MiG-31 FOXHOUND
(MIKOYAN-GUREVICH)
The most capable Russian air defense interceptor aircraft, the
FOXHOUND has a multiple-target engagement capability and was the
first Soviet fighter to have a true look-down, shoot-down
capability. The key to the MiG-31's effectiveness is the SBI-16
Zaslon fixed phased array antenna radar, codenamed 'Flash Dance' by
NATO, which is said to be the world's most powerful fighter radar.
The new Soloviev D-30F6 engine was specified for the MiG-31 in
order to improve range, the key performance parameter for which an
improvement over the MiG-25 was demanded. By 1987 over 150
FOXHOUNDs were operationally deployed at several locations from the
Arkhangelsk area in the northwestern USSR to the Soviet Far East.
The FOXHOUND is dedicated to the homeland air defense mission. The
FOXHOUND carries the long-range AA-9 air-to-air missiles, and can
engage 4 different targets simuitaneouly with the M-9.
The wings of the aircraft are high-mounted and swept-back with
square tips and a negative slant. There are four underwing pylons.
There are two turbofan engines in the fuselage. There are
rectangular and diagonal cut air intakes on sides of the fuselage.
The exhausts extend beyond the tail plane. The fuselage is
rectangular from the intakes to the exhausts and has a long,
pointed nose. The aircraft has a bubble canopy. The tail fins are
back-tapered with angular tips and canted outward. The flats are
swept-back and tapered and mid- to low-mounted on the body.
In 1992 the Chinese reached agreement with the Russian Federation
to buy 24 MiG-31 Foxhound long-range interceptors. The MiG-31s were
expected to be assembled at a newly set-up factory in Shenyang,
with production at a rate of four per month expected by 2000. The
last aircraft was to be delivered by the year 2000. According to
some reports the agreement included a license to build as many as
700 aircraft, and some projection envisioned that at least 200
would actually be deployed by the year 2010.
The first stage of tests of the upgraded MiG-31BM high-speed
multifunctional long-range jet fighter were completed in mid-1999.
The main difference between the MiG-31P (Foxhound, according to the
NATO classification) and the new MiG-31BM multifunctional air
strike system is that the latter is capable of destroying both air
and ground targets. The designers and manufacturers of the MiG-31
hope that the new modification will result in international sales.
The upgraded MiG-31BM is fitted with a powerful onboard computer
system and a radar with a phased array which will allow the pilot
to simultaneously activate the air-to-air and air-to-surface
missile fire modes. When working with air targets, the MiG-31BM is
capable of intercepting up to 24 targets simultaneously.
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/airdef/mig-31.htm
