[REGNUM.RU] A Russian Su-35 multirole fighter jet destroyed a Ukrainian MiG-29 aircraft from a distance of approximately 190 km. This was reported by Military Watch Magazine (MWM).
According to military experts, this may be the longest combat hit on a target recorded in the air.
The incident occurred on June 27 in the airspace of the Poltava region, where a Ukrainian MiG-29 crashed after a direct hit. According to the publication, the strike was carried out by a long-range R-37M air-to-air guided missile. Experts noted that the successful use of this weapon at a range of 190 km significantly changes the tactics of air combat in the special military operation zone.
This type of munition was originally developed for MiG-31BM interceptors, but in the early 2020s, the missile was successfully adapted to the technical capabilities of Su-35 fighters. The projectile possesses unique characteristics and is capable of reaching speeds approaching Mach 6. The maximum range of the R-37M is up to 400 km when launched from a MiG-31BM and up to 350 km when fired from an Su-35S.
On June 27, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that a MiG-29 fighter jet crashed in the Poltava region. It was on a combat mission. The agency stated that the pilot was able to eject. The cause of the plane's crash was not disclosed.
On June 27, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Russian forces, using a Geran-4 Seeker UAV, destroyed two Ukrainian Army MiG-29 fighter jets carrying their air-to-air weapons at the Voznesensk airfield in the Mykolaiv region. Additionally, a refueling tanker, an APA-5D special vehicle (airfield mobile unit), and the flight and engineering personnel who arrived to prepare the aircraft for takeoff were destroyed.