New Delhi. “Op Sindoor”, the four day India–Pakistan conflict, saw great play between the missile systems of the two countries. The Indian side was armed mainly with Russian, French, Israeli and Indian missiles. Pakistan with American and Chinese missiles. Missiles have become more accurate; the effective operational ranges have become larger; no escape zones have increased; they have become more autonomous; and can operate in heavy electronic countermeasures environment. In the Ukraine conflict, the Western world has given a few of its missiles to Ukraine to take on the Russian onslaught. The Russians, on the other hand, have used the conflict as a proving ground for its top-end missiles.
Russia is a leading missile manufacturer with a long history of missile development and the ability to significantly increase its production. Russian missile manufacturers produce a broad spectrum of weapons, including ballistic and cruise missiles, air-launched cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, and air defence systems. Russia’s top air-to-air missiles (AAM) cruise at very high speeds, have Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar seekers and are meant for ultra-long-range engagements, including some dedicated to take on High Value Air Assets (HVAA) such as Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) and Flight Refuelling Aircraft (FRA).
Notably, one of the Pakistani aircraft downed was an AEW&C aircraft, as per Pakistani media reports.
Missiles Now Have to be Increasingly High Tech
Many missiles are designed to counter stealth aircraft and feature high resistance to jamming. Russia itself has a substantial missile inventory, and its production has increased significantly since 2022. The Russian defence industry’s performance is linked to state support, which allows for heavy subsidies and a focus on specific production objectives.
India has been using Soviet/Russian aerial missiles since the early 1960s, and they have performed very well against Western missile-armed aircraft of Pakistani forces. Both India and Russia saw opportunities in working together and set up BrahMos Aerospace, the Indo-Russian joint venture that designs, develops, and produces the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. This missile saw great success in “Op Sindoor” and is being sought by many foreign customers.
Top Global Missile Manufacturers
Leading global missile manufacturers include major US companies like RTX, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing; European defence firms such as BAE Systems and MBDA; Israel Aerospace Industries; and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, among others. The leading missile manufacturers in Russia include Almaz-Antey, which focuses on air defence and anti-aircraft systems; Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV), a major developer of a wide range of missiles, including air-to-air, anti-ship, and cruise missiles; and KB Mashinostroyeniya (part of Rostec), which produces key systems like the Iskander ballistic and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.
The Votkinsk Machine Building Plant is also a significant producer, specializing in ICBMs and SLBMs such as the Yars and Bulava. These companies produce a wide range of missiles, from tactical and cruise missiles to ballistic and air defence systems. Other manufacturers are Strela PO, Avangard PO, and Vympel OKB.
Top Russian Air-to Air Missiles
Russia’s top air-to-air missiles (AAM) include the R-37M, a long-range hypersonic missile designed to target aircraft like AWACS from safe distances. R-37M is an updated version of the R-37, and has a range of nearly 300 km. It is compatible with various Russian fighters, including the MiG-31BM, Su-35S, and Su-57. The newer R-77-1 (RVV-SD), an upgrade of R-77, is a next-generation, active radar-homing missile with a 200 km range, and is intended to counter stealth aircraft. It features an advanced AESA radar seeker and is highly resistant to jamming.
Other notable missiles include the ultra-long-range AAM KS-172 (also known as the K-100 or RVV-L) with a 400 km range. It was designed to be an “AWACS killer” and is reportedly in service with the Russian Air Force and has been integrated with the upgraded Mikoyan MiG-31BM interceptor aircraft. The details of any deal with India are not clear.
Russia is introducing new nuclear-tipped air-to-air missiles as part of an overall expansion of its nuclear forces, according to an assessment from the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).
The baseline version of the R-77 is Russia’s counterpart to the American AIM-120 AMRAAM. Its export version designated RVV-AE is with India, used on the MiG-21 Bison (just retired), MiG-29UPG, Su-30MKI, and the Indian Navy’s MiG-29K aircraft. RVV-AE’s range is approximately 80 km. The R-77-1 variant is 110 km.
For long, India has operated the Russian R-27 AAM (range 75 km). The extended-range R-27ER can reach up to 130 km. India also has the R-73 AAM, a widely used short-range missile with a range of up to 40 km.
