Vympel R-37M NATO reporting name: AA-13 Axehead | |
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![]() R-37M (under the export designation RVV-BD) at 2013 MAKS Airshow | |
Type | Long range, hypersonic air-to-air BVR missile |
Place of origin | Russia |
Service history | |
In service | 2019 |
Used by | Russian Aerospace Forces |
Production history | |
Designer | Tactical Missiles Corporation |
Designed | 1980s |
Manufacturer | Vympel MKB |
Produced | 1985 |
Variants | R-37M (export: RVV-BD) |
Specifications (R-37M approximation) | |
Mass | 510 kilograms (1,120 lb) |
Length | 4.06 metres (13 ft 4 in) |
Diameter | 38 centimetres (15 in) |
Wingspan | 72 centimetres (28 in) |
Warhead | HE, fragmention |
Warhead weight | 60 kg (135 lb) |
Propellant | Boost-Sustain Solid Rocket |
Operational range | 150–400 km (93–249 mi) [1] Up to 200 kilometres (120 mi) (RVV-BD) |
Maximum speed | Mach 6 (7,400 km/h; 4,600 mph) 2,500 kilometres per hour (1,600 mph) (RVV-BD) |
Guidance system | Inertial with mid-course update, semi-active and active radar homing |
The Vympel R-37 (NATO reporting name: AA-13 "Axehead")[1] is a Russian hypersonic air-to-air missile with very long range. The missile and its variants also had the names K-37, izdeliye 610 and RVV-BD (Ракета Воздух-Воздух Большой Дальности (Raketa Vozduh-Vozduh Bolshoy Dalnosti), "Long range air-to-air rocket"), and the NATO codenames "Axehead" and "Andi".[2] It was developed from the R-33.
It is designed to shoot down tankers, AWACS and other C4ISTAR aircraft[1] while keeping the launch platform out of range of any fighters that might be protecting the target.
According to Janes there are two variants, the R-37 and the R-37M; the latter conceived as having a jettisonable rocket booster that increases the range to "300–400 km" (160–220 nm).[2] In 2023, Rosoboronexport introduced the export version of the R-37M, designated RVV-BD. It has a launch range of up to 200 kilometres (120 mi; 110 nmi) and maximum altitude of 25 kilometres (82,000 ft) with a 60 kilograms (130 lb) warhead. The missile is compatible with Sukhoi Su-57, Sukhoi Su-30, Sukhoi Su-35, Mikoyan MiG-31BM and Mikoyan MiG-35.[3][4]