MiG-31BM/Κ Interceptor/Attack aircraft: News

You can probably modify the rocket to be much more efficient then any land based launch. Remember the rocket is designed to launch from sea level to space and from a standstill to mach 20 or whatever.. (orbit is M23.2). If you are accelerating from mach 2.8 and 20K m altitude the backpressure is much lower and you can also design for a much higher exhaust velocity, So the fuel needed will drop massively.

lancelot wrote:

Soyuz is based on the R-7 rocket. This was originally meant to be used as an ICBM. Back then they achieved launch times in a couple of hours. Not months.
The thing which takes the longest is fueling up the rocket. Back then they made special high performance pumps to do it.

Not sure what you mean by 2 hours but don't think soyuz or icbm level rockets are manufactured like that...lot if serialized but there are still lot of things that are hand made to get the precision and 100% qc vs statistical.

But if we are talking about small launches I think a much more viable platform would be the R-29 SLBM family. It uses liquid fuel so it should be easy to throttle for high efficiency complex flights. Also the launch platform is a submarine so it should be quite easy to hide.

[/quote]
This approach is more realistic

..if it is launching micro satellites that isn't necessarily an act of war you know.

If an H-6 can be used to launch them, so could the TU-22M/160Ms.
The unknown large Ms seen on MiG-31s could be new ASh/ASW/CMs, or drones.

Could be manythings....we have not seen mig-31 launching orbit loads of anykind since that one offish....most experiments are carried out with controlled params and same with US shooting SATs or China....war time is much harder to predict.

The US and China are not testing shooting Satellites with mach 2.83 fighter aircraft linked into IADS that has OTH radars and space tracking radars integrating into it for some pretty fundamental reasons... they don't have the option.

For wartime to create capabilities you don't wonder if they might be useful... you calculate.

Sorry I meant " outer space"

Threats that just leave earth atmosphere can be engaged with all sorts of existing Russian weapons including S-400, and soon S-500 and their ABM systems in Moscow.

anyway we have not seen them doing this in its existence so far beyond one or two experiements 2 decades ago. I will change my opinion if more experiments are carried out or deployments happen. Never said its impossible...

It was decades before experiments were admitted to have even happened... so in ten years time when they reveal what they are doing now your opinion will change?

Correct, not urgent or efficient especially now to use it in that role.

Flying a MiG-31 up to top speed and altitude and launching a small rocket is vastly more efficient than preparing and launching a Soyuz launch.

[quoteASAT role is not.[/quote]

Not the BM model, but the K model that is carrying the Kinzhal missile was the anti sat model of MiG.

Launching a missile into space or at a carrier at hypersonic speed don't require radar or other dead weight so it can be made lighter and therefore able to fly higher and faster than the BM model... which makes it better for ASAT and ABM as well as anti carrier purposes.

Let's only talk on open source speculations.

Why... do you think they will spend money making unlimited range nuclear powered cruise missiles but not care what it hits?

nuclear exchange after math I am sure we know what we can anticipate now.

Making sure no one survives is the best chance of making sure it doesn't happen.

Soyuz is based on the R-7 rocket. This was originally meant to be used as an ICBM. Back then they achieved launch times in a couple of hours. Not months.
The thing which takes the longest is fueling up the rocket. Back then they made special high performance pumps to do it.

The locations it could be launched from are limited and the number of locations they would want to observe probably suit a micro satellite... a smaller target for debris and sending a dozen on different separate orbits improves their chances of getting the job done.

One of the problems with the R-7 was the time it took to prepare for launch, which is why the US was so cocky in the cuban missile crisis... they found out the bomber gap and missile gap existed but was in their favour.

But if we are talking about small launches I think a much more viable platform would be the R-29 SLBM family. It uses liquid fuel so it should be easy to throttle for high efficiency complex flights. Also the launch platform is a submarine so it should be quite easy to hide.

Launching micro satellites from a MiG-31 mean a lot less rocket fuel need be used and it could essentially be launched from any conventional airfield across Russia.

SLBMs and ICBMs could be used for lobbing warheads instead of satellites.

So the fuel needed will drop massively.

Indeed most of the energy of the entire first stage of a space rocket is to pick the entire rocket and all its fuel up and get it moving... often more than the weight of the rest of the rocket which then takes over and accelerates the now much lighter rocket higher and faster.

Using an aircraft for the first stage dramatically reduces the weight and cost of the rocket needed.

If an H-6 can be used to launch them , so could the TU-22M/160Ms.

The advantage of the MiG-31 is both speed and altitude... the Tu-160 was planned to launch one because while it is slower and can't climb as high it can carry a much bigger rocket under its fuselage.

The unknown large Ms seen on MiG-31s could be new ASh/ASW/CMs, or drones.

The benefit of that altitude and speed of launch would be very high speed weapons... anti ship is a maybe, but drones and other options don't really make sense.

Anti satellite and anti ABM missiles are most likely.

GarryB wrote:[Why... do you think they will spend money making unlimited range nuclear powered cruise missiles but not care what it hits?

