AA-13 "Axehead"
| Date of Production | 1989 |
| Country of Origin | Russia (Former Soviet Union) |
| Proliferation: Russian Federation | |
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Background
The Vympel R-37M (NATO reporting name: AA-X-13/AA-13 Arrow) is a Russian supersonic air-to-air missile with a very long range. The missile and its variants also had the names K-37, izdeliye 610 and R-VD (Ракета Высокой Дальности (Raketa-Vysokoy Dalnosty), "Very Long Range Missile"). It was developed from the R-33. It was designed to shoot down tankers, AWACS and other C4ISTAR aircraft whilst keeping the launch platform out of range of any fighters that might be protecting the target. The R-37 is now in production to equip upgraded Russian MiG-31BM interceptors. Despite the early intent to integrate the weapon on the Flanker family, this has yet to be reported. The R-37 was developed from the R-33. For compatibility with aircraft that did not have the MiG-31's sophisticated radar, the semi-active seeker was replaced with a variant of the Agat 9B-1388 active seeker; mid-body strakes enhance lift and hence range, and folding tail controls allow semi-conformal carriage on planes that are not as big as the MiG-31. According to Defence Today, the range depends on the flight profile, from 80 nautical miles (150 km) for a direct shot to 215 nautical miles (398 km) for a cruise glide profile. According to Jane's there are two variants, the R-37 and the R-37M; the latter has a jettisonable rocket booster that increases the range to "300-400km" (160–220 nm). The R-37M designation has since been used for a modernized variant of the missile, also known as RVV-BD (Raketa Vozduh-Vozduh Bolyshoy Dalnosty, English for Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile). R-37M is hypersonic and has range exceeding 300km. It will be carried by the modernized MiG-31BM interceptors and Su-35S and Su-57 multirole fighters. It is not known if the long range air-to-air missile for the Su-57, designated as Izdeliye 810, is a derivative of the R-37M. The missile can attack targets ranging in altitude between 15–25,000 meters. Missiles can be guided semi-actively or actively through Agat 9B-1388 system.
General Characteristics
| Name | R-37 (AA-X-13/AA-13) Missile |
| Type | |
| Manufacturer | Tactical Missiles Corporation |
| Length | 4.20 m |
|
Diameter
|
380 mm |
| Wingspan | 700 mm |
| Weight | 600 kg |
| Warhead Weight | 60 kg |
| Engine | Boost-Sustain Solid Rocket |
| Operational Range | 150-398 km |
| Maximum Speed | Mach 5.0 |
| Guidance System | Inertial with mid-course update, semi-active and active radar homing |
| Launch Platform(s) |
Threat Characteristics
| Rear Aspect Range | |
| Front Aspect Range | |
| Countermeasure Vulnerability | Very Low |
Threat Counter Tactics Discussion
The AA-13
Threat Reactions
A