Breaking news
Three upgraded MiG-31BM interceptor aircraft delivered to Far East Russian Air Force regiment.
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World Defense & Security News - Russia
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Three upgraded MiG-31BM interceptor aircraft delivered to Far East Russian Air Force regiment
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The Russian Air Force air regiment at Tsentralnaya Uglovaya AFB near Vladivostok received its first three upgraded Mikoyan MiG-31BM (NATO reporting name: Foxhound) interceptors. The new-generation hardware boosted their effectiveness by 2.6 times, Pacific Fleet Spokesman Roman Martov told journalists on Friday, Dec. 25, 2015.
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 A RuAF MiG-31BM interceptor aircraft |
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"With their latest avionics, the planes are another batch taken on strength as part of the regiment’s conversion to advanced materiel. The new-generation avionics and weapons have made the MiG-31BM [variant] 2.6 times more effective than the [baseline MiG-31] is," Martov said.
He added that the regiment’s aircraft fleet of Su-27s (Flanker) and MiG-31s was to be replaced with new-generation aircraft during 2016. Several advanced Su-30M2 multirole fighters were received in late 2014. "The flying and ground crews had converted to the Su-30SM and Generation 4++ Su-35S (Flanker-E) supermaneuverable multirole fighters and MiG-31BM high-altitude interceptors by early December 2015," Martov said. He added that the conversion training had been given at the Defense Ministry Aviation Personnel Training and Field Test Center. The upgraded MiG-31BM interceptor is designed for long-range interception of aerial threats out of reach of ordinary fighters. The type can employ net-centric command and control techniques, operating as part of a package of other aircraft. The MiG-31BM carries an electronically scanned phased array radar. Its weapons suite includes R-33 (AA-9 Amos) long-range and R-73 (AA-11 Archer) short-range air-to-air missiles. The aircraft measures 21.62 m in length and has a maximum takeoff weight of 46.2 tons, a maximum high-altitude speed pf 3,000 km/h, a service ceiling of 20,600 m and a practical range of 3,000 km with four R-33s and two drop tanks. The MiG-31BM has the mid-air refueling capability and is powered by two D-30F6 engines with a takeoff thrust of 15,500-kgf each. According to US publication Military Balance, the Russian Air Force has a fleet of 50 MiG-31BMs and about 100 MiG-31s in other variants. |
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