US Warning: Russia Tests New Airborne Nuclear Missile Against Hostile Aircraft

The missile, which according to the defense report ‘Worldwide Threat Assessment 2025’ has been deployed by the Russian military, represents a significant shift in the threat landscape in Europe’s airspace.

Tactical Nuclear Weapons Take to the Skies

The US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) asserts that Russia has now equipped an air-to-air missile with nuclear weapons as part of the country’s expanded nuclear capability. The report mentions approximately 1,550 strategic and up to 2,000 non-strategic nuclear warheads in the Russian arsenal.

The new missile is not referred to by name, but experts point to a specialized version of the R-37M – known under the codename Izdeliye 610M – as a likely candidate. Originally developed for the MiG-31 and later adapted for aircraft such as the Su-35S and Su-57, the R-37M is a solid-fuel missile capable of hitting targets up to 200 kilometers away.

A Deadly Dilemma

Ukrainian pilot Andrii “Juice” Pilshchykov, who perished in a plane crash in 2023, stated that the R-37M, when launched from Russian airspace, effectively cripples Ukrainian operations. “If we maneuver, we cannot carry out air attacks or other operations. If you don’t know the missile has been launched, you’re dead,” he declared in an interview with The War Zone.

While a nuclear warhead has not yet been officially confirmed in the R-37M, it is a natural extension of the Soviet-era R-33, which had a similar role and could also carry nuclear weapons. The primary purpose of these missiles is to combat large, less maneuverable aircraft such as bombers and AWACS platforms.

Belarus as a Launch Pad

The report also reveals that Russia has stationed both nuclear-armed missiles and aircraft in Belarus. This underscores Russia’s intention to expand its nuclear sphere of influence and amplifies the threat to neighboring countries and NATO.

Nevertheless, the DIA maintains that Russia is “very unlikely” to use nuclear weapons in the war against Ukraine unless the Russian regime perceives an existential threat.

A New Era in Air Warfare

The introduction of a nuclear air-to-air missile shows how Russia is pushing the boundaries of modern warfare. With this capability in play, the airspace over Europe becomes far more complex and dangerous.

This development, which bears the mark of open vigilance from US authorities, could prompt a technological and strategic countermeasure from the West – a potentially baleful escalation in the geopolitical game.

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