Upgraded MiG-31BMs drill air fight in stratosphere in Kamchatka.

Upgraded MiG-31BM high-altitude fighters-interceptors have been engaged in an air fight in the stratosphere at an altitude of more than 20 kilometers for the first time. The crews trained to intercept potential violators of the Russian airspace in Kamchatka region, the Pacific Fleet said.

MiG-31BM fighter jet (Picture source: TASS)

"In accordance with a combat training plan the crews of MiG-31BM high-altitude fighters-interceptors of the Pacific Fleet naval aviation deployed in Kamchatka region trained to intercept potential violators of the Russian airspace. New upgraded high-altitude MiG-31BM fighters-interceptors took part in an air fight for the first time (...). The flight was made at an altitude of more than 20 kilometers at a speed of 2,500 km per hour," the fleet’s press service said.

One of the MiG-31BM aircraft played the role of the potential violator of the Russian air border. Its task was to penetrate into the Russian airspace in the lower layers of the stratosphere; crossed the established military line and evade possible chase. Another MiG-31BM fighter-interceptor, which was on station, went aloft to intercept the violator. The MiG-31BM fighter-interceptor faced a hard challenge of searching for the adversary independently without support from ground-based air defense aids.

After the target acquisition the pilots carried out electronic launches of long-range air-to-air missiles. The MiG-31BM crews made six sorties into the stratosphere in one flying shift. "The training event was a phase in mastering new modernized aviation equipment and improving the skills of interceptor pilots necessary for going on station to defend the national airspace," the fleet said.

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