India’s acquisition of the Russian R-37M hypersonic missile, valued at over ₹10,000 crores, will transform the Su-30MKI fleet into a long-range strike powerhouse, giving the Indian Air Force a decisive edge against Pakistan and China by neutralising high-value airborne assets from distances of up to 400 km.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi for the BRICS Summit on 12–13 September has already drawn attention to the strengthening of Indo-Russian defence ties.

Among the most significant developments is India’s decision to procure around 300 R-37M very long-range air-to-air missiles, also known by their export designation RVV-BD. The contract is worth more than ₹10,000 crores, and nearly 100 Su-30MKI fighters will be upgraded to operate these missiles.

The R-37M is a formidable weapon system. With a strike range between 300 and 400 kilometres and speeds reaching Mach 6, it is designed to destroy high-value airborne targets such as AWACS surveillance aircraft, aerial refuelling tankers, reconnaissance planes, and VIP transports.

These platforms are critical to modern air operations, as they extend radar coverage, coordinate missions, and sustain frontline fighters. By targeting them, India can effectively blind and disrupt adversary air campaigns before direct fighter engagements occur.

The missile’s integration requires modifications to the Su-30MKI’s weapons management system, avionics, and radar software.

The Bars radar will be upgraded to support the missile’s guidance, while secure datalinks will allow mid-course updates without exposing the aircraft. This ensures that Indian fighters can launch the missile without activating their own radar, reducing vulnerability to counter-fire.

The R-37M’s design employs a lofted trajectory, conserving energy by climbing into thinner air before diving onto its target.

It carries a 60 kg fragmentation warhead optimised for large aircraft. Guidance is layered: inertial navigation during the mid-course phase, datalink corrections, and an active radar seeker in the terminal phase. This combination ensures precision even against manoeuvring targets.

Strategically, the missile addresses gaps exposed during Operation Sindoor and the Galwan clash, where Pakistan’s PL-15 and China’s PL-17 long-range missiles out-ranged India’s existing arsenal.

With the R-37M, India gains the ability to strike enemy support aircraft from extreme distances, denying them the ability to coordinate or refuel fighters near contested airspace. This capability is particularly critical against Pakistan’s J-10C fighters and China’s expanding fleet of stealth aircraft.

The integration of the R-37M coincides with India’s broader “Super Sukhoi” upgrade program, which includes the Virupaksha active-array gallium-nitride radar capable of detecting targets at 400 km. 

Combined with indigenous Netra and Phalcon AEW&C aircraft, this networked capability provides India with a first-detection, first-shot advantage. The missile’s effectiveness has already been demonstrated in Russia’s war in Ukraine, where it forced adversary pilots to fly low and remain cautious.

India is also advancing its indigenous Astra program. The ASTRA MK-2, with a range of 160–240 km, is expected to enter service by 2027, while the ASTRA MK-3 Gandiva, with ramjet propulsion and a reach of 340 km, is under development.

Together with the R-37M, these layered systems will provide India with a comprehensive beyond-visual-range capability.

By fielding the R-37M, India becomes one of the few nations to deploy such a missile from a multirole fighter. This acquisition not only strengthens deterrence but also reshapes the balance of air power in South Asia, ensuring that India can contest aerial engagements well before adversaries can respond.

Agencies