Russia is preparing squadrons of Su-30, Su-35S and MiG-31 armed with the R-37M with a range of 300 km for shooting down F-16 in Ukraine:

It has the longest range in the world

26.05.2024 

Russian Air Force is preparing a "spectacle" of downing F-16 fighters as, in addition to the Su-35S Squadrons, the Su-30 and MiG-31 Squadrons are armed with the long-range R-37M air-to-air missile.

The Russian Air Force will line up hundreds of fighters that will shoot down the F-16s from a distance of 300 km without counting the involvement of the air defense S-300, S-400 etc.

Recently, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the discovery of unmanned vessels in one of the sea areas near the coast of Crimea.

Su-30SM fighters of the naval aviation of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy were immediately dispatched, which destroyed the USVs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Western and Russian analysts saw in the video, during the aircraft's return, that the fighter was carrying two R-37M and two R-77-1 air-to-air missiles.

This is the first public appearance of a Su-30 fighter specially modified to carry the R-37M missile.

This means that Russia has already taken steps in anticipation of the arrival of US F-16 fighters in Ukraine which may make a surprise landing with Ukrainian (or mercenary) pilots.

The R-77-1 medium-range air-to-air missile was adopted by the Russian Air Force and Air Defense in 1994. Initially, these missiles were intended for the then-newest MiG-29 fighter.

Subsequently, the R-77 and its modifications were received by many air force fighters, and then by the Russian Air Force. Its flight range is just over a hundred kilometers.

Much more interesting is the demonstration of the Soviet-Russian long-range air-to-air missile R-37M in a modified version.

It is the longest-range air-to-air guided missile in the world, capable of covering a distance of up to 300 kilometers.

The only western "opponents" of the R-37M are the American air-to-air missiles AIM-47 Falcon and AAM-N-10 Eagle. Their flight range is up to 200 km, but they have never entered service with the US Air Force.