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In a significant move to enhance the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) aerial dominance, India and Russia are in the final stages of sealing a defence agreement for the procurement of approximately 300 R-37M very-long-range air-to-air missiles.
Defence sources indicate that this acquisition is aimed at restoring the IAF's edge in beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat, with deliveries anticipated to commence within the next 12 to 18 months.
Closing the Capability Gap
The urgency for this acquisition serves as a direct response to the operational lessons learned during 'Operation Sindoor' in May 2025.During the conflict, IAF pilots flying the Su-30MKI reportedly faced a tactical disadvantage against Pakistan Air Force J-10CE fighters equipped with Chinese-made PL-15 missiles. The PL-15, with an engagement range of 180–200 km, frequently outranged the existing Indian inventory.
The introduction of the R-37M (NATO reporting name: AA-13 Axehead) is expected to decisively shift the balance of power back in India's favour.
With a confirmed engagement range exceeding 300 km, the missile will provide Indian Flankers with a formidable "first-look, first-shot, first-kill" capability, effectively allowing them to neutralise threats from standoff distances that were previously unattainable.
The "AWACS Killer"
The R-37M is currently the longest-range air-to-air missile in operational service globally. Designed to be fired from high-speed, high-altitude platforms like the Su-30MKI, it is specifically engineered to target high-value assets.According to open-source intelligence, the missile flies at hypersonic speeds of up to Mach 6, powered by a dual-pulse solid-propellant rocket motor. It carries a 60 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead and utilises the Agat 9B-1388 active radar seeker for terminal guidance.
Its primary role is to eliminate force multipliers such as Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, aerial refuelling tankers, and stand-off jamming platforms before they can threaten Indian airspace. It is also capable of intercepting low-observable cruise missiles.
Seamless Integration
Integrating the weapon into the IAF's fleet is expected to be a streamlined process. The missile is already certified for the Russian Su-30SM, which shares a common lineage with India’s Su-30MKI.Engineers will not need to make major structural modifications to the aircraft. Instead, minor software upgrades to the Su-30MKI's mission computer and its N011M Bars passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar will enable the fighter to fully utilise the missile's active seeker and its unique "lofted" trajectory profile.
The R-37M will be mounted on semi-recessed stations under the fuselage—carrying two missiles per jet—which leaves the wing pylons free for shorter-range armaments like the R-77-1 and Astra Mk-1/2.
Strategic Significance
Senior IAF officials view this deal as a critical interim solution while indigenous programmes mature."With the Astra Mk-2 (160+ km range) still approximately two years away from squadron induction and the integration of the Meteor missile on the Rafale fleet facing delays, the R-37M is the only immediate option to deny the enemy use of their airborne assets at ranges of 250–300 km," a senior officer familiar with the programme stated. "A single Su-30MKI armed with two of these missiles can effectively sanitise an entire sector."
Russia has already deployed the R-37M with its Su-35S and upgraded Su-30SM squadrons, particularly in its Southern and Far Eastern Military Districts. Reports suggest the weapon has achieved multiple combat kills against drones and cruise missiles at ranges exceeding 200 km.
For India, the R-37M will serve as a high-end stopgap until the indigenous Astra Mk-3, based on Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology, enters production in the 2030–32 timeframe.
