehead | |
|---|---|
R-37M (under the export designation RVV-BD) at 2013 MAKS Airshow | |
| Type | Long-range air-to-air missile |
| Place of origin | Russia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2019–present |
| Used by | Russian Aerospace Forces Algerian Air Force |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Tactical Missiles Corporation |
| Designed | 1980s |
| Manufacturer | Vympel NPO |
| Developed from | R-33 |
| Produced | Since 1985 (Prototype) 2019–present (Operational version) |
| Variants | R-37M RVV-BD (Export version) |
| Specifications (RVV-BD) | |
| Mass | 510 kilograms (1,120 lb) |
| Length | 4.06 metres (13 ft 4 in) |
| Diameter | 38 centimetres (15 in) |
| Wingspan | 72 centimetres (28 in) |
| Warhead | HE, fragmentation |
| Warhead weight | 60 kg (135 lb), conventional or thermonuclear[1] |
| Propellant | Dual-pulse solid rocket motor[2] |
Operational range | R-37M: 300–400 km (190–250 mi)[3] RVV-BD: 200 km (120 mi) |
| Maximum speed | Mach 6+[4] |
Guidance system | INS + Active radar homing |
Launch platform | Su-57, Su-35S, Su-30, MiG-31 |
It is designed to shoot down tankers, AWACS and other C4ISTAR aircraft[6] while keeping the launch platform out of range of any fighters that might be protecting the target.
According to Janes there are two variants, the R-37 and the R-37M; the latter conceived as having a jettisonable rocket booster that increases the range to "300–400 km" (160–220 nm).[3] In 2023, Rosoboronexport introduced the export version of the R-37M, designated RVV-BD. It has a launch range of up to 200 kilometres (120 mi; 110 nmi) and maximum altitude of 25 kilometres (82,000 ft) with a 60 kilograms (130 lb) warhead. The missile is compatible with Sukhoi Su-57, Sukhoi Su-30, Sukhoi Su-35, Mikoyan MiG-31BM and Mikoyan MiG-35.[7][8]
Design
The R-37 was developed from the R-33. For compatibility with aircraft that did not have the MiG-31's sophisticated radar, the semi-active seeker was replaced with a variant of the Agat 9B-1388 active seeker.[5] Similarly, folding tail controls allow semi-conformal carriage[5] on planes that are not as big as the MiG-31.
Mid-body strakes enhance lift[5] and hence increase range. According to Defence Today, the range depends on the flight profile, from 80 nautical miles (150 km) for a direct shot[5] to 215 nautical miles (398 km) for a cruise glide profile.[5]
The R-37M designation has since been used for a modernized variant of the missile, also known as RVV-BD (Raketa Vozduh-Vozduh Bolshoy Dalnosty, or Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile). R-37M's range exceeds 200 km, and it is capable of hypersonic speeds (~Mach 5).[9] It will be carried by the modernized MiG-31BM interceptors and Su-35S and Su-57 multirole fighters.[10]
A further derivative designed for internal carriage in the Su-57, designated as Izdeliye 810, has folding rear fins, shorter strakes, and updated seeker and motor.[11]
The missile can attack targets at altitudes of 15 metres (49 ft)–25 kilometres (82,000 ft), guided semi-actively or actively through the Agat 9B-1388 system.[12]
History
The missile was designed in the early 1980s and first flown in 1989.[3] Testing of the R-37 continued through the 1990s,[3] and in 1994, a trial round scored a kill at a range of 162 nautical miles (300 km).[5] However, the program appears to have been dropped around 1998 on grounds of cost.[3] Work on the missile appears to have restarted in late 2006,[3] as part of the MiG-31BM program to update the Foxhound with a new radar and ground attack capability.[3]
In 2018, the R-37M had finished its operational validation tests.[13][14] Zvezda TV reports have recorded the Su-35 carrying the R-37, apparently as part of an air combat loadout. In this configuration, the craft carries two R-73s in the central wing pylon, two R-77s slung underneath the engine nacelles, and two R-37s on the hardpoints between the engines, with an option to carry a few more missiles, such as a Kh-31 anti-radiation missile.