Top Russian Air-to-Ground Missiles
Russia’s top air-to-ground missiles include the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal. This hypersonic missile (Mach 10) can carry conventional or nuclear warheads, and has an estimated range of up to 480 km. Its speed and manoeuvrability make it difficult to intercept. The Kh-59MK2 is a long-range precision-guided missile designed to strike radar-contrast targets at long distances, day or night. The Kh-31 is a multi-role supersonic missile that can be configured for anti-ship or anti-radiation roles, and is used by various countries. Other significant missiles include the Kh-38M, a modern modular missile that can be used against a variety of targets, and has been used in combat in both Syria and Ukraine. Kh-55 is a subsonic cruise missile with a long range that can be used against ground targets. Kh-29 is a medium-range missile with various guidance systems, used against different types of targets. The latter two being older but still functional variants. Indian Air Force (IAF) Su-30MKI carry variants of the Kh-29, Kh-59, and Kh-31 missiles.
Russia’s Top Air-to-Sea Missiles
Russia’s primary air-launched anti-submarine capabilities rely on specialized aircraft, such as the Tu-142M3M. Missiles include the hypersonic 3M22 Zircon, the supersonic P-800 Oniks, and the Kalibr cruise missile family. The Kh-35 is another widely used subsonic, turbojet anti-ship and anti-radar cruise missile often deployed from helicopters or ships. 3M22 Zircon is a scramjet-powered, hypersonic, nuclear-capable cruise missile with a reported speed of Mach 9, making it difficult to intercept.
While produced for frigates and submarines, its air-launched variants are also possible. P-800 Oniks supersonic anti-ship cruise missile can also be launched from land or sea. It uses a sea-skimming trajectory to avoid defences. The P-800 Oniks and the newer 3M22 Zircon can target large surface vessels and coastal infrastructure, but their primary design is not specifically for engaging submerged submarines.
Kalibr is a family of cruise missiles, also having air-launched versions. Some variants can achieve a supersonic terminal speed to reduce reaction time for air defence systems. Other notable air-launched missiles include Kh-31, an air-to-ship missile in service since 1988, used by Russia and other countries. Kh-59 is an air-launched, long-range, guided missile for use against surface ships and ground targets. Indian Navy’s MiG-29K aircraft also carry air-to-ground and anti-ship missiles such as the Kh-35 (AS-20 Kayak) and supersonic Kh-31A (AS-17 Krypton).
Russia’s Top Surface-to-Air Missiles
Russia’s top surface-to-air missiles (SAM) include the S-400 “Triumf”, the S-500 “Prometheus”, and the Buk-M3. The S-400 is a widely deployed, advanced system with a range of up to 400 km, while the newer S-500 is a longer range system with a reported range of 600 km, and designed to intercept a variety of aerial targets including ballistic missiles. The Buk-M3 (medium range) is another key system, and the Pantsir S-1 is a short-range system. The S-300, a predecessor to the S-400, remains a long-range air defence system in service with a range of up to 150 km.
The S-400, used in “Op Sindoor” by IAF, is a mobile SAM system, designed as a fourth-generation long-range system capable of engaging a wide range of targets, including aircraft, UAVs, and cruise missiles.
The main operators of S-400 are Russia, India, China, Turkey and Belarus. India ordered five S-400 regiments in October 2018. Three systems have been delivered. The remaining two are expected in February and November 2026 respectively. On 5 August 2025, India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the comprehensive annual maintenance contract of S-400 missile systems.
Purchase of five additional systems of S-400 is being contemplated. These systems will be either directly delivered from Russia or jointly manufactured in India. Meanwhile, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the procurement of additional missiles worth over ₹10,000 crore. This move is intended to replenish the S-400’s arsenal and maintain its effectiveness, following its successful deployment in “Op Sindoor”. The acquisition includes missiles with ranges of 120-380 km.
IAF’s Russian Missiles
IAF’s S-400 system is named Sudarshan Chakra and is unified with the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS). In July 2024, during an air defence exercise of the IAF, the S-400 system “shot down” 80 percent of the “aggressor aircraft”.
To recall, it was on 10 May 2025 that an IAF S‑400 system intercepted and destroyed a PAF AEW&C aircraft approximately 314 km inside Pakistani airspace, a record-breaking farthest kill by any SAM system.
