Russian Air Force Tests New Advanced Tactical Air-to-Air Missile

Singh

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Russian Air Force Tests New Air-to-Air Missile

The Russian Air Force is testing and will soon deploy an advanced tactical air-to-air missile that will greatly enhance its operational effectiveness, the service's commander Col Gen Alexander Zelin said on Tuesday.

The missile will be carried by MiG-31BM Foxhound supersonic interceptors/fighters and will subsequently be used by other warplanes, he said.

The weapon is "currently in trial at an Air Force test site," Zelin said.

Zelin did not identify the missile but experts believe it could be the K-37M, also known as RVV-BD, or AA-X-13 Arrow as it is known to NATO.

The K-37M is a long-range air-to-air missile developed specifically for the MiG-31BM interceptor.

"A likely candidate is the Vympel (now part of TRV) K-37M long-range air-to-air missile. This is a successor to the R-33 (Nato codename AA-9 Amos) which was developed originally for the MiG-31 during the early 1970s," said Douglas Barrie, an air warfare expert at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Work on the K-37 program began during the 1980s, but funding problems delayed its completion, he added. The design has also been further developed since its original conception.

The K-prefix denotes a weapon in development while the M indicates a modification. An export variant of the weapon, known as RVV-BD, was shown at MAKS 2011. The BD suffix may stand for the Russian words bolshoi dalnost, or long range.

"The K-37M - it will likely be known as the R-37M when it enters service - will be the primary air-to-air armament of the MiG-31BM, providing the Russian air force with an extended range interception capability against combat aircraft and cruise missiles," Barrie said.

Russian Air Force Tests New Air-to-Air Missile | Russia | RIA Novosti
 

bhramos

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RVV-BD long-range guided missile is presented at MAKS-2011

 

indian_sukhoi

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This is something very interesting!!!

Heavy fighter like Sukhois might also able to carry these missiles.
 

indian_sukhoi

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Hell no,.............MiG-31s are the backone of RuAF!!

A perfect example of Soviet dedicated interceptor fleet.

Unlike other Cold War Interceptors, MiG-31 had a huge Zaslon radar and doesnt need ground control to intercept them.

It was designed especially for Cold War era requirements.Soviets wanted a Long range Interceptor which is very fast, long range and a powerfull radar to detect missiles and bombers.



After the end of cold war, They've taken a lot of MiG-31s out of service and stored them.
 

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