The Russian Federation puts on new air-air missiles with nuclear warheads-US Intelligence

According to the newspaper, the US intelligence in the 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment reported that among the new threats from the Russian Federation is the expansion of Russia with its nuclear arsenal thanks to the air-air missiles with nuclear combat. The presence of such rockets in the Russian Federation is not news-a long-range R-33 with "nuclear" equipment stood in service in the Soviet times and its presence of the Russians was declared last year.

But the P-33 was developed in the 1970s under the MiG-31, and was adopted in 1981. As of now, its characteristics have already lagged behind the realities of air combat in the modern war. The rocket launch range is 120 km for the base version with a semi -active radar guide. The version of the R-33C with an active radar GSN, which was allegedly developed in 1990-160 km, was declared, but Defense Express cannot be said to be accurate whether they were being produced.

The capacity of its combat part in the nuclear execution of public data is not, but the weight of the usual conventional combat unit is 55 kg. Such weight is usually performed low -power nuclear charges up to 5 kg. Defense Express says that the main candidate for the development of "nuclear" air-air missiles "is the R-37, also known as the RVV-BD, which was also developed during the USSR, and could only be completed in 2010. The rocket was adopted in 2014. It has a range of 200 or 300 km for P-37m.

Both versions have an active radar head. The weight of the battle part is 60 kg, which also allows to place a nuclear charge. Another candidate for the role of the air-air-air rocket is the KS-172 for 400 km based on the missile up to C-300V-9m83 with a range up to 400 km and weighing the battle part of 50 kg. It has a powerful active radar head, which, according to declarations, should capture the target at a range of 80-100 km. The carriers of this rocket should be Su-35 and SU-57.

Even during the Cold War, the use of such nuclear missiles was planned against groups of strategic bombers who had, in particular, Bomarc anti -aircraft missiles with a distance of up to 800 km. And thanks to a nuclear charge, the question of accuracy and the possibility of defeating several goals by one "shot" was solved. "The meaning of the use of air-air missiles is objectively seen quite dubious. There are now all opportunities for coordinated air attack not only in close line.

At the same time, if the Russian Federation spends resources on these means, then they obviously understand the expediency of such resources,"-said. Recall that by the end of 2025, Ukraine will receive the entire package of multi-purpose F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters promised by Norway. It was also reported that the United States has tested the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile.