Russian exercise for air refueling of MiG-31BM aircraft starts.

According to information published by the Russian Ministry of Defense on July 16, 2021, the flight-tactical exercise of the crews of MiG-31BM interceptor fighters, Su-34 fighter-bombers and Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft of the aviation division of the Central Military District has started in Eastern Siberia.

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MiG-31BM aircraft (Picture source: Aviations militaires)

Pilots of MiG-31BM fighter-interceptors of the fighter aviation regiment of the Central Military District, stationed in the Krasnoyarsk territory, have started performing flights to refuel with fuel from the Il-78 air tanker.

The crews will perform the most difficult element of flight training at an altitude of up to 8000 meters.

The tactical flight exercise for air refueling will be completed at the end of next week. It will involve about 30 MiG-31BM, Su-34, Su-24MR aircraft and an Il-78 tanker, more than 300 military personnel from among the flight, engineering and technical personnel, flight control and support groups.

The Mig-31BM is the latest version of the MiG-31 fighter family. First prototype was introduced in 1998. The second prototype was completed in 2006. In 2011 Russian MoD signed the first contract to upgrade a total of 60 aircraft to the new standard.

The Mikoyan MiG-31 (Foxhound) is a supersonic interceptor aircraft developed for use by the Soviet Armed Forces.

Due to the modernization of avionics and new-generation weapons, the efficiency of the MiG-31BM fighter-interceptor has almost tripled compared to the original MiG-31

The MiG-31BM supersonic fighter-interceptor is designed for long-term patrolling and fighting high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, strategic bombers and low-flying air targets. The aircraft is capable of simultaneously hitting 6 air targets and following up to 10 air targets.