India Eyes Russian R-37M Air-to-Air Hypersonic Missile for Su-30MKI and MiG-29 Fighters, Exploring Domestic Production for Reduced Cost

The Indian government is currently evaluating a proposal to acquire the advanced Russian R-37M long-range hypersonic air-to-air missile.

This move aims to significantly enhance the capabilities of the Indian Air Force's (IAF) frontline Su-30MKI and MiG-29 fighter jets.

The offer from Russia is made more attractive by the inclusion of local production rights, a feature that aligns with India's "Make in India" initiative in the defence sector.

Developed by Russia's Vympel Design Bureau and known to NATO as the AA-13 "Axehead," the R-37M is a globally recognised leader in aerial missile technology.

The weapon system boasts an exceptional operational range that can exceed 300 kilometres and can achieve hypersonic speeds greater than Mach 6 (six times the speed of sound).

Its sophisticated guidance system, which combines inertial navigation with mid-course updates and a terminal active radar seeker, allows it to effectively engage and destroy high-value targets such as enemy fighters, bombers, and crucial support aircraft like Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AWACS).

The IAF's interest in the R-37M is driven by the strategic advantage it offers in beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat. Integrating this missile would allow Indian fighter pilots to engage hostile aircraft from a much greater standoff distance, significantly increasing their survivability and mission effectiveness.

The Su-30MKI fleet, in particular, is well-suited for this missile, as its powerful 'Bars' and 'Irbis-E' radar systems are capable of guiding such long-range weapons to their targets. This enhanced capability is seen as a crucial counter to the advanced air assets being operated by regional adversaries.

This potential acquisition comes as India makes significant progress in its own indigenous missile programs.

The locally developed Astra series of missiles, including the upcoming Astra Mk-II with a range of up to 160 kilometres, provides a robust solution for most BVR scenarios.

However, the R-37M fills a specific niche for very-long-range engagements that the current domestic arsenal does not cover. Experts suggest the R-37M could act as a bridge, providing a proven capability until India’s own very-long-range missile, the 'Gandiva' (formerly Astra Mk-III), becomes fully operational.

A key component of the Russian proposal is the offer of domestic manufacturing. This would likely involve a partnership with an Indian private sector company to produce the R-37M missile system in India.

Such an arrangement would not only lead to a reduction in acquisition costs but would also facilitate critical technology transfer, thereby strengthening India's self-reliance in defence production.

This model builds on previous successful collaborations and supports the government's long-term goal of creating a robust domestic defence industrial base.

The integration of a new missile system like the R-37M would necessitate technical modifications to the avionics and weapons architecture of the Su-30MKI and MiG-29 aircraft. However, India has substantial experience in upgrading and customising its fleet of Russian-origin aircraft.

Equipping the existing, powerful Su-30MKI platform with these hypersonic missiles is viewed by some analysts as a cost-effective strategy to enhance air superiority without the need for procuring a larger number of new foreign fighter jets.

 

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[Mc Addy]

This is correct way, who can buy jets in billions , when Missiles may do the job .

 

[sanket]

I have said it: The Super Sukhoi upgrade needs the R-37M missile. My words are becoming true. That's the difference between Russian and French platforms.

That's why I have always said the Su-30 MKI needs an AL-51 derivative engine, which has 70% commonality with the AL-31. With higher thrust, it can carry heavy weapons. I have also said, with local production, it will be good to have a local supply chain instead of depending on foreign sources for immediate needs. With the AL-51 derivative and R-37M, it will add more teeth to the Super Sukhoi upgrade.

Dassault is again playing games by not allowing the integration of Meteor on other platforms. While the MiG-29 is very agile in the air, with the integration of the R-37M, it will be a super deadly platform. Now, just compare the MiG-29 with R-37M versus the Mirage-2000. Dassault should feel ashamed for making the outdated Mirage-2000 platform. I will again say, by the time the GANDIV BVR missile enters into production, the R-37M will act as stop-gap measures.

 

[Flanker]

Damn Sukhoi with R-37M and BrahMos is going to be a nightmare for our enemies.

