US DIA on new Russian air-to-air missile
The United States closely monitors the activities of the Russian defense industry in the field of nuclear weapons. Various reports and forecasts on this topic are regularly published, and various concerns are expressed. For example, one of the Pentagon structures recently reported the creation of a new air-to-air missile with nuclear warheads in Russia. Thanks to this arms, fighter aviation will receive new combat capabilities.
According to intelligence
On May 11, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) released its annual Worldwide Threat Assessment. The document lists and discusses the main threats to U.S. national security and various issues related to them. As usual, it focuses on the military and political activities of China and Russia.
The chapter of the report devoted to Russia has a large section on weapons of mass destruction. It provides an assessment of the current state of nuclear forces and other special means, cites some figures and makes forecasts. However, the open version of the report includes only the most general points.
The Russian Defense Ministry reports that Russia is currently expanding its nuclear forces and acquiring new capabilities in this area. New types of weapons are being developed, including air-based ones. In particular, a new air-to-air missile with special equipment has been created.
MiG-31 and its weapons at the exhibition. In the foreground are R-33 missiles. Photo Wikimedia Commons
In the open version of the report, the Pentagon Intelligence Agency does not provide the type of this product, the time of its appearance, or other details. There is also no specific data on other mentioned programs and models. It is possible that such information is present in other documents of the DIA that are not subject to publication.
The mention of a certain Russian air-to-air missile with a nuclear warhead is of some interest. The fact is that information about such developments in Russian industry has not been received before. There are no official mentions of such projects, and foreign intelligence services have not reported on them.
In non-nuclear equipment
It should be recalled that all serial air-to-air missiles of Soviet and Russian design were and are equipped with conventional warheads only. In the past, the possibility of creating similar weapons with special warheads was studied, but such proposals did not reach full implementation.
However, other versions are circulating abroad. According to a number of foreign sources, at least one Soviet project of a nuclear air-to-air missile was developed and reached full implementation. Allegedly, there was a special modification of the long-range R-33 missile.
R-37 missiles of the first version. Photo MilitaryRussia.ru
Like other R-33 variants, this missile was intended for the MiG-31 interceptor fighter. It allowed attacking targets at ranges of up to 150-160 km. The parameters of the nuclear warhead are not specified. It is assumed that such a missile could destroy or damage group air targets - several aircraft at once within a radius of hundreds of meters.
It is now believed that the concept of a long-range air-to-air nuclear missile has been developed and is now being implemented at a modern technical level. The nuclear weapon mentioned in the DIA report could have been created on the basis of one of the modern missiles.
The American publication The War Zone offers a version about the use of the R-37M product. This missile could have undergone the necessary modifications and received a compact special warhead. As a result of such modernization, the product retains its basic flight and technical characteristics, but receives fundamentally new combat capabilities.
Air-to-air missile
Let us recall that the first version of the R-37 missile was developed at the Moscow State Design Bureau Vympel from the early XNUMXs. Testing began by the end of the decade, but was delayed due to the collapse of the USSR and other events. They were completed only in the second half of the XNUMXs.
A modern version of the R-37M / RVV-BD missile. Photo Vitalykuzmin.su
At this stage, a decision was made to develop an updated version of the missile with a different composition of components and improved characteristics. The R-37M or RVV-BD ("Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile") was tested in the XNUMXs, and preparations for serial production began in the early XNUMXs.
In 2014, the R-37M missile was officially accepted into service by the Russian Air Force. Its first carrier was the MiG-31BM interceptor. Later, other modern fighters, such as the Su-30SM, Su-35S and Su-57, also received the missile. According to known data, it is the Su-35S that uses this weapon in the Special Operation to protect Donbass. At the same time, the high characteristics of the product are confirmed.
The R-37M missile is made in a cylindrical body with an ogive nose fairing. In the central part there is an X-shaped wing of low aspect ratio with a long chord, in the tail - rudders. The total length of the product reaches 4,06 m, the fuselage diameter is 380 mm. The launch weight reaches 600 kg.
A dual-mode solid-fuel engine is used, which allows it to reach speeds of up to 6 M. The maximum launch range is declared at 300 km. It is capable of intercepting aerodynamic air targets flying at speeds of up to 2500 km/h.
Active radar homing head 9B-1388. Photo Vitalykuzmin.su
The missile is equipped with a combined control and guidance system. Flight to the target area is carried out using inertial navigation. At distances of 25-30 km from the target, the active radar homing head of the 9B-1388 type is activated. It ensures target detection and subsequent guidance to it with high accuracy.
A 60 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead is used to hit the target. The warhead fuse has a non-contact target sensor, presumably a laser one.
Delivery vehicle
According to foreign estimates, the R-37M missile can carry not only a high-explosive fragmentation warhead. Instead, a nuclear warhead can be installed, giving the missile special combat capabilities. Whether such estimates and forecasts correspond to reality is unknown. However, the version itself seems plausible in technical terms.
The R-37M differs from other missile weapons not only in its range, but also in its larger dimensions and payload. Inside the hull there is a fairly long compartment with a diameter of about 380 mm, which can accommodate a 60-kg warhead. In theory, such a compartment is suitable for installing low-yield tactical-class nuclear warheads.
R-37M missiles are used during the Special Operation. In this case, the carrier was the Su-35S - the missile is placed under the fuselage. Photo by the Russian Ministry of Defense
The R-37M missile modified in this way can carry a nuclear charge with a power of up to several kilotons in TNT equivalent. Such a power of explosion allows to destroy entire air units - some aircraft will be destroyed immediately, while others will receive serious damage or lose the ability to fly under control. In some situations, such an air-to-air missile is capable of causing damage not only to enemy aircraft, but also to their ground forces and facilities.
However, such ammunition faces a number of obvious limitations and difficulties. It will be more difficult to operate and requires special measures. In addition, the use of a nuclear missile is far from possible in every military-political situation, and may also have negative consequences of various kinds.
Opportunities and projects
Foreign intelligence services are trying to monitor the development of Russian nuclear forces and react to any events in this area. This time, the US Department of Defense spoke about the possible creation of a nuclear air-to-air missile to arm fighters and interceptors. The details of the information obtained are not disclosed, but it is expected that the Pentagon will draw conclusions.
It should be remembered that the information from the RMO has not yet been confirmed, and the forecasts and estimates of specialized publications may be far from reality. Nevertheless, the Russian industry really has the ability to modernize one of the existing aircraft missiles and make it a means of delivering a special warhead. Whether the Aerospace Forces and the Ministry of Defense want to take advantage of this opportunity is still unknown.
Information