Why open source based specs?
If we don't then we will be bringing what Sr-71 can do and could have done in secret that was never revealed or what x-37B is doing and so on and also UFO's, flying saucers and what not. Rest all is repeat but no convincing evidence beyond experiments in that role for mig-31bm. Yes, if evidence comes out now or in future that it was actively deployed to address those threats beyond an experiment here and there then I will certainly change my opinion. Nothing personal here for me to diss the aircraft and I am still mesmerized by its records, I am just speaking based on intuition, open data, speculation and alternatives available to achieve same thing in its role as ASAT or sat launches

Training of MiG-31BM crews for Victory Day in Yekaterinburg

Nothing personal here for me to diss the aircraft and I am still mesmerized by its records, I am just speaking based on intuition, open data, speculation and alternatives available to achieve same thing in its role as ASAT or sat launches

Does intuition and speculation only come from solid openly revealed facts that can be sourced?

Why open source based specs?

Putin described a cruise missile with nuclear propulsion with effectively unlimited flight range, would it not be intuitive to speculate that when it is launched they really wont know if it target will be damaged at all or not.... it wont arrive first, so lots of other weapons from Russia and even perhaps from China may have already had effects on targets in the location, so updates on the actual situation would be a useful thing.

The programme for MiG-31K launches of satellites has been going for years and the commercial launch of micro satellites is good business and for the military being able to launch large numbers of ad hoc satellites is a valuable resource in case existing satellites are interfered with or attacked.

Rest all is repeat but no convincing evidence beyond experiments in that role for mig-31bm.

There are also plans for the MiG-41 which offers further development and improvement for any programmes for the future.

Yes, if evidence comes out now or in future that it was actively deployed to address those threats beyond an experiment here and there then I will certainly change my opinion

Would not want to force you to change your opinion, but speculation on this forum is acceptable.... there are even threads on UFOs if you look.

GarryB wrote:
Does intuition and speculation only come from solid openly revealed facts that can be sourced?

For most consequential things, one has to limit the context to something like real numbers, positive numbers or cartesian or coordinate plane and so on.

Putin described a cruise missile with nuclear propulsion with effectively unlimited flight range, would it not be intuitive to speculate that when it is launched they really wont know if it target will be damaged at all or not.... it wont arrive first, so lots of other weapons from Russia and even perhaps from China may have already had effects on targets in the location, so updates on the actual situation would be a useful thing.

If there is anyone project that I have doubts on, it is that one. Btw, any updates? Both US and Russia have the ability and past record in sending probes to great distances that carried nuclear power....I just don't think this would carry the pros beyond some initial probing...off topic and you will call me out if I deviate

The programme for MiG-31K launches of satellites has been going for years and the commercial launch of micro satellites is good business and for the military being able to launch large numbers of ad hoc satellites is a valuable resource in case existing satellites are interfered with or attacked.

Totally not the context for mig-31bm. I think you are grasping at the straws to justify....

There are also plans for the MiG-41 which offers further development and improvement for any programmes for the future.

Russia is not SU to get into that mindset of building one off things that add marginal edge if any and rather they focus on asymmetrical and economical alternatives......mig-41 is migs talk and thats all....interceptors of great speed may come in drones in future but piloted one is not looking good and odds are incredibly low even by 2040.

Would not want to force you to change your opinion, but speculation on this forum is acceptable.... there are even threads on UFOs if you look.

Yes but you would tag it as offtopic

For most consequential things, one has to limit the context to something like real numbers, positive numbers or cartesian or coordinate plane and so on.

Actually I think the opposite... discussing things as systems is the best way to go forward because it introduces aspects not normally considered... for instance introducing 2,000km range anti ship missiles on its own is interesting but aspects like how does an aircraft with its radar removed like a MiG-31K find its targets to launch at such distances... there are no sensors on board the aircraft that could possibly detect a US carrier group even at 800km let alone 1,500km range or more that the Kinzhal can reach.

Obviously they get target information from other platforms... satellites and OTH radar that can see 8,000km out from their positions would be ideal solutions for the MiG-31K to receive target information about approaching enemy ships, but as some of these radars also see rather a long way into space the exact same radars could also provide the same aircraft via the same communication channel information about low earth orbit targets that might be worth engaging... with an alternative suitable rocket as seen multiple times during testing flights.

No information has been released but I don't think we are stepping into the boundaries of UFO technology or conspiracy theories about SR-71s to think it could be something they are looking at.

If there is anyone project that I have doubts on, it is that one

Ironically it is probably the most dangerous for the west... most cruise missiles fly very low to be difficult targets for air defences, reducing the range at which they can be detected, meaning to have decent defence coverage you need more systems located closer together to have a chance of even detecting an attack let alone stopping it. The air defence equipment Saudi Arabia is not exactly terrible, but also clearly not enough and it is probably better than most HATO countries including the US who pay even less attention to ground based air defence systems... most western HATO countries rely on aircraft based air defence, but also aircraft based attack, which means when being attacked their ability to attack is diminished and vice versa...

