Status of the Mig-31 Foxhound.

[Pilotasso]

Hey guys.

 

Searching all the books I have about this IMHO the most dangerous russian aircraft in service, I have realy got no reliable up to date information about it.

 

So I would like to hear from people in the know about its newest developments, capabilities and operational service.

 

ED's staff input would be very welcome since they had put valuable insights of the russian AF before in these forums wich isnt widely publicitized on magazines.

 

 

Go ahead. Be back later to read.

 

Cheers.

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

Work on MiG-31M started some 20 years ago. Bur Russian air force did not have money to buy it at the time. I don't know what the situation is right now. You don't hear much about MiG-31. It is in its own class.

[zakobi]

There where a mig-31m with big pods on the wing tips, can see if i can find the picture...

[zakobi]

here it is:

 

 

Note also the r-77 under the wings

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

Those are ECM pods right? Single piece windshield, refueling probe, R-77 ... It does look like MiG-31M. I wonder if improved Zaslon-M is on pictured airplane?

[Vekkinho]

Here's a good MiG-31 video by Smotr:

http://www.aviapedia.com/videos/fighters/Mig-31/MiG-31_Smotr.wmv

[gigz-on]

MiG-31BM in Lipetsk

 

[Boberro]

Some time I read Russia has modernised their fleet of 31s to BM version. I read they've changed many things there.

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

Some time I read Russia has modernised their fleet of 31s to BM version. I read they've changed many things there.

BM upgrade never took place according to MiG-31 book by Yefim Gordon (page 94).

[Pilotasso]

dude, diversify your sources, not him again! :D

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

dude, diversify your sources, not him again! :D

I am not "dude" for you young man! What book about MiG-31 do you recommend?

[Pilotasso]

If Im asking about Mig-31 how can I do that?

[Vekkinho]

It's correct, there's only a handful of BM (testbeds) but most of airworthy Foxhounds are brought up to M standard with R-77 support, glass cockpit and GPS+GLONASS receivers.

 

There's many versions of MiG-31 today: S,BS but most of it are M versions.

[EvilBivol-1]

It's the other way around. The MiG-31M is dead and there is some momentum to upgrade the existing fleet to the MiG-31BM standard. However, it's not clear exactly what this standard is and it may not be the same thing it was some years a go. AFAIK, it's also not clear how many machines have been and will be upgraded.

 

In any case, it's a very unclear time right now as the Russian military, including the AF is undergoing major reforms with a lot of restructuring and downsizing. Perhaps around the middle of next year we'll have a better idea of what's left and where.

[Pilotasso]

Thx Bivol, so thats why info about this plane is so scarce. Personaly would love to have in FC 2.0 :D, it doesnt get much higher and faster than that.

[Majesco]

There where a mig-31m with big pods on the wing tips, can see if i can find the picture...

 

They're wingtip-mounted ECM pods with small delta fins projecting up and down at the rear to improve directional stability (RFA - Mikoyan MiG-31 by Yefim Gordon, page 86) :)

Edited November 28, 2009 by Majesco

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

I wonder what is the status of the R-37 missile? Has it ever entered the service? MiG-31M and R-37 are incredible powerful system which could deny huge amount of airspace to the opponent.

[Boberro]

IIRC in 1997 researches stopped due of Ukrainian way out of project.

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

it looks like the R-33S is available ...