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Russian Su-30SM2 Shoot Down Ukraine’s Su-27 in 130km Using R-37M Long Range Air-to-Air Missile

Russia-backed sources claim that the Ukrainian Su-27 was shot down by an R-37 long-range air-to-air missile fired from a Russian Navy Su-30SM2 fighter jet at a distance of approximately 130 km.

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(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Russian sources has claimed that a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet was brought down down in the area of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast by a Russian Su-30SM2 using a long-range R-37M air-to-air missile from a distance of  130 km.
Ukrainian sources acknowledge that Su-27 pilot Captain Ivan Bolotov “did not return from his mission.”
Captain Ivan Bolotov, 24, is a pilot with the 81st Tactical Aviation Brigade and has been flying combat missions since the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade honored the dedication of its pilot, describing Bolotov as a brave and irreplaceable warrior.
Ukrainian officials have confirmed Bolotov’s death, but authorities have yet to disclose details of the incident that claimed his live.
Russia-backed sources claim that the Ukrainian Su-27 was shot down by an R-37 long-range air-to-air missile fired from a Russian Navy Su-30SM2 fighter jet at a distance of approximately 130 km.
Su-57
“R-37M” long-range air-to-air missile
Bolotov’s death in the skies highlights the dangerous conditions faced by the Ukrainian Air Force, which must contend with Russia’s advanced long-range missile capabilities.
Analysts note that the R-37 missile, with a range of up to 300 km, poses a significant threat to Ukrainian pilots operating near the front lines.
The loss of this Su-27 further depletes Ukraine’s frontline fighter jet fleet, with estimates suggesting that only around 20 Flankers remain in service.
According to Russian reports, immediately after the destruction of the Su-27 fighter jet of the Ukrainian Air Force, the Russian military intercepted radio communications of the Ukrainian command.
Speaking in Russian, they discussed the loss of the aircraft and what reason to declare as the official version of the crash of the fighter; for example, the failure of the hydraulic system.
The destroyed Su-27 belonged to the 831 Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Force based at the Mirgorod airfield in the Poltava region.

Su-57

The Ukrainian military uses this air base to launch strikes on the Russian territory.
It should not be excluded that the Su-27 in question could be shot down when targeting Russia with missiles supplied by NATO.
Ukrainian forces also largely use Su-27s as bombers to launch JDAM-ER, ASC-250 HAMMER and GBU-39B SDB bombs.
The R-37M has become virtually unmatched, with few potential rivals.
The Russian Air Force has reportedly equipped its Su-35 and Su-30 fighter jets with R-37M (RVV-BD) long-range air-to-air missiles, capable of engaging aerial targets at distances of up to 300 kilometers.
This move reflects Moscow’s increasing reliance on long-range air-to-air missiles like the R-37M, allowing its fighter aircraft to operate beyond the heavily defended airspace of central and western Ukraine, which is tightly controlled by Ukrainian air defense systems and closely monitored by NATO early warning aircraft.
The R-37M (RVV-BD), also known by its NATO designation AA-13, is a modern long-range missile manufactured entirely in Russia. It is produced by Vympel, a renowned Russian firm specializing in the development of air-to-air missile systems.
Originally developed in the 1980s for high-altitude interceptors such as the MiG-31, the latest variant, the R-37M, entered development in the early 2000s.
While the initial R-37 was designed specifically for the MiG-31, the R-37M variant is compatible with a broader range of fighter aircraft, including the Su-35, Su-30, and Russia’s fifth-generation stealth fighter, the Su-57.

Russia

The R-37M significantly enhances the overall combat capabilities of these fighter jets. Similar to its predecessor, the R-37M can reportedly be fitted with a nuclear warhead, designed to destroy large formations of enemy military aircraft.
Western military analysts suggest that the R-37M is specifically engineered to target high-value aerial assets, such as Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.
They note that the missile’s effectiveness is greatly amplified when deployed in conjunction with fifth-generation fighters like the Su-57 “Felon.”
According to Russian media reports, the Russian Air Force began equipping its Su-35, Su-30, and Su-57 aircraft with the R-37M missile two years ago.
Each Su-35 and Su-30 is capable of carrying up to four R-37M missiles, significantly boosting their long-range engagement capabilities.
— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA

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