The point is that jet engines are not very fuel or thrust efficient at low altitude so at low altitude all the way their ranges would not be very impressive... the vast majority spend the first major portion of their flight at medium altitude with a relatively low throttle setting to massively improve flight range, but obviously during that flight portion they are easier but not easy to spot as they are generally rather small targets.

The new nuclear powered cruise missiles will fly at very low altitude all the way to the target so will be much harder to detect and if you don't know it is coming, or you do know it is coming but ICBMs and SLBMs have already damaged your country back to the stone age then they will likely have little problem getting through and doing further damage.

I think if Putin had any doubts he probably would not have mentioned it... I would have good confidence in Russian technology developing nuclear powered systems.

Both US and Russia have the ability and past record in sending probes to great distances that carried nuclear power....I just don't think this would carry the pros beyond some initial probing...off topic and you will call me out if I deviate

Things that fly in the air crash and no matter how crashproof you try to make them a nuclear reactor power system that is damaged is a nightmare... except after WWIII has kicked off and then it is just part of the future for the survivors.

It makes sense for a nuclear armed cruise missile... in fact they might incorporate the warhead with the propulsion as a sort of nuclear booster... the point is that when it is used Russia does not expect to remain being Russia... this is essentially a giant middle finger to those in the west it is directed at.

Totally not the context for mig-31bm. I think you are grasping at the straws to justify....

A MiG-31K is essentially a stripped down MiG-31BM... no need for radar or lots of other bits and pieces to reduce weight and increase speed and operational height... previously the useless old MiG-31BMs were gradually being introduced from old airframes because they are useful air defence aircraft in the far north and far east and that is still happening, but now they are also refurbishing MiG-31Ks to a lessor standard for essentially naval forces, but likely still linked to Aerospace Defence forces... they put its engine back into production in fact because of the aircraft they are using...

I don't need to justify anything... the MiG-31 is a very important part of Russian air defence and will remain a cornerstone till the MiG-41 starts to take over in both roles... and to be honest the range and weight capacity and speed and altitude requirements for the MiG-41 will make it even more suitable as a space launcher ABM platform.

mig-41 is migs talk and thats all....interceptors of great speed may come in drones in future but piloted one is not looking good and odds are incredibly low even by 2040.

The non stealthy and stealthy current fighters can't do what the MiG-31 does now, and in the future will not be able to cope with a variety of hypersonic threats to Russian airspace.... most likely launched from US ships in the Arctic.

MiG-41 is a given... it is a question of getting the propulsion right and it could be quite an efficient very long range very high speed aircraft.

Yes but you would tag it as offtopic

So what if I did... something that goes off topic is merely moved to a more suitable thread, or the topic is expanded to include the other topic... in this case I could change the thread topic from MiG-31BM interceptor news to just MiG-31 news so that MiG-31D satellite launch experimental aircraft and MiG-31K anti shipping aircraft could be discussed here too, though this is the Russia AF section, so probably a MiG-31K thread in the Space forces section... or a spruce up and change the air force section to the Aerospace Defence Force section... what ever I do I wont be warning or banning anyone... going off topic is normal... discussions do that all the time.

GarryB wrote:
Actually I think the opposite... discussing things as systems is the best way to go forward because it introduces aspects not normally considered... for instance introducing 2,000km range anti ship missiles on its own is interesting but aspects like how does an aircraft with its radar removed like a MiG-31K find its targets to launch at such distances... there are no sensors on board the aircraft that could possibly detect a US carrier group even at 800km let alone 1,500km range or more that the Kinzhal can reach.

Obviously they get target information from other platforms... satellites and OTH radar that can see 8,000km out from their positions would be ideal solutions for the MiG-31K to receive target information about approaching enemy ships, but as some of these radars also see rather a long way into space the exact same radars could also provide the same aircraft via the same communication channel information about low earth orbit targets that might be worth engaging... with an alternative suitable rocket as seen multiple times during testing flights.

No information has been released but I don't think we are stepping into the boundaries of UFO technology or conspiracy theories about SR-71s to think it could be something they are looking at.

No, it is not that simple. F-35 is an example of a disaster trying to do it all and putting something in orbit is a precise thing and while its possible, it has not been deployed in that role back then or even less now....so far there is nothing more than an experiment and everything and everyone has potential, I will leave it at that.

Ironically it is probably the most dangerous for the west...\

Not really, west is an equal weight power and they have the tech and means to do it, my example of sending probes to outside solar system is to point out that ability. West is an offensive block and they don't care after the fact and that is why you see short sighted approaches in their approaches.

The new nuclear powered cruise missiles will fly at very low altitude all the way to the target so will be much harder to detect and if you don't know it is coming, or you do know it is coming but ICBMs and SLBMs have already damaged your country back to the stone age then they will likely have little problem getting through and doing further damage.

