Russia Uses R-77M Air-to-Air Missile in Ukraine, Sets New Longest Range Engagement Record at Nearly 200 Kilometers

In a major advancement of air combat capability, the Russian Air Force has reportedly deployed the R-77M air-to-air missile in active combat over Ukraine, with confirmed engagements from nearly 200 kilometers away—the longest known intercept distance ever recorded in real warfare.

A photo released on July 24, 2025, showed a Russian Su-35S fighter armed with the R-77M, confirming its operational use. Previously seen only in test imagery with Su-57 stealth jets, this is the first verified combat deployment. Ukrainian sources also confirmed the presence of matching missile wreckage, supporting its use in battle.

The R-77M (also called K-77M or Izdeliye 180) is a completely overhauled version of the original R-77 missile, eliminating the older lattice fins and replacing them with cropped cruciform stabilizers to reduce drag and radar signature. Developed for compatibility with both the Su-35S and Su-57, it marks a generational leap in Russian missile technology.

With its dual-pulse solid-fuel motor, the R-77M maintains thrust during flight, pushing its effective range to a reported 190–200 km. It uses an AESA radar seeker (9B-1348M) for better lock-on and electronic countermeasure resistance, and is believed to support hybrid guidance modes, enabling precise tracking even under jamming.

The missile's speed reportedly exceeds Mach 4.2, with terminal velocities around 5100 km/h, and it can operate up to 30,000 meters altitude, withstanding up to 27 Gs during maneuvers. It is designed to intercept fighters, cruise missiles, and even incoming air-to-air threats, giving Russian jets a strong standoff advantage.

Already integrated with Su-35S, Su-30SM2, Su-57, MiG-31BM, and potentially future aircraft like the Su-75, the R-77M greatly enhances Russia’s air superiority. Its recent use in long-range patrol missions over Ukraine threatens legacy fighters like the MiG-29, which lack comparable reach or countermeasures.

Until now, the European MBDA Meteor missile held the longest recorded intercept in real combat at just over 130 km, achieved during a Royal Air Force engagement in 2024. However, the R-77M's near-200 km combat use surpasses this, establishing a new global record for air-to-air missile range in wartime conditions.

While the Meteor, with its ramjet propulsion and wide no-escape zone, remains a top-tier Western missile, Russia’s R-77M has now taken the lead in terms of practical engagement distance. A possible future version of the R-77M, called R-77ME (Izdeliye 180-PD), may introduce ramjet power similar to Meteor, but it has yet to be fielded.

With the R-77M now entering routine frontline service, its deployment signals a new chapter in air combat, giving Russia the longest-range air-to-air missile kill on record and forcing adversaries to rethink their aerial tactics and survivability.