R-37M (combat missile)

2025: Adoption of the Russian Aerospace Forces

Aerospace Forces Russia At the end of May 2025, the Western edition of Military Watch Magazine disseminated information that they began to adopt the world's fastest air-to-air missiles with a nuclear warhead. Such weapons are said to allow a single fighter or interceptor to neutralize entire enemy squadrons.

Military Watch Magazine, citing a report by the intelligence agency of the US Armed Forces, reports that the new ammunition may be a type of long-range R-37M missile. It is capable of six times the speed of sound (6M). It can be used from MiG-31BM interceptor fighters and Su-35S multi-purpose super-maneuver fighters. The speed of the hit targets can reach 2500 km/h.

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Фото: Wikipedia

"R-37M carries a very large warhead weighing 60 kilograms, which is about three times more than those that are usually mounted on air-to-air missiles: this allows the use of a miniature nuclear warhead," said Military Watch Magazine.

The material also says that when launched from high altitudes, the missile is R-37M capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 400 km. An inertial guidance system with radio correction and active radar homing on the final section of the trajectory is involved, which, as emphasized in the message, "provides accurate guidance on the target at long distances."

Integrating nuclear warheads into the R-37M would allow a single fighter or interceptor to neutralize entire enemy squadrons or large swarms of drones. At the same time, each MiG-31BM interceptor or Su-35 fighter is capable of carrying four missiles, writes Military Watch Magazine.[1]

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