There are no materials that will take this level of beating flying for days and weeks at such low altitude and it will be as susceptible and inconsequential at those speeds as of now even at subsonic level....even RQ-4 has a good maintenance window after each extended flight and and its survival chances are no better if its not in the air already loitering. Idea does not mean realization or practicality. There are lot of ideas floating around and they usually end up in anime at best. Practical concerns will most likely put this project on ice.

I think if Putin had any doubts he probably would not have mentioned it... I would have good confidence in Russian technology developing nuclear powered systems.

With all due respect, Putin is not a mythical all knowing guy. It all depends on alternatives and whether they substitute this project in effectiveness, cost and other things. Poseidon is one and Avantgard is another to guarantee that effect.....so far we heard some undetailed acccidents but no one knows what exactly they are. I have my doubts and nothing is impossible in my opinion....

It makes sense for a nuclear armed cruise missile... in fact they might incorporate the warhead with the propulsion as a sort of nuclear booster... the point is that when it is used Russia does not expect to remain being Russia... this is essentially a giant middle finger to those in the west it is directed at.

They already have two middle finger alternatives in service. At best researchers may learn from experiments but mostly this is not a project that you get to see in open much if at all.

I don't need to justify anything... the MiG-31 is a very important part of Russian air defence and will remain a cornerstone till the MiG-41 starts to take over in both roles... and to be honest the range and weight capacity and speed and altitude requirements for the MiG-41 will make it even more suitable as a space launcher ABM platform.

Nothing concrete so far other than talk on mig-41. Even the izd 30 is still pegged at 2025. So 2040 is what I am saying but generally 10 years is generation shift now a days except some fundamental things.

The non stealthy and stealthy current fighters can't do what the MiG-31 does now, and in the future will not be able to cope with a variety of hypersonic threats to Russian airspace.... most likely launched from US ships in the Arctic.

Strategies are changing and access denial is getting much stronger and this plane most likely will not be replaced in manned version with better characteristics such as speed which was its strong point.

MiG-41 is a given... it is a question of getting the propulsion right and it could be quite an efficient very long range very high speed aircraft.

All we have is a project name on forums for now...we shall see if bits start showing up in more concrete form.

So what if I did... something that goes off topic is merely moved to a more suitable thread, or the topic is expanded to include the other topic... in this case I could change the thread topic from MiG-31BM interceptor news to just MiG-31 news so that MiG-31D satellite launch experimental aircraft and MiG-31K anti shipping aircraft could be discussed here too, though this is the Russia AF section, so probably a MiG-31K thread in the Space forces section... or a spruce up and change the air force section to the Aerospace Defence Force section... what ever I do I wont be warning or banning anyone... going off topic is normal... discussions do that all the time.

I am trying to respect your rules and guidelines to keep it as relevant as I can without being accused of "trolling"...

No, it is not that simple. F-35 is an example of a disaster trying to do it all and putting something in orbit is a precise thing and while its possible, it has not been deployed in that role back then or even less now....so far there is nothing more than an experiment and everything and everyone has potential, I will leave it at that.

I don't agree. The F-35 was a disaster because they are more focused on making it cancel proof than making it good and affordable... by copying the way they made the C-17 cancel proof they knew they were introducing problems and costs that were totally unnecessary, but they had the added problem of having to make a Harrier replacement as well as an F-16 replacement... all stealthy.

What they should have done was make two versions instead of three... make the two naval models... the fixed wing cat launched model and market it with ground based cats and cable recovery systems so it can operate from damaged airfields on land, and make the VSTOL version different, so the ship and land based conventional take off model was slimmer and lighter and faster and much better... make the Harrier version better with full thrust vectoring to compensate for extra drag and weight... and don't spread their production all across the poor areas of the US... centralise it... and get it working before starting mass production.... at least get the problems below 100 and zero tolerance for the critical problems that are potentially lethal to the pilot of fatal for the aircraft.

The purpose of the MiG-31D was specifically ABM missions, and the requirements of the MiG-31K pretty much match those conditions.

ABM programmes are going forward in Russia, one of the biggest is the S-500 missile which is on the verge of entering service... it would be an interesting weapon for the MiG-31 to carry.

Not really, west is an equal weight power and they have the tech and means to do it, my example of sending probes to outside solar system is to point out that ability. West is an offensive block and they don't care after the fact and that is why you see short sighted approaches in their approaches.

It matches Russias policy of avoiding war rather than having to fight a pointless one, and the technology will likely be useful for a range of other uses too... mostly in space.

There are no materials that will take this level of beating flying for days and weeks at such low altitude and it will be as susceptible and inconsequential at those speeds as of now even at subsonic level.

What are you talking about... they can make cruise missiles able to fly for very long periods at low altitude at subsonic speeds... that would be pretty straight forward... and it wont be for years.. but months should be easily achievable.

Idea does not mean realization or practicality.

When it has been mentioned as a new system that will enter service I would think it is therefore expected... despite all the naysayers in the west... most of which knew Russia had long range cruise missiles to hit point targets, but didn't realise they actually worked till they were used in Syria because they are so stupid you have to show them for them to understand.