India uses the Russian-made 9K33 Osa variants, also known as the SA-8 Gecko, for tactical air defence. The system is integrated into India’s layered air defence strategy, and indigenization efforts by companies like Pinaka Aerospace Solutions have been undertaken to improve its capabilities. The system can engage multiple threats and is deployed to protect airfields, ground forces, and critical assets.
India also uses the Russian-origin S-125 Pechora SAM system as a cornerstone of its air defence. Inducted in 1974-75, the system has been a significant part of the Indian Air Force (IAF)’s defence for decades, operating in 25 squadrons to counter low-to-medium altitude threats like aircraft and drones. Then, there is the Igla-S, a shoulder-fired, man-portable air-defence system (MANPADS), or SAM operated by India. Verba (9K333) is the newer MANPADS intended to replace the Igla-S in Russian service, featuring a multispectral seeker for better countermeasures resistance.
Russia’s Top Surface to Surface Missiles
Russia’s top surface-to-surface missiles (SSM) include the 9M730 Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed cruise missile, the only missiles of its kind in the world. Other notable systems include the Kalibr cruise missile family, capable of being launched from various platforms including disguised shipping containers, and the Iskander tactical ballistic missile system. Russia claims the Burevestnik has an “unlimited range” and can overcome hostile missile defence systems due to its low-altitude, unpredictable flight path. It is described as a strategic weapon intended to strike heavily protected targets after an initial attack. Iskander, a tactical ballistic missile system, is designed to attack targets like command centres, troop concentrations, and missile defence sites. The “Club-K” is a Kalibr containerized missile system variant that can be placed on various platforms, including ships, trucks, and railcars.
BrahMos Variants
The BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia, capable of speeds up to Mach 2.8. It can be launched from land, sea, sub-sea, and air, and features fire-and-forget and stealth technology to hit targets with precision.
The missile system has been upgraded to include long-range variants (up to 800 km), and India is developing a next-generation version and a hypersonic variant. This missile incorporates stealth technology to reduce its radar signature. The next-generation (NG) version being developed will be lighter, stealthier, with a smaller radar signature, and an advanced radar. It can be carried by many fighters, including the LCA ‘Tejas’. The hypersonic version (BrahMos-2) is designed to achieve speeds around Mach 8. India now has a dedicated BrahMos manufacturing facility in Lucknow, which handles the complete assembly, integration, and testing process.
The establishment of this facility is a key part of India’s “Make-in-India, Make-for-the-World” initiative, aiming for self-reliance and export capability in defence manufacturing.
What Interests India Immediately
While continental sized India pushes its indigenous Project Kusha multi-layered, long-range air defence system being developed by DRDO, India needs additional S-400 units. The purchase will fill air defence capabilities gaps along its coastline and northern borders. With Pakistan acquiring PL-15 missiles (180 km range) from China, they have out-ranged Indian MBDA Meteor and existing Russian R-27 and R-77 missiles. India thus needs longer range AAMs. While India is pushing development of longer range indigenous Astra-2 (200 km) and Astra-3 (350 km) missiles, Russian R-37M (export version designated RVV-BD with 200 km range) could be inducted quickly, and greatly supplement capability. It could easily be integrated on Su-30MKI. India should seek the 300 km range original variant that will restore the balance in India’s favour.
For Air-to-Surface, development of BrahMos-2 variant needs to be accelerated. Since it’s a joint venture and significant technology has to come from Russia, the same needs to be hastened. Verba (9K333) is the newer MANPADS with 6.5 kilometre range and 4.5 kilometre altitude, vis-à-vis Igla-S (6.0 and 3.5 kilometres respectively). It may interest India.
The Oreshnik (hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile with MIRV capability) and Burevestnik cruise missiles and Poseidon super-torpedoes (autonomous, nuclear-powered unmanned underwater vehicle) give Russia an edge for the foreseeable future.
Its openness to sharing Oreshnik systems with allies should interest India. The Russia–India relationship is a win-win for both and must continue to be nurtured. Missiles are the great area for increased cooperation.
Note: The article was originally written by the Author for India Strategic on, December, 22nd, 2025, it has since been updated.
Header Picture Credit: Hindustan Times
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