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Economic Times

Russia has reportedly tested a secret nuclear air-to-air missile. Here's what we know

Russia has reportedly developed and deployed a nuclear-capable air-to-air missile, believed to be a variant of the R-37M, raising concerns among Western defense analysts. This long-range missile, with a range exceeding 300 kilometers and hypersonic speeds, is part of Russia's broader expansion of its nuclear arsenal. The missile can be launched from high-performance aircraft like the MiG-31BM and Su-35S. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Russia has reportedly developed and deployed a new air-to-air missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead — a move that's drawing growing attention from Western defense analysts. According to a recent assessment by the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), this new capability is part of a broader expansion of Russia's nuclear reported by the nuclear-capable missile is believed to be a variant of the R-37M — a long-range air-to-air missile known to NATO as the AA-13 'Axehead.' Developed by the Vympel Design Bureau, the R-37M is already a cornerstone of the Russian Aerospace Forces' (VKS) aerial combat R-37M boasts a range exceeding 300 kilometers and travels at hypersonic speeds surpassing Mach 6, making it one of the fastest and longest-range air-to-air missiles in active service. It uses an active radar homing system, with inertial navigation and mid-course updates, allowing it to track and destroy fast-moving targets including fighter jets, bombers, and airborne early warning aircraft (AWACS).This missile is typically launched from high-performance Russian aircraft such as:Mikoyan MiG-31BM 'Foxhound' – a long-range interceptor designed for high-speed engagementsSukhoi Su-35S 'Flanker-E' – a multirole fighter with the advanced Irbis-E radarSukhoi Su-57 'Felon' – Russia's fifth-generation stealth fighter (though integration with this platform remains unconfirmed)The DIA's 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment earlier reportedly noted that 'Russia is expanding its nuclear forces by adding new capabilities, including nuclear air-to-air missiles.' While the report does not name specific systems, defense analysts speculate it likely refers to a nuclear-armed variant of the R-37M, based on recent trends and platform August 2024, Russia's Ministry of Defense released footage showing MiG-31BM interceptors being armed with long-range air-to-air missiles during a non-strategic nuclear weapons exercise. The visuals featured R-33 missiles (NATO: AA-9 'Amos'), another older but still potent missile in 1981, the R-33 was developed to target high-value aircraft like the SR-71 Blackbird and B-52 Stratofortress. It has a range of around 120 km, uses semi-active radar homing (SARH), and can hit targets flying up to 3,000 km/h. Supported by the Zaslon phased-array radar, it could track multiple targets and guide up to six missiles simultaneously — a major Cold War-era innovation.