If you read the Putin thread you will realise the problem is not just diplomats and experts on Russia being dumbed down, but western experts thought they were on their own in terms of military technology and that the west was supreme and unchallenged... many honestly thought Russian aircraft designers were finished and by now as HATO countries introduced F-35s that Russia would be begging to buy up their old F-16s to replace their old planes...

There are lot of ideas floating around and they usually end up in anime at best. Practical concerns will most likely put this project on ice.

What practical concerns? It is perfect.

With all due respect, Putin is not a mythical all knowing guy.

No, he is not, but he is also not the guy to brag about something that doesn't work and can't be realised... like Star Wars or something...

It all depends on alternatives and whether they substitute this project in effectiveness, cost and other things. Poseidon is one and Avantgard is another to guarantee that effect.....so far we heard some undetailed acccidents but no one knows what exactly they are. I have my doubts and nothing is impossible in my opinion....

Why would they spend money and time and effort developing different systems that do different things and require different levels and areas of technology competence, only to end up picking one and dropping the rest?

Why not go with all three?

It would be harder for the west to deal with all three rather than any particular one.

They already have two middle finger alternatives in service.

Many heads to the Hydra they are fighting....

At best researchers may learn from experiments but mostly this is not a project that you get to see in open much if at all.

I expect we will hear when it enters operational service...

This sort of revenge weapon makes little sense as a secret...

Nothing concrete so far other than talk on mig-41. Even the izd 30 is still pegged at 2025. So 2040 is what I am saying but generally 10 years is generation shift now a days except some fundamental things

When you design things for a living the first thing you do when a job is completed... ie MiG-31... is to start working on its replacement.... because they do take a while, but 20 years is just bullshit.

They have stated they want something flying by 2028 and entering service to replace the MiG-31 just after that.

Strategies are changing and access denial is getting much stronger and this plane most likely will not be replaced in manned version with better characteristics such as speed which was its strong point.

They have never mentioned the idea of unmanned interceptor aircraft... they do have unmanned interceptor missiles... S-400, and S-500 on the way.

I am trying to respect your rules and guidelines to keep it as relevant as I can without being accused of "trolling"...

Such respect and following of rules is appreciated.

Ignore the black helicopter currently flying around your house...

Just because you are paranoid does not mean the whole world isn't out to get you.

I understand your caution, and please do continue to follow the rules but do relax and try to enjoy the forum too.

GarryB wrote:

The purpose of the MiG-31D was specifically ABM missions, and the requirements of the MiG-31K pretty much match those conditions.

Except there are no known ASAT mig-31D squads beyond experimental modifications and given that designation. All experiment related modifications get their own names most of the time. No, any software heavy one like f-35 is a bomb for obsolescence and continuous nonsense of introducing more complexity.

ABM programmes are going forward in Russia, one of the biggest is the S-500 missile which is on the verge of entering service... it would be an interesting weapon for the MiG-31 to carry.

Has nothing to do with mig-31, I already said ground or naval abm makes more sense....

It matches Russias policy of avoiding war rather than having to fight a pointless one, and the technology will likely be useful for a range of other uses too... mostly in space.

Like I said we shall see, not much progress leaked on this one.

What are you talking about... they can make cruise missiles able to fly for very long periods at low altitude at subsonic speeds... that would be pretty straight forward... and it wont be for years.. but months should be easily achievable.

There are no known examples of things that loiter at low altitudes beyond few hours....even RQ-4 requires maintenance for as little as one mission. Nuclear reactor is not the only thing, there are other elements in a missile. This has no practical sense to it....give examples

I
When it has been mentioned as a new system that will enter service I would think it is therefore expected... despite all the naysayers in the west... most of which knew Russia had long range cruise missiles to hit point targets, but didn't realise they actually worked till they were used in Syria because they are so    stupid you have to show them for them to understand.

If you read the Putin thread you will realise the problem is not just diplomats and experts on Russia being dumbed down, but western experts thought they were on their own in terms of military technology and that the west was supreme and unchallenged... many honestly thought Russian aircraft designers were finished and by now as HATO countries introduced F-35s that Russia would be begging to buy up their old F-16s to replace their old planes...

For every 1 thing that sees market entry there are 10 at the least that don't. While Russian's may be some super brilliant people in your mind, reality is world is not overflowing with their products and there are equally and arguably other people that were more successful than them. Every power has their own strategy and they build things based on that.

Rest is kinda boring as I don't believe or read or pay attention to every dick that opens their mouth on internet to talk their greatness -- referring to politicians, generals or news baits

What practical concerns? It is perfect.

There are no added benefits to this and US/west can come up with dirty bomb delivery mechanisms. Good thing about west at least back then is they are fucking soviet union dumb....now they are the new soviet union.

No, he is not, but he is also not the guy to brag about something that doesn't work and can't be realised... like Star Wars or something...

He got it wrong many times too and therefore what he says also falls under critical thought process scanner for me. I work mostly through what I put together, I generally do not go with prob 0 or p1

Why would they spend money and time and effort developing different systems that do different things and require different levels and areas of technology competence, only to end up picking one and dropping the rest?

