A Su-35S fighter jet of the Russian Aerospace Forces firing a R-37M missile during a test. Source: the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Su-35S multirole fighter jets of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) have recently begun to carry R-37M long-range hypersonic air-to-air missiles while conducting patrols over the special military operation zone in Ukraine.
On November 12, the Russian Ministry of Defense released a video documenting one such patrol. The video shows a Su-35S armed with two R-37M missiles along with two R-73 short-range air-to-air missiles, two R-77 medium-range air-to-air missiles and a Kh-31P anti-radar missile.
The R-37M was developed by Russia’s JSC Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV) to engage all types of aerial targets [fighter jets, bombers, transport aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and drones] day and night and under all conditions, including hostile electronic countermeasures, from a very long rang.
The missile’s range exceeds 200 kilometers, and it is capable of hypersonic speed, more than Mach 5, in the final stage of its flight.
The R-37M utilizes a complex guidance system. An inertial navigation system, built on high-precision laser gyroscopes, guides the missile for most of the flight path to the target. If the target suddenly changes course, the missile trajectory can be corrected from the launching fighter jet via a secured data link. The active homing radar 9B-1103M-350, which was developed by JSC Research Institute (Agat), is activated in close proximity to the target causing its warhead to explode and to avoid detection until too late.
Beside Su-35S fighters, the VKS’s modernized MiG-31BM interceptors and Su-57 stealth multirole fighters can also carry the R-37M.
Screenshot. Click to see full-size.
The use of R-37M missiles during the special military operation in Ukraine was first reported in October. Since then, several Ukrainian warplanes have been reportedly shot down with the advanced missile. In one alleged case, a Russian Su-57 used the missile to shot down a Su-27 of the Ukrainian Air Force (UAF).
The R-37M will further solidify the VKS air dominance over the theater of operations in Ukraine. The missile poses a real threat to the remaining capabilities of the UAF.