 

[GMR]

Excellent weapon, with fantastic speed. Acquisition should be limited in numbers for the stopgap till our Astra MkIII is fully operationalized.

 

[bonito]

So in missiles and missile defence category Russia is the king.

 

[Somnath Sinhababu]

Govt should sign the SU-57 deal with Russia as well. The IAF needs modern jets. Current IAF strength is just 30 squadrons, which is nothing for the challenge India is facing, but the Govt is not at all taking this matter seriously. In the last 20 years, both govts have not taken any steps to make the IAF stronger. The IAF is literally on ventilation. 4-5 Squadrons of Rafale + 3-4 Squadrons of SU-57 is the need of the hour because our own programmes cannot fulfill all the demands, and they are delayed also. Now, 2025 is a break or make year for the IAF.

 

[Sunny]

We should have acquired this missile when it was initially offered. It will surely boost air dominance even over China. Along with Astra Mk3 (Gandiva) and other Astra variants, we will have sufficient diversity to maintain air superiority.

 

[RajuB]

Excellent weapon, with fantastic speed. Acquisition should be limited in numbers for the stopgap till our Astra MkIII is fully operationalized.

By the time the Trump administration completes its second term and if the Democratic Party comes, which is likely, China will make a move either towards Taiwan or towards the LAC of Bharat. We don't have time, bro. We should get armed to the teeth to fight a 5-front war (China + Pakistan + Bangladesh + Turkey + Azerbaijan) within 2-3 years.

The development of AMCA, Astra II and III, etc., we should not abandon but can take its own sweet time.

 

[P.K Senapati]

R-37 with a range of 300 km and a speed of Mach 6 will be the right BVR air-to-air missile against Pakistani and Chinese fighter aircraft. We can use it for Su-30 and MiG-29 upgradation, and it can be made in India.

 

[op gupta]

This is certainly not a great time to discuss any defence deal with Russia. I think India won't get the remaining squadrons of S-400 units, as the situation in Moscow is very, very fragile and serious (anything can happen at any moment). Putin might be killed within a month or two, or disappear, or might be prosecuted for war crimes committed in Ukraine (his inner circle may have already been compromised by the CIA and MI6). Russia is already defeated, but Ukraine is not going to declare its victory for some reasons. During the last three years of fighting, Ukraine has slowly but continuously eaten away Russia. The Russian-Ukraine war is a great shining example of how an asymmetric war can be won by master planning and good tactics on the battlefield.

 

[coke]

R-37 is extremely bulky and a very inefficient missile. It just uses full power to achieve thrust; there is no design optimization, no use of innovative tech like dual or triple pulse, just a giant missile with a lot of fuel and speed.

 

[Aayush Pratap]

Damn Sukhoi with R-37M and BrahMos is going to be a nightmare for our enemies.

Sure, but it needs a radar upgrade first otherwise it will still be limited by it's hopelessly outdated radar.

 

[Anubhav Sharma]

Well, a couple of dozen of these missiles will actually help to keep Chinese and Pakis away. It's a good scarecrow and might help in maintaining air superiority. Also, local production will help us to fast-track range increment of our own indigenous missiles.

 

[Avada kedavra]

Don't think it's a good idea. Russians always sucked at dealing with long BVR combat. For that, you need sophisticated avionics and other electronic systems, which are both expensive and hard to engineer. Russians always sucked at this. So, to compensate for this deficiency, they focused on speed and maneuverability (because it's cheaper and requires less intellectual exertion), something Russians just can't do. Also, speed and maneuverability are the prime paper statistics that buyers see while choosing a plane, so it becomes a hard selling point to all the gullible, inexperienced air force pilots in the world.

 

[SURESH RAO]

Not only with MiG-29 and Su-30MKI. It should also be integrated into Tejas Mk1, Tejas Mk1 Trainers, Tejas Mk1A, and Tejas Mk2. I have been reading about the R-37 missile for the last 10 years, and I am very excited about it. IAF should have integrated the R-37 into MiG-29 and Su-30MKI before 2025.

