Russia's nuclear missile plans spark global security concerns
Russia plans to introduce nuclear air-to-air missiles into its arsenal, raising concerns about an arms escalation and global security. This information comes from a new report by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) of the Pentagon.
Russia is intensifying efforts to expand its nuclear arsenal. The latest addition is expected to be air-to-air missiles with nuclear warheads, which could significantly alter the balance of power worldwide - this information was released in the latest report by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) of the U.S. Department of Defence, cited by The War Zone portal.
What are Russia's plans regarding nuclear missiles?
This information was published in a classified global threat assessment by the DIA from 2025, presented to the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations. The document is available here.
"Russia is expanding its nuclear forces by adding new capabilities, including nuclear air-to-air missiles and novel nuclear systems," states the report from the American Defence Intelligence Agency. As further described, Russia currently possesses 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads and 2,000 tactical ones. Serial production of the R-37M missiles began in 2018, indicating the advanced stage of Russian work on this armament.
Nuclear-armed air-to-air missiles were part of the Soviet Union's arsenal during the Cold War, and their current status in the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) is not well known. The latest Pentagon report indicates that Russia is working on a modified version of the R-37M missiles, which were originally intended for the MiG-31 fighters. They are currently also used by the Su-35 and Su-30. The conventional versions of these missiles have already been credited with shooting down Ukrainian planes from a distance of over 200 kilometres.
The new missile, possibly the R-37M version, known in NATO as the AA-13 Axehead, is an advancement of the earlier R-37 model. The R-37M, typically launched from Russian airspace, limits our ability to conduct missions, claimed Ukrainian MiG-29 pilot Andrii "Juice" Pilshchykov in an interview with The War Zone before he died in 2023. This missile, developed by the Vympel design bureau, is designed to combat targets at long distances and can be armed with a nuclear warhead.
What do we know about the R-37M missile?
The R-37M was designed as the main armament for the MiG-31 interceptor fighter but is also used by other Russian combat aircraft, such as the Su-30SM, Su-35S, and Su-57. This missile, weighing about 510 kilograms and measuring approximately 4 metres long, can destroy targets at a distance of up to 200 kilometres, although its effectiveness depends on operational conditions.
What are the implications for global security?
The report provides a brief overview of Russia’s nuclear rhetoric and its related military drills in the context of the war in Ukraine. It emphasizes that the use of atomic weapons by Moscow remains very unlikely unless the Russian authorities perceive a direct threat to the survival of the regime. Additionally, the report mentions a possible increase in Russian activities related to chemical and biological weapons development.
It is worth recalling that the tactic of using nuclear air-to-air missiles was considered as early as the 1960s, but a lack of funding prevented its implementation. Russia's current actions could be an attempt to return to these concepts in a modern form. Russia's introduction of nuclear air-to-air missiles could have serious consequences for global security. The Pentagon warns that such actions could escalate international tensions and an arms race.
