Russia deploys nuclear air-to-air missiles

Russia has deployed a new air-to-air missile armed with a nuclear warhead, according to a new assessment by the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Photo: @Wikipedia.

The weapon is likely a variant of the R-37M, a long-range air-to-air missile known to NATO as the AA-13 Axehead. The revelation was detailed in the DIA’s 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment Report, submitted to the House Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee. Photo: @Military Watch Magazine.

While nuclear-tipped air-to-air missiles were a military option in the Soviet Union’s Cold War arsenal, their current status in the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) remains largely unknown. That makes this new revelation from the US all the more remarkable. Photo: @ EurAsian Times.

The development comes amid heightened tensions with NATO and ongoing Russian military activity, raising questions about the strategic intentions and operational readiness of the mysterious weapon. And this article explores the specifications and potential implications of the new missile for modern air warfare. Photo: @Military Watch Magazine.

The R-37M is believed to be the basis of this mysterious nuclear missile. It is a formidable weapon designed to strike targets at extremely long ranges. Photo: @Army Recognition.

Developed by Russia's Vympel Design Bureau, the missile is a platform for long-range air combat capabilities, with an operational range exceeding 300 km, far beyond the reach of most modern air-to-air missiles. Photo: @ Defence Blog.

The R-37M is equipped with an active radar guidance system, supplemented with inertial guidance and mid-flight guidance, allowing the missile to track and attack targets extremely quickly and accurately. Photo: @Army Recognition.

The missile's propulsion system includes a solid-fuel rocket engine, which helps push the R-37M missile to hypersonic speeds, reportedly exceeding Mach 6 (equivalent to 7,408 km/h), making it difficult for targets to evade. Photo: @Military Watch Magazine.

The missile's warhead is conventional, a high-explosive, fragmentation type designed to destroy an aircraft with a single shot. Photo: @ EurAsian Times.

The R-37M is typically deployed from advanced Russian platforms, including the Sukhoi Su-35S Flanker-E, a multirole fighter with an extremely powerful Irbis-E radar, or the Mikoyan MiG-31BM Foxhound, a high-speed interceptor optimized for long-range engagements. There is also speculation that the missile could be integrated with the stealthy Sukhoi Su-57 Felon, although there has been no public confirmation. Photo: @Defence Blog.

It can be seen that the placement of a nuclear warhead on the R-37M missile is a significant change from its usual role. Although the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency report did not specify the explosive yield of this nuclear warhead, it is likely designed to have a low yield, in the range of 1 to 5 kilotons. Photo: @ Defense Express.

Such a nuclear warhead could be used for wide-area engagements, capable of disabling multiple targets within its blast radius, such as bomber formations, airborne early warning and control aircraft (AWACS), or even swarms of drones. Photo: @Military Watch Magazine.

Unlike conventional precision-guided warheads, nuclear warheads do not require absolute accuracy, as their destructive power compensates for targeting limitations, especially against stealth aircraft or systems using advanced electronic countermeasures. Photo: @ EurAsian Times.

Adding a nuclear warhead to the R-37M missile could target high-value targets such as NATO's E-3 Sentry early warning aircraft or the US Air Force's B-21 Raider stealth bomber, although the practicality of such a weapon in modern air combat remains uncertain, given advances in electronic warfare and stealth technology. Photo: @Army Recognition.

The operational challenges of deploying a nuclear air-to-air missile are significant. Modern air warfare emphasizes precision, stealth, and electronic warfare, areas where NATO still holds a major advantage. Photo: @Defence Blog.

Therefore, the effectiveness of the R-37M nuclear missile will depend on its ability to overcome electronic countermeasures and decoys, which have become standard in Western air forces. Photo: @ Defense Express.

Additionally, the logistical and safety concerns of deploying nuclear warheads on fighter or interceptor aircraft are significant, requiring secure storage, handling, and command protocols to prevent unauthorized use, as well as to prevent unwanted accidents from occurring. Photo: @Army Recognition.

The development of the weapon may reflect Russia’s desire to offset NATO’s military technological advantage. But its practical utility remains uncertain. The Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency disclosure, while significant, leaves many questions unanswered, including the missile’s readiness, deployment status, and intended role. Photo: @Military Watch Magazine.

(According to Bulgarian Military)

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/nga-trien-khai-ten-lua-khong-doi-khong-hat-nhan-post1543244.html