 

[Sandeep]

This is certainly not a great time to discuss any defence deal with Russia. I think India won't get the remaining squadrons of S-400 units, as the situation in Moscow is very, very fragile and serious (anything can happen at any moment). Putin might be killed within a month or two, or disappear, or might be prosecuted for war crimes committed in Ukraine (his inner circle may have already been compromised by the CIA and MI6). Russia is already defeated, but Ukraine is not going to declare its victory for some reasons. During the last three years of fighting, Ukraine has slowly but continuously eaten away Russia. The Russian-Ukraine war is a great shining example of how an asymmetric war can be won by master planning and good tactics on the battlefield.

Ukraine isn’t winning. They are losing ground every day. Yes they have achieved some really good missions in killing key Russian weapons or jets but losing ground isn’t a win. At least 25% of Ukraine is still occupied and Ukraine is just barely hanging on by using trench warfare.

 

[Sandeep]

This missile can be very useful and give us a strategic advantage but unfortunately it’s very expensive and they won’t transfer and critical technology to us.

The important part is that we should 100% indigenously design, develop and manufacture our own long range hypersonic missiles. This is something that we can easily do with the help of the private sector.

 

[Ashish Kumar]

Well those u rate Rafale superior to Su MKI 30 have 0 knowledge regarding an Fighter aircraft.Although Rafale has arrived after Sukhoi fighter it can't overshadow this heavy dominant fighter.Su mki30 massive ordinance carrying capacity can literally work as a Bomber.Currently it is having 14 tonnes of load carrying capacity if we leave 6-7 tonnes of fuel it can carry.It can literally carry anything under its pylons.It is a heavy class fighter which can,t be overshadowed by any fighter.Su MKI 30 IS king of all time.Obviousally It's a huge aircraft so RCS will be more but then having BVR missiles like R-37M will change anything.

 

[Miraj 2000]

R-37M can be considered as a stop-gap solution until we get Gandiva. However, don't be overly optimistic about the R-37M. It does have an impressive range, but it lacks an AESA seeker and doesn't feature a gimbaled seeker head, which limits effectiveness against highly maneuverable scenarios but is good for AWACS. The same is the issue with Astra Mk1, but I hope Astra Mk2 will feature both.

 

[AmS]

2-3 squadrons of Su-57s armed with R-37s and additional missiles for our Su-30MKIs and MiG-29s can be a good, affordable stop-gap arrangement until India inducts AMCA and Astra Mk2/Mk3.

Though impractical, just to keep Uncle Sam's mouth shut, 2 squadrons of F-35s also can be considered.

IAF should strive to benchmark Chinese air force capabilities and not Porkistan's.

 

[Jon Bolton]

Don't think it's a good idea. Russians always sucked at dealing with long BVR combat. For that, you need sophisticated avionics and other electronic systems, which are both expensive and hard to engineer. Russians always sucked at this. So, to compensate for this deficiency, they focused on speed and maneuverability (because it's cheaper and requires less intellectual exertion), something Russians just can't do. Also, speed and maneuverability are the prime paper statistics that buyers see while choosing a plane, so it becomes a hard selling point to all the gullible, inexperienced air force pilots in the world.

It's still good because of technology transfer. Once we can produce this locally, we try to improve it ourselves with sophisticated avionics and other electronic systems.

 

[Kira]

The export variant of this missile is much less potent, so not much use for IAF.

 

[Avada kedavra]

It's still good because of technology transfer. Once we can produce this locally, we try to improve it ourselves with sophisticated avionics and other electronic systems.

A lot of money would be wasted in giving royalty payments. Also, since Russia will retain IPR, they will have a veto on whom India uses it and sells it to.

 

[Hari Sud]

By the time the Trump administration completes its second term and if the Democratic Party comes, which is likely, China will make a move either towards Taiwan or towards the LAC of Bharat. We don't have time, bro. We should get armed to the teeth to fight a 5-front war (China + Pakistan + Bangladesh + Turkey + Azerbaijan) within 2-3 years.

The development of AMCA, Astra II and III, etc., we should not abandon but can take its own sweet time.

Chinese know the quality of their weapons is very poor. Their experience in Pakistan during operation Sindoor is an indicator. They don’t want to suffer a Pakistani type of defeat hence will intimidate but will not come to fight a battle.