Studies from a pro-Russian Telegram channel recommend a MiG-29 fighter jet of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Airborne Forces was shot down by an R-37M long-range air-to-air missile. The missile was allegedly launched from a Russian Aerospace Forces’ MiG-31 jet.
Overclockers, a Russian media outlet, has additionally reported this incident, attributing their data to the pro-Russian Telegram channel referred to as Conflict Historical past Weapons. The timeline of the incident is ambiguous, with neither the Russian media nor the Telegram channel offering particular particulars. The credibility of those claims is unsure, as there was no latest point out of such an incident from the Russian Ministry of Protection.
Is a confirmed confrontation between a MiG-31 and a MiG-29 believable? Certainly, it’s. For the reason that onset of the warfare, there have been quite a few accounts of MiG-31s partaking in direct airborne fight. One notable incident recorded by BulgarianMilitary.com in October of the earlier yr detailed a Ukrainian Su-24 being shot down by a MiG-31. In line with Russian sources, the RVV-SD air-to-air missile or an R-77 variant was used on this explicit incident.
The incident
Studies out of Russia state {that a} Ukrainian MiG-29 was focused by an R-37M missile. Volunteering to patrol a specialised operation zone in Ukraine, a pilot from the Russian Air Pressure noticed an opposing plane on his radar. The R-37M, recognized for its extraordinary vary, was subsequently launched, as reported by Overclockers.
The MiG-29 was certainly struck, but the pilot was in a position to eject safely, based on Russian experiences. As acknowledged by Overclockers, the fighter aircraft sustained important harm and is probably going destined for the closest scrap yard. The commander of the Ukrainian craft, who now finds himself and not using a aircraft, faces the daunting job of securing a new one amidst Kyiv’s dwindling plane provide.
About R-37 missile
The Vympel R-37 missile, in any other case recognized by its NATO reporting identify AA-13 Axehead, is a groundbreaking Russian-made hypersonic air-to-air missile famend for its particularly lengthy vary. It’s additionally recognized by a few alternate names resembling Ok-37, izdeliye 610, and RVV-BD, the latter translating to ‘Lengthy-range air-to-air missile’. Curiously, this high-power missile was developed from the R-33 mannequin.
This missile has a particular goal: to focus on and remove tankers, AWACS, and different C4ISTAR plane. The inherent great thing about that is that it retains the launch platform secure and past the attain of any fighter jets assigned to protect the goal. Janes, a extremely credible supply for protection data, has recognized two variations of this missile – the R-37 and R-37M. Curiously, the latter is long-established to function with a disposable rocket booster. This characteristic allows a powerful enhance in its vary, as much as a whopping 300–400 km [160–220 nm].
Within the yr 2023, Rosoboronexport, a main Russian arms trade, launched the export-friendly model of the R-37M, dubbed the RVV-BD. This missile boasts a launch vary that peaks at about 200 kilometers [120 mi; 110 nmi], and its most flight altitude is an imposing 25 kilometers [82,000 ft]. The warhead it carries weighs roughly 60 kilograms [130 lb]. For added versatility, it’s designed to be appropriate with a number of plane, together with the Mikoyan MiG-31, MiG-35, Sukhoi Su-35, and the Sukhoi Su-57.
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
On February 21, 2022, Russia acknowledged that its border facility was attacked by Ukrainian forces, ensuing within the deaths of 5 Ukrainian fighters. Nevertheless, Ukraine rapidly dismissed these allegations, labeling them as ‘false flags’.
In a notable transfer on the identical day, Russia introduced it formally acknowledged the self-proclaimed areas of DPR and LPR. Curiously, based on Russian President Putin, this recognition coated all of the Ukrainian areas. Following this declaration, Putin despatched a battalion of Russia’s navy forces, tanks included, into these areas.
Quick ahead to February 24, 2022, international headlines have been dominated by a important incident. Putin commanded a forceful navy assault on Ukraine. Led by Russia’s spectacular Armed Forces positioned on the Ukrainian border, this assault wasn’t spontaneous however a premeditated motion. Regardless of the circumstances resembling a warfare, the Russian authorities refrains from utilizing this time period. They’d relatively check with it as a “particular navy operation”.
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