Russia has equipped its Su-30SM2 multirole fighter jets with the R-37M long-range air-to-air missiles. This development was confirmed in a video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense on May 22, in which a Russian Naval Aviation Su-30SM2 multi-role fighter (B/N “80” blue) can be seen carrying two R-77-1 medium-range missiles and two R-37M long-range air-to-air missiles (AAM).
This was the first time the Su-30SM2 variant was seen with the R-37M missiles, which can hit high-speed aircraft over 300km away.The missile is designed to engage high-speed targets.
The operational deployment of the R-37M missile has already demonstrated its effectiveness in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Notably, the MiG-31 interceptor, equipped with the R-37M, has been instrumental in downing several Ukrainian aircraft. For instance, in December 2023, a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet was successfully destroyed by an R-37M missile, underscoring the missile’s effectiveness in combat.
Ukrainian pilots have had to develop tactics to evade these missiles, which, while not always achieving direct hits, have forced pilots to alter their flight paths. Such evasive maneuvers effectively disrupt Ukrainian aerial missions, constituting what could be termed a “soft kill” by preventing the completion of their objectives.
The Su-30SM2 with R-37M missiles is a new addition to the Russian fleet. It’s seen as a show of strength, especially with the F-16 fighters from the US still not here for Ukraine.
In operational terms, the R-37M’s built-in radio adjustment system is a significant advantage. This feature eliminates the need for continuous radar correction by the Su-30SM2 post-launch. The modernized A-50U Airborne Early Warning And Control Aircraft have taken over these tasks.
A Ukrainian pilot said the R-37M wasn’t hitting many targets but forced Ukrainian pilots to change their routes to avoid it, which messed up their missions. “Destroying an unmanned enemy boat is a challenging task due to its small size and the difficulty of detecting it against the background of the sea. The complexity lies in having only a split second to aim during a dive,” explained one of the pilots involved in the mission.
Relevant articles:
– Russia To Welcome F-16 Fighters With 300-Km Ranged R-37M Missiles Now Loaded On Su-30SM2 Jets , EurAsian Times, 05/24/2024
– Moscow Teases Weapon to Counter F-16s in Ukraine—Russian Media, Head Topics, 05/23/2024
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