- Category
- Latest news
Su-57’s Secret Weapon? Russia’s K-77M Missile Now Active in Ukraine War
Russia has begun using its newest long-range air-to-air missile in combat for the first time—and it could shift the aerial battlefield.
- Authors
![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Ukrainian military-linked sources report that Russian fighter jets are now using the advanced K-77M missile—also known as Izdelie 180 or the R-77M—in active operations over Ukraine, defense media Defence Blog reported on July 25.
The missile is a significantly upgraded version of the Soviet-era R-77 and is designed to be deployed from Russia’s most advanced combat aircraft, the Su-35 and stealth-capable Su-57.
“Izdelie 180 is an upgrade of the Izdelie 170 (R-77) missile. It includes a new dual-mode engine, new tail fins, and an active radar homing head,” stated the Polkovnyk GSh Telegram channel, which is reportedly closely connected to Ukraine’s military.
The reported detection of the missile’s use was accompanied by published images of missile debris found inside Ukraine, allegedly confirming its deployment.
A new missile with Soviet roots
The K-77M stems from a lineage that began with the original R-77, developed in the 1980s in the Soviet Union as a response to the American AIM-120 AMRAAM.
That missile was notable for introducing an active radar seeker—a major technological step at the time.
However, it had major drawbacks, including bulky lattice fins that created drag and visibility and failed to deploy reliably.
Efforts to modernize the missile led to the R-77-1 in the early 2010s, which featured improved radar guidance and a sleeker aerodynamic profile.
Then came the K-77M (Izdelie 180) in the mid-2010s—a comprehensive redesign aimed squarely at integrating with next-gen Russian jets like the Su-57.
This version ditches the old lattice fins in favor of fixed aerodynamic surfaces and is equipped with a new dual-mode solid-fuel engine, allowing for longer range—reportedly up to 190 kilometers (about 118 miles)—particularly against high-altitude targets.
The missile uses the advanced 9B-1103M-200PA seeker, combining active, passive, and semi-active radar tracking for improved resistance to electronic countermeasures. Its design also solves a key challenge faced by long-range missiles: maintaining maneuverability at subsonic speeds.
Implications for Ukraine’s air defense and EW systems
While Russian sources claim the K-77M can be housed inside the Su-57’s internal weapons bay—important for stealth—the only available photo of the missile shows it mounted externally under the aircraft’s wing. It is, however, confirmed to be compatible with both Su-57 and Su-35 fighters.
According to the Ukrainian defense media, Defense Express, Russia’s tactic of high-altitude patrols and standoff missile engagements, any new long-range air-to-air weapon increases the risk to Ukrainian aircraft operating near the front lines.
Previously, this threat came mostly from the R-37 missile. Now, Ukrainian pilots may face an even more maneuverable and precise adversary in the skies.
Moreover, the appearance of a new missile with a more capable seeker may necessitate updates to Ukraine’s electronic warfare (EW) systems, which are used to confuse or deflect incoming missiles.
Earlier, US intelligence reported that Russia introduced a new nuclear-armed air-to-air missile designed for use with its MiG and Su-series fighter jets.
The disclosure, detailed in the Defense Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment, highlights Moscow’s expanding nuclear arsenal and the return of Cold War-era weapons concepts.
While the Soviet Union previously deployed nuclear-tipped air-to-air missiles, the current existence and deployment of such systems in the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) had remained largely speculative—until now.
