Russia’s 200-Mile Air-to-Air Missile Is Forcing NATO to Rethink the Sky

Russian Su-35 and Su-30SM2 fighter jets are being equipped more frequently with R-37M long-range air-to-air missiles, significantly extending their engagement range compared with earlier R-77-1 weapons, defense analyst Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute said, according to reporting by Business Insider on February 17.

Bronk noted that the R-37M—known in NATO classification as AA-13—was previously used primarily by MiG-31 interceptor aircraft.

Its growing integration onto Su-35 fighters, which Russia views as central to achieving air superiority, marks a notable operational shift.

Open-source specifications cited by analysts indicate the missile’s approximate characteristics as follows:

• maximum launch range: more than 300 kilometers (roughly 320 km);

• top speed: Mach 6 (7,408 km/h);

• target speed capability: 2,500 km/h;

• length: 4.2 meters;

• diameter: 0.38 meters;

• launch weight: 600 kilograms;

• warhead weight: 60 kilograms;

• guidance: inertial navigation with radio correction, followed by active radar homing in the terminal phase.

Bronk assessed that pairing these missiles with ground-based air defense networks increases the complexity of air operations for Western militaries.

He also pointed to combat experience gained by Russian pilots during the war against Ukraine as a factor that could improve their training level and effectiveness in potential future conflicts.

Despite aircraft losses since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia is still estimated to possess roughly 135 to 140 fighter aircraft.

The combination of extended-range missiles and integrated air-defense support could make these platforms a meaningful factor in future air campaigns, particularly in air-to-ground coordination scenarios.

At the same time, Bronk emphasized that Western countries retain a significant overall advantage in airpower, though Russia’s evolving capabilities may complicate NATO tactical planning.

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