Spending money on unknown things is research but does not mean all research will come to fruition.

Why not go with all three?
It would be harder for the west to deal with all three rather than any particular one.

POssibly insurance sort of hedging based on opponents steps....you don't have to be fanboy of anyone or anything, its ok to take a critical or objective line of thinking and in the lack of absence of data you can even dare to speculate on the outcome

Many heads to the Hydra they are fighting....

Yet you talk about cost and optimizations on other things.....no need to be soviet obsessive.

I expect we will hear when it enters operational service...

This sort of revenge weapon makes little sense as a secret...

Sure, lets wait. We can make it interesting....

When you design things for a living the first thing you do when a job is completed... ie MiG-31... is to start working on its replacement.... because they do take a while, but 20 years is just bullshit.

They have stated they want something flying by 2028 and entering service to replace the MiG-31 just after that.

They did not even get much simpler things that exist in the world on time or ever.....I have not seen any practical bits towards agreeing with you. We can reserve until some of your optimism shows up in practical sense.

They have never mentioned the idea of unmanned interceptor aircraft... they do have unmanned interceptor missiles... S-400, and S-500 on the way.

No, they did build s-70. No objective data to support mig-41 other than talk and bluster at this time.

Such respect and following of rules is appreciated.

Ignore the black helicopter currently flying around your house...  

Just because you are paranoid does not mean the whole world isn't out to get you.

I understand your caution, and please do continue to follow the rules but do relax and try to enjoy the forum too.  

I am not paranoid but you did point me on extremely stretched out things while your veteran members keep breaking rules every other post. I don't really care of getting banned either but your rules are reasonable so I try to respect and as an engineer I like to apply proper domains and reasonability to an argument.

Narrow scope: the MiG-31 interceptor received R-74M short-range missiles

What opportunities will the latest ammunition give to a heavy fighter?

The new short-range air combat missile (BBB), which has entered service with the MiG-31BM fighters, is also known under the export name RVV-MD. It is perfect not only for destroying high-speed maneuverable aircraft, but also for destroying drones and cruise missiles. The ammunition will increase the versatility and expand the capabilities of heavy high-speed interceptors covering the northern and remote regions of our country. These weapons will significantly increase the fighter's ability to deal with maneuverable targets, experts say.

Dirk for a sniper

New serial missiles are already being delivered to air regiments equipped with long-range MiG-31BM interceptors. They were first used by naval aviation pilots at recent exercises held in Kamchatka, sources in the Ministry of Defense told Izvestia.

The fleet of such Russian fighter-interceptors is being actively upgraded and replenished. According to Defense Minister Shoigu, delivered at the unified day of acceptance of military products on February 1, last year the troops received ten more improved MiG-31BM, which will strengthen the country's air defense.

As Izvestia has already written, these fighters receive new tasks. Now their crews will regularly practice shooting at ballistic missiles. The military department also reported that MiG-31 pilots from a regiment in Kamchatka last year intercepted for the first time a cruise missile fired by a modern coastal anti-ship system.

MiG-31BMs were designed mainly for long-range combat, when the target is not visible to the naked eye. But today, in the air, they can meet new opponents, including stealth drones and high-speed missiles. To do this, they need a universal set of weapons.

R-74M can not only fight enemy aircraft, but can also be used on cruise missiles and drones with a small reflective surface, and this is very important for the MiG-31 and increases their capabilities several times, told Izvestia Hero of Russia, former commander of the 4th Air Army of the Air Force and Air Defense, Lieutenant General Valery Gorbenko.

"The R-74M can work on faster targets, which was not possible before," the expert explained. " Close combat is the most difficult type of combat use and training. Its special feature is its transience, high maneuverability, and heavy overloads. At first, it used machine-gun and cannon weapons, then melee missiles were launched. The range of use of the first reached two kilometers, but later it increased. On the MiG-31, the R-60 with a heat head was initially used for the BBB, then the R-73, and now the development of technology has led to a new modification.

For maneuverable combat

The new missile has been delivered to the troops in small quantities since 2015. Photos from Syria, distributed by the Ministry of Defense, show that the new ammunition was tested there on Su-30SM multi-purpose fighters. The introduction of a serial plant for their production in Kurgan in 2018 made it possible to increase supplies.

The design of the R-74M was created on the basis of a redesigned R-73 rocket. According to the developers, the new model has improved the dual-band infrared homing head. It sees small hot objects from a greater distance and is more difficult to deceive with traps and interference. Due to the addition of gas-dynamic rudders, the maximum possible overload and grip angles have sharply increased. This increased efficiency in highly maneuverable combat.

The maximum launch range increased from 30 to 40 km. But if necessary, you can shoot it "point blank", with a minimum distance to the object of three hundred meters. The homing head can capture the target after launch and switch from one to another in flight.

