Hello everyone. Welcome back to another episode of Military TV. In today’s episode, we are going
to take a look at a Russian supersonic interceptor aircraft Mikoyan MiG 31 and see what’s so special
about it. If you eager to learn more about this topic, stay with us and don’t go anywhere.
Also known as Foxhound by its NATO reporting name, Mikoyan MiG-31 is a supersonic interceptor
aircraft which was built for the Soviet Air Forces. Famous for being one of the
fastest combat jets in the world, MiG-31 was designed and manufactured by Mikoyan,
a Russian aerospace and defense company headquartered in Moscow. MiG-31 is based on and
shares similar elements with the MiG-25 and indeed was made to replace the earlier MiG-25 “Foxbat”.
The Defense Ministry of Russia expects the MiG-31 to be active in service until 2030 and beyond,
this statement was confirmed in 2020 when the government released an announcement about
extending the service lifetime from 2,500 to 3,500 hours on the existing airframe.
Let’s first take a look at the history of Mikoyan MiG-31.
The Soviet Union's Air Defense Forces (VPVO) required a number of large interceptors to
monitor its vast boundaries during the Cold War. Most "light" fighters, such as the early MiGs,
were not adequate to the task, as they lacked the range and speed to quickly climb and intercept
supersonic American bombers flying over the Arctic to drop bombs on the Soviet Union.
The single-seat MiG-25 could fly at high speeds, altitudes, and rates of climb; nevertheless,
it lacked maneuverability at low altitudes and was difficult to fly. The MiG-25's top speed was
generally limited to Mach 2.83, although with the danger of engine damage, it might reach Mach 3.2
or higher. Development of the replacement for MiG-25 started with Ye-155MP prototype which
flew on 16 September 1975. Though it shared some similar characteristics with MiG-25, the prototype
had a longer fuselage capable of housing the radar operator’s cockpit and was designed quite
differently. A notable development at this stage was the MiG-31’s advanced radar, with the skill
for both look-up and look-down confrontation, as well as numerous target tracking.
With far more sophisticated weapons, sensors and enhanced capacity of range which was almost
doubled from the MiG-25, the MiG-31 substituted the Tu-128 as the long-range interceptor serving
the Soviet Union since 1960s. The updated capacity of MiG-31 gave the Soviet Union
an interceptor with the efficacy to confront the Western intruders comprised of low-flying
missiles and bombers at comparably long range. The MiG-31 began to be serially produced in 1979.
A flock of four MiG-31 interceptors can control an airspace with a total length
of 800 to 900 kilometers, and its radar was capable of detecting targets up to a maximum
range of 200 kilometers in distance with typical detection width along the front of 225 kilometers.
Design-wise, the MiG-31 was expectedly skilled to fulfill several objectives;
first, to intercept cruise missiles as well as the launching aircraft by seizing missile launch
range in the quickest possible mean. Second, to safeguard the strategic bombers in long
range missions. Third, detect and attack low flying cruise missiles, UAVs and helicopters.
And lastly, to supply possible air defense in some areas which are not protected
by ground-based, air defense systems. The production of MiG-31 ended in 1994.
For the first batch of production, the total of 519 MiG-31s including 349 “baseline models”
were produced at the Sokol plant between the period of 1976 and 1988, while the final batch
of MiG-31B variant was produced between 1990 and 1994. From the final phase of production, the
total 50 aircraft were acquired by the Kazakhstan Air Force following the fall of the Soviet Union.
Now, let’s see what kind of features the MiG-31 has.
Just like its predecessor MiG-25, MiG-31 is a large twin-engine aircraft with side-mounted
intake ramps and shoulder-mounted wings with 2.94 ratio aspect along with two vertical tailfins.
Thanks to its highly aerodynamic and streamlined body, MiG-31 is skilled when it comes to flying
with high speeds at relatively low altitude. However, it doesn’t hamper the aircraft from
tracking multiple targets concomitantly at high altitudes, as the design allows MiG-31 to do so.
On the other hand, combined materials like welded nickel steel,
titanium, aluminium alloy, and composites made up the aircraft’s airframe, with each of the
materials has different portion of percentage. Looking through its cockpit, MiG-31 is
complemented with digital avionics such as multi-function displays (MFDs) and liquid crystal
displays (LCDs) to help the aircraft keep updated instrument readings and information regarding
the radar. On both the front and back sides of the cockpit zero ejection seats are installed
to allow the pilot to fly at his or her selected height and airspeed. The pilot sits in the front
cockpit seat, while the weapon system officer (WSO) sits in the back cockpit seat, supervising
radar operations and weapon deployment, reducing the pilot's workload and enhancing efficiency.
For the armament, MiG-31 is fitted with four long-range R-33 air-to-air missiles codenamed
AA-9 ‘Amos’ by NATO. The launching of R-33 can be done in inertial navigation mode in order to
destroy targets at extreme range. Four R-60MK short-range missiles and two Bisnovat R-40TD1
medium-range missiles are also on board. The MiG-31 aircraft has a six-barrel 30mm internal gun
(Ghs-6-23M) mounted above the starboard main landing gear bay.
The cannon has an ammunition capacity of 800 rounds and can fire at a rate of nearly 10,000
shots per minute. The AA-12 Adder missile and numerous Russian air-to-ground missiles (AGMs),
such as the AS-17 Krypton anti-radiation missile, can be carried by the MiG-31BM variant.
On top of that, MiG-31 is designed to take out huge, fast targets like the SR-71 Blackbird,
B-1 Lancer bomber, and B-52 Stratofortress. Presently, the MiG-31 is considered the standard
long-range interceptor of the Russian Air Force, and is expected to be active until the 2030s. The
MiG-31 was also chosen as the primary carrier aircraft for the Kinzhal hypersonic missile.
A “mid-life upgrade” of the MiG-31 is currently being procured, and this modification will
integrate a number of new strike weapons onto the MiG-31 and modernizes most of its systems.
Lastly, let’s take a look at the operational history of MiG-31.
The main operator of MiG-31 is the Soviet Union Air Forces. In 1981, the Soviet Air
Defence Forces (PVO) deployed the MiG-31 in combat. More than a decade later, in 1992,
Russia offered the MiG-31 to Finland as part of a new fighter selection program,
but the offer was not accepted because Russia had already presented the MiG-29.
Finland declined the offer and instead recruited a fresh fighter from a selection program.
On the other side, Syria ordered eight MiG-31E aircraft for its air force in 2007.
The order was apparently delayed in May 2009 due to Israeli pressure or a shortage of Syrian cash.
Six MiG-31s were reportedly supplied to the Syrian Arab Air Force on August 15, 2015,
according to Turkish news outlets, but Russia denied making MiG-31 aircraft to Syria.
Anyway, that’s all for today. Thanks for watching and see you in the next episode!