Longest Ranged Air-to-Air Missiles Ever Exported: Russia Sells 300 R-37Ms to Enhance Indian Fighter Fleet

The Indian Defence Ministry has signed a contract for the sale of 300 Russian R-37M long range air-to-air missiles, which has been valued at over $1.2 billion, according to multiple reports from local media outlets. The sale is expected to revolutionise the performances of the Su-30MKI ‘4+ generation’ fighters that form the backbone of the Indian Air Force’s combat fleet. This follows reports in early March from multiple Indian sources that a very scale procurement of several hundred R-37M missiles was being considered. The R-37M is by far the longest type of air-to-air missile ever exported, and is rivalled only by the Chinese PL-17 and the U.S. AIM-174 in range. The missiles will close to  triple the engagement ranges of Indian Su-30MKI fighters, at a time when broader plans to modernise the aircraft are being considered. 

Reports of a decision to procure the R-37M have closely coincided with confirmation in late February that the Indian Defence Ministry will proceed with plans to comprehensively upgrade its Su-30MKI fighters with Russian assistance, which will first focus on enhancing 84 aircraft. Modernisation will reportedly include the integration of a new radar, electronic warfare pods, and R-77M medium range air-to-air missiles. The R-37M is an oversized missile developed for the MiG-31BM interceptor, the heaviest aircraft in service anywhere in the world built for air-to-air combat, with the Su-30MKI also being a heavyweight aircraft that can integrate the aircraft without excessively compromising its flight performance.

The R-37M is one of multiple high end aerial warfare assets planned for procurement to enhance the Indian Air Force’s capabilities, with an agreement to procure ten battalions of S-400 long range air defence systems having been approved by the Defence Ministry in late March. The Defence Ministry in January 2026 confirmed that talks to procure Su-57 fifth generation fighters had reached an advanced technical stage, after the Russian Defence Ministry in June 2025 reportedly made an unprecedented offer to provide full access to the aircraft source code. Investments in significantly enhancing the Su-30MKI’s capabilities, and procuring both next generation fighters and cutting edge long range air defence systems, are expected to have a transformative effect on Indian aerial warfare capabilities. 

The R-37M’s combination of a 350-400 kilometre engagement range, large 61 kilogram warhead, and especially high Mach 6 speed, allows it to significantly increase the combat potential of the Su-30MKI. Although the fighters lacks comparably powerful radars to the MiG-31, which prevent them from using the missile to its full range when relying on onboard sensors, the planned modernisation of the aircraft with new radars, and the availability of targeting data from S-400s and likely in future from Su-57s, will all contribute to increasing the R-37’s potency. The decision to procure the R-37M is speculated to have been influenced by the use of 40N6 400 kilometre range surface-to-air missiles from S-400 systems to disrupt Pakistani support operations during engagements in March, highlighting the value of being able to shoot down aircraft deep inside hostile territory, and destroying a high value electronic warfare aircraft or AEW&C system over extreme distances. Increased Indian investment in Russian systems and equipment has occurred as France has struggled to promote its Rafale fighter during talks with the Indian Defence Ministry, in part due to its unwillingness to meet Indian requirements regarding technology transfers.