There is a variant of the R-74M, designed for use from the internal compartments of fifth-generation Su-57 fighters. Attack aircraft and helicopter gunships can also be equipped with new ammunition. They are already equipped with the latest Mi-28NM helicopters.

https://iz.ru/1177162/anton-lavrov-anna-cherepanova/uzkii-razmakh-perekhvatchik-mig-31-poluchil-rakety-maloi-dalnosti-r-74m

Except there are no known ASAT mig-31D squads beyond experimental modifications and given that designation.

Because the ABM treaty made them illegal. What they do have is MiG-31K units equipped with Kinzhal missiles that are operational.

Their job is to take off and climb and accelerate to high altitude and high speed to launch a missile... now whether that missile is Zircon to take on enemy ships or is something more like this:



Now I can tell you that is not a MiG-31D because MiG-31Ds have endplates on their wing tips, so it is probably a MiG-31K...

All experiment related modifications get their own names most of the time.

It might not even be a MiG programme. The A-100 is a Beriev project even though it is based on the Ilyusion Il-476 aircraft. The A-60 is also a Beriev adaptation of an Il-76 aircraft for use as an airborne laser...

Besides how butt hurt is the west going to be when it finds out the MiG-31K can shoot down their satellites...

Has nothing to do with mig-31, I already said ground or naval abm makes more sense....

Unification of missiles is take rather seriously in Russia... Naval SAM missiles have traditionally been a mix of Army and Air Force SAMs... the main exception being the SA-N-3 Goblet, though in my opinion it looked like a SA-5 without the external booster rockets.

Having air launched S-400 and S-500 and S-350 missiles would be rather interesting... the S-350 are 60km ranged and 150km ranged anti aircraft missiles with active radar homing with excellent performance that are slim with no wings or other bits sticking out... very handy in an internal weapon bay and being launched in flight at speed and altitude their flight range would massively increase... and they are already in production...

Like I said we shall see, not much progress leaked on this one.

Hahaha... the level of western intelligence these days I would not hold my breath regarding finding out Russian secrets... they are pathetic.

There are no known examples of things that loiter at low altitudes beyond few hours....even RQ-4 requires maintenance for as little as one mission.

Satellites operate in more extreme conditions for years at a time...

I would think a country that lands probes on Venus could manage it.

Nuclear reactor is not the only thing, there are other elements in a missile.

Designed from the outset to be autonomous for long periods... I would think they could manage it.

This has no practical sense to it....give examples

What are you talking about... it has every sense to it... don't shoot me in the face because I have paid a dozen hit men to kill you if I die.... they wont kill you straight away... they will target parts of you that might take years to kill you...

Very practical... even a mad person would have second thoughts shooting you.

For every 1 thing that sees market entry there are 10 at the least that don't.

Which is very true, but I don't think Putin mentioned these programmes because he has just signed off on starting them from scratch... there were probably 10,000 different kooky ideas which were likely screened down to 20 that might work... and with inspection and evaluation they decided that 7 might be potentially achievable and yield useful results, so they got funding... almost 20 years ago when the US walked away from the ABM treaty...

Now they are approaching final testing and service entry... perfectly normal.

While Russian's may be some super brilliant people in your mind, reality is world is not overflowing with their products and there are equally and arguably other people that were more successful than them.

No one person could create these systems... you need experts in a wide field of sciences... which they have... the fact that you are too butt hurt to accept that is not my problem.

Every power has their own strategy and they build things based on that.

In this case the west broke the accepted rules of the time and this is the reaction from the Russians so they can continue to feel safe despite the US selfishly making the world less safe.

There are no added benefits to this and US/west can come up with dirty bomb delivery mechanisms.

Whether they do or not is irrelevant... the US is the threat to the world so deterring them is the critical thing... with them making their own, it does not matter... Russia is not expecting to survive WWIII.... what they are doing is trying to avoid it by making the west realise it wont be surviving either.

Good thing about west at least back then is they are fucking soviet union dumb....now they are the new soviet union.

The Soviets were always on the back foot reacting to western aggression... in that sense nothing has changed.... Russia still reacts to the wests bullshit and aggression, but they do it in a sensible measured way that minimises the costs and damage to Russia and maximises the effect on the west in its ties and relations to Russia... essentially making itself more independent and indeed powerful.

He got it wrong many times too and therefore what he says also falls under critical thought process scanner for me.

He has got things wrong a few times, but to be fair most of the time it was because the west is vastly more evil and aggressive than he thought... who would destroy countries and make entire populations suffer on a whim with no clear plan or obvious expected outcome...

Countries and regions left in tatters... how evil is that... but they claim to be the moral and ethical centre of the human universe...

Spending money on unknown things is research but does not mean all research will come to fruition.

You constantly evaluate research over time to check to see if it could deliver the potential promised at the start... anything clearly not making progress can be defunded, but of course with breakthroughs in other areas sometimes something that is quack science becomes potentially viable and worth another look.

Putin is not talking about theoretical physics they plan to have operational in 20-30 years... this stuff is being tested now or is in service.