The US Defense Intelligence Agency revealed in a 2025 report that Russia is fielding a nuclear-armed air-to-air missile. While the report does not mention any specific missile, analysts believe that it refers to a nuclear-capable variant of the R-37M missile.[15]
Operational history
The R-37M has, since October 2022, been the main threat against the Ukrainian Air Force. During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, MiG-31 aircraft have reportedly shot down several Ukrainian aircraft, mainly by using the long range R-37.[16] By remaining at high speed and high altitude, MiG-31s have been able to operate virtually unopposed due to Ukrainian fighters lacking range, speed, or altitude necessary to engage the MiG-31.[17][18] The Ukrainian Air Force lacked fire and forget missiles until the introduction of the AMRAAM and MICA. They relied on the R-27 missiles, both the R-27R and R-27ER. The Ukrainian pilot must illuminate the Russian aircraft with their radar to guide the missile to the target. Russian pilots firing active radar, fire and forget, R-77 give the Russian pilots the ability to launch their missiles and then take evasive action. Ukrainian pilots were forced to "exploit ground clutter and terrain-masking to get close enough to fire before being engaged".
A report by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) states that in October some six R-37Ms were being fired at the Ukrainian Air Force a day. The Su-35S is also used as a carrier for the R-37M. Four MiG-31 were also deployed to Crimea at the Belbek Air Base in mid 2022.[19]
In August 2022, Russian forces maintained a Combat Air Patrol of either a pair of Su-35S or MiG-31s on station to shoot down Ukrainian aircraft. The RUSI stated: "The VKS has been firing up to six R-37Ms per day during October. The extremely high speed of the weapon, coupled with very long effective range and a seeker designed for engaging low-altitude targets, makes it particularly difficult to evade."[19][20][21][22][23]
In February 2023, Ukraine obtained wreckage of a R-37M which would be of interest to Ukraine and Western countries.[24][25]
According to a Russian source, the missile is carried by the Su-35S and Su-57 fighters, and the MiG-31BM interceptor.[26]
According to Ukrainian pilots, the R-37M isn't achieving a lot of "hard kills", the destruction of actual Ukrainian aircraft. However, their launch forces pilots to abandon their current mission and take evasive action.[27] Ukrainian pilots believe that the only defence is for their allies to supply them with F-16 fighter jets and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. While it won't close the distance, Ukrainian pilots hope that it will push back the effective range of missiles like the R-37.[28] However, according to a Ukrainian official, Ukraine is looking for opportunities to modernize the F-16 Block 20 MLU fighter jets planned for transfer. Early generation AN/APG-66 radars of older F-16 Block 20 MLU only have similar range to Ukrainian MiG-29s and possess no significant advantage compared to current Ukrainian fighters and both are inferior to the radar of current Russian fighters used in the war such as Irbis-E and N110M Bars-M.[29][30][31]
Operators
- Russian Aerospace Forces: Operated by Su-57, Su-35S, Su-30SM2, and MiG-31.
- Algerian Air Force: Operates the RVV-BD (export variant) on its Su-30MKA and on the Su-57Es with possible licensed production in Algeria.[32]
Future operators
- Indian Air Force: As of April 2026, it is reported that Russia has approved the export of roughly 300 R-37M missiles for the Indian Air Force (for use with the Su-30MKI) with a range of more than 350 km. As per the reports, the value of the deal is approximately US$1.2 billion, and the deliveries will begin within twelve to eighteen months from the deal signing.[33][34][35] The contract was reportedly signed in the end of the month.[36]
See also
- AIM-54 Phoenix – (United States)
- AIM-152 AAAM – (United States)
- AIM-174B Gunslinger – (United States)
- AIM-260 JATM – (United States)
- Novator KS-172 – (Russia)
- PL-21 – (China)
- PL-17 – (China)
- Long-Range Engagement Weapon – (United States)
- Meteor – (France, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden)
- Astra Mark 3 – (India)
Gallery
RVV-BD
RVV-BD
