The Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking at buying the Russian-made R-37 Vympel air-to-air missile, which can hit targets as far as 200 km away, news agency ANI reported.
This step is part of the IAF’s plan to strengthen its ability to fight in the air from long distances, especially to deal with changing regional security threats and to counter advanced fighter jets.
The R-37 Vympel, also called the RVV-BD (Beyond Visual Range) missile, is among the longest-range air-to-air missiles in the world. It is made to destroy high-value targets such as fighter planes, airborne warning and control aircraft (AEW&C), and even strategic bombers.
Depending on its version, the missile can travel up to 200 km and in some cases, up to 300 km. It has an active radar guidance system and a dual-stage solid rocket motor, allowing it to reach speeds over Mach 6.
What is the ability of R-37?
The R-37’s ability to hit targets from very long distances matches the IAF’s needs, especially in a possible two-front conflict with China and Pakistan. Once fitted onto the IAF’s Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter jets the missile is expected to give India a stronger deterrent against advanced enemy aircraft like Pakistan’s F-16s and China’s J-20 stealth fighters.
Why does IAF wants to buy R-37?
The IAF’s interest in the R-37 has grown after the success of Operation Sindoor in May 2025. During this mission, India’s S-400 air defense system shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and an AEW&C aircraft from more than 300 km away.
According to the ANI report, the IAF is looking at the R-37 to fill certain capability gaps while it waits for the arrival of 114 new Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) under a planned USD 15-20 billion deal. At present, the IAF has strong beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles, such as the Indian-made Astra Mk-1 with a range of 110 km and the French MBDA Meteor with a range of 150 km for its Rafale jets. However, none of these match the extreme reach of the R-37, which could destroy high-value enemy assets before they get close enough to use their own long-range weapons.
The R-37 is built to work seamlessly with Russian-made fighter jets like the Su-30 MKI, of which the IAF has more than 260 in service. Integrating the missile would need only small changes to the jet’s electronics and weapon systems, thanks to existing India-Russia defense ties. With its active radar seeker, mid-course inertial guidance, and data-link updates, the R-37 can track and strike targets with high accuracy, even in areas where electronic warfare is being used to jam signals.