Mikoyan MiG-31

The Mikoyan MiG-31 'Foxhound' is a supersonic aircraft originally designed as a long-range interceptor against American tactical bombers during the Cold War. However, today it is also employed as a ground-attack aircraft. In this latter role, the MiG-31 is much superior to any American or NATO's ground-attack aircraft because of its supersonic speed (3,000 km/h), service ceiling, maneuverability and combat range as it can carry a wide variety of weapons, from anti-radiation missiles and smart bombs to ballistic missiles. The Russian Air Force has approximately 120 MiG-31 aircraft in its arsenal. It was developed from the MiG-25 Foxbat to replace it. During its test flight, the prototype, the Ye-266, broke the world records flying at 37,655 m of altitude.

Characteristics

Developed by the State-run Mikoyan-Gurevich factory during the Soviet era, the Foxhound, as it is known in the West, has cropped swept-back wings, which are mounted on the fuselage shoulder of the aircraft. For stability, this aircraft was equipped with twin, vertical tailfins and swept-back tails. Its two powerful jet engines are fitted with two rectangular air intakes, which are located right under the wings. Its power plant consists of two afterburning turbofan engines (Soloviev D30F6).

The upgraded versions of this Russian aircraft (the MiG-31D, MiG-31M, and MiG-31BM) is fitted with a Zaslon-M radar, which can simultaneously detect and track up to 24 targets to a distance of 320 km. The MiG-31BM variant is the only aircraft in the world which can intercept and knock out low-flying cruise missiles. The extremely fast combat aircraft was the only interceptor able to detect and repel the US SR-71 Blackbird from the Russian skies during the Cold War.

Specifications

Length: 22.62 m

Wingspan: 13.45 m

Wing area: 61.6 m²

Height: 6.4 m

Empty weight: 21,850 kg

Maximum speed: 3,000 km/h (Mach 2.83)

Range: 3,100 km

Crew: 2

Below, the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-31 in flight in November 1982

Below, MiG-31 at a military base near Moscow