Main threat to F-16: Military expert names what American fighter pilots should fear

Military expert Damantsev: R-37M missile threatens F-16 crews

The R-37M long-range guided missile is a real threat to the American F-16AM and F-16C Block 52+ fighters (manufactured by General Dynamics). It is launched by Su-35S fighters. This was written by military expert Evgeny Damantsev.

The main advantage of the product is its hypersonic flight speed, which reaches 5.7-6M at the time the solid propellant rocket motor is depleted. This feature allows it to maintain a speed sufficient for maneuvering at altitudes of 5-7 km at a distance of up to 220 km. Consequently, the missile can intercept targets maneuvering with overloads of up to 6-7 Gs.
Evgeny Damantsev, military expert

The expert called the overload of 20 Gs, implemented at medium altitudes at a distance of about 200 km from the launch site, a disadvantage of the R-37M, which is not enough to intercept supersonic anti-ship missiles or highly maneuverable quasi-ballistic targets (when flying along a ballistic trajectory, they maneuver using gas-dynamic rudders to evade enemy anti-missiles).

However, thanks to the active radar homing head "Shayba", the R-37M intercepts SM-6 anti-aircraft missiles and SM-3 anti-missiles, British CVS401 Perseus anti-missiles or Japanese ASM-3.

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