The remains of a rare and dangerous Russian R-37M air-to-air missile have been found in Ukraine.
Fragments of an apparently Russian R-37M long-range air-to-air missile indicate that this type was used against Ukrainian military aircraft without entering their air defense zone.
The R-37M, known by NATO as the AA-13 Axehead, is a modern air-to-air missile with a range of 124 miles. This is a long range missile intended to destroy various aerial targets (planes, cruise missiles, helicopters) while keeping the launch pad out of range of any fighter aircraft or defense units. none may be defending the target.
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According to open sources, the R-37M missile guidance system is inertial with radio correction and active radar guidance, which is activated at the end of the missile’s flight path. A two-mode solid-fuel engine is used as the propulsion system. As an explosive device, active contact and non-contact sensors of the target’s radar are used. The military part of the missile is a highly fragmented explosive.
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Fragment of a used R-37M long-range air-to-air missile found by Ukrainian soldiers.
The R-37M is the longest-range missile in its class, serving not only with the Russian Aerospace Forces, but also compared to its international counterparts. pic.twitter.com/l5ZxNC0vWB
– David Kime (@CyberRealms1) February 12, 2023
The missile weighs 1,124 pounds, is similar in size to the R-33 (1,078 pounds), but thanks to its dual-pulse solid-fuel rocket engine and optimized flight profile, it achieves nearly twice the range.
The R-37M air-to-air missile, armed by Su-35S Flanker-E and MiG-31BM Foxhound-C fighters, has become a real challenge for Ukrainian fighter pilots.
