R-37 (missile)

Vympel R-37M NATO reporting name: AA-13 Axehead
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]