India has signed a contract worth over $1 billion to purchase a large batch of Russian R-37M long-range missiles.
According to the South China Morning Post, the deal covers about 300 missiles valued at roughly $1.2 billion, with deliveries expected to begin within 12–18 months.
The missiles will be used on India’s Su-30MKI fighter jets, which, along with French Rafale aircraft, form the core of the country’s air force.
The agreement comes amid reports that India may cancel a planned purchase of 114 Rafale jets. The issue reportedly stems from France’s refusal to provide access to key electronic systems, which India wants in order to integrate its domestically developed Astra Mk1 missiles. These missiles have already been tested on the Su-30MKI.
If the Rafale deal is canceled, it could also lead to fewer future purchases of French-made missile systems.
Earlier, the Indian government approved a large-scale procurement package of weapons and military equipment worth about $25 billion. The country is accelerating the modernization of its armed forces following the conflict with Pakistan and amid ongoing tensions with China.
The package covers all branches of the military. In particular, the Indian Air Force is expected to receive additional Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, medium transport aircraft, and strike unmanned aerial vehicles.
It also includes the overhaul and modernization of engines for Su-30MKI fighter jets.
R-37M
The R-37M is a long-range air-to-air missile, considered, based on open-source data, one of the longest-range systems in its class.
Key specifications:
- Maximum launch range: over 300 km
- Flight speed: up to Mach 6
- Maximum target speed: up to 2,500 km/h
- Length: 4.2 m
- Body diameter: 0.38 m
- Launch weight: about 600 kg
- Warhead weight: 60 kg
The missile uses a combined guidance system: inertial navigation with radio correction during the midcourse phase, and an active radar seeker in the terminal phase.
For more details, the article “R-77-1 and R-37M: ‘Long Arm’ of Russian Aviation That Currently has no Direct Counter” is available here.
