Russian production of long-range air-to-air R-37M missiles may be designed for an output of about 500 units per year. This is indicated by documents obtained by the analytical group Dallas Analytics. In a letter from the Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV) dated March 4, 2025, to the Azov Optical-Mechanical Plant, a request was made for the possibility of annually supplying components from 2026 in volumes corresponding to approximately 500 R-37M missiles.
The story of Indian interest in the R-37M is not new. India is indeed considering the integration of the R-37M with the Su-30MKI. In September, plans were reported to adapt 40 aircraft for the use of this missile, and earlier — about a possible supply of about 300 units.
The R-37M is a heavy, long-range air-to-air missile. Its mass is about 510 kg, diameter is 380 mm, and warhead mass is about 60 kg. The missile is equipped with an active radar homing head and develops speeds up to Mach 6.
The R-37M is integrated with the Su-35S, Su-57, and MiG-31BM. The large size and mass of the missile limit the range of aircraft capable of using it without appropriate integration. This is why India's interest is focused on adapting the R-37M for the heavy Su-30MKI.
If Dallas Analytics' conclusion is correct, the requested component volumes correspond to approximately 500 R-37M missiles per year. This is more than the volume of the Indian batch of approximately 300 missiles reported earlier. However, there are no documents on the actual production of 500 finished missiles per year. The figure is based on the component volumes indicated in the leaked correspondence.