POssibly insurance sort of hedging based on opponents steps....you don't have to be fanboy of anyone or anything, its ok to take a critical or objective line of thinking and in the lack of absence of data you can even dare to speculate on the outcome

These are different enough to all be useful in different ways and different areas... making all three or all 7 have the potential to progress Russias capabilities in a lot of areas and to put more pressure on a hostile west.... sounds good to me.

Yet you talk about cost and optimizations on other things.....no need to be soviet obsessive.

Are you saying the west just wants to be friends?

When they thought they were overwhelmingly more powerful than Russia there were orders and instructions from the west... certainly no friendship.

If the west starts talking about partnerships and cooperation Putin should say no thanks.

Those guys are .

They did not even get much simpler things that exist in the world on time or ever.....I have not seen any practical bits towards agreeing with you. We can reserve until some of your optimism shows up in practical sense.

It is not me making this stuff up, Russian AF officers have stated that the MiG-31 in its current form will need to start to be replaced from 2028 or thereabouts and any replacement aircraft would need to start flying at least around then to have a hope of replacing them without a gap.

Further upgrades and putting their engines back into production might give them a few extra years, but the MiG-31 has been in frontline service for 40 odd years.... a modern replacement is overdue.

No, they did build s-70.

But the talk around the S-70 is its potential to support the Su-57, not what aircraft it will be replacing...

No objective data to support mig-41 other than talk and bluster at this time.

The Air Force and MiG have both mentioned it, and the programme PAK DP has already been mentioned publicly. (D meaning long range and P for interceptor and of course PAK being future prospective aircraft).

Installation of the R-74M missile on the MiG-31BM

Anyone know, if Russia could modify any standard MiG-31 to MiG-31K/D to use them with Kinzhal or antisat missile or they could only modernize existing ones, which were made in small numbers.

As far as I know most of the MiG-31s in storage were built to or upgraded to MiG-31B level to negate the compromise of the system by the spy Donald.

Essentially it forced a complete upgrade of the system so in the end it was not actually a bad thing.

This means that to bring it out of storage and into operational use it will either get the MiG-31BM upgrade for use as an interceptor but with all sorts of other SEAD type capabilities too, or it can go for the cheaper simpler MiG-31K upgrade where they don't bother with radar and other heavy stuff the interceptor had to do its job to make it as light and as fast flying as possible.

It might include new high temperature materials and weight reduction like removing the gun and radar and other bits to allow it to fly as high and as fast as it can.

Essentially to carry and use Kinzhal it is simplified and lightened so even operational BM models could be modified if they were no longer required but the BM models are useful and capable interceptors.

With the engines being back in production they should be able to put most of those in storage back in to service if needed, but they wont last forever.

Have seen comments about the Russian Air Force wanting a replacement starting in about 2028 or so, which is really not that far away.

They have been talking about a MiG-41 for a very long time now and as a programme it is not really that new, though comments about mach 4.2 speed are relatively recent and are probably related to improvements in engine design and future development prospects they think might be ready when this aircraft is expected.

The first MiG-41s might just use standard MiG-31 engines and also be limited to Mach 2.83, with a later batch getting new engines that operate in a ramjet mode to allow higher flight speeds... perhaps even a smaller scramjet that might allow a small engine to power a large aircraft at high speed with a much lower fuel burn than with bigger ramjets or full size scramjets...

They might have selected Mach 4.2 as the heat limit for the aircraft outer shell rather than engine limits and going faster than that will require more exotic and expensive materials to be developed and used later on.

Certainly cruising around at mach 4.2 would allow you to maximise the flight range of your missiles, but also cover a lot of real estate rather quickly... intercepting targets rather further from base... perhaps before weapons had been released making  stopping the attacking force easier and cheaper and faster.

Being able to carry new missiles might be a bit of a breakthrough too perhaps S-350 and S-400 and S-500 types could be carried internally and when launched at altitude and speed could massively improve their performance in terms of range and speed... for missiles already at that time in service and mass production.

Going to move some of the off topic stuff to a more suitable place.

Note removed stuff with nothing about MiG-31s mentioned but did leave some stuff with crap in it because it also had on topic stuff.
Please remain on topic here. If you want to comment off topic take to to the thread I created at this link below.

https://www.russiadefence.net/t8536-the-morality-and-ethical-future-for-the-west-and-the-rest-of-the-world

GarryB wrote:
As far as I know most of the MiG-31s in storage were built to or upgraded to MiG-31B level to negate the compromise of the system by the spy Donald.

???

the most MiG-31 in storage are MiG-31DZ, uncapable for modernization BM, simply the radar of the MiG-31B modification did not fit inside the fuselage of the MiG-31DZ because of the refueling mechanism, there was not enough space

only 69 MiG-31B was made in 1991-1994 (Russia received 54 and Kazakhstan 15), just after the MiG-31DZ made in 1988-1990

for that, the only way was improving original MiG-31 with the "B" radar, , this is the MiG-31BS had no refueling, that was made over 100 or 110 units in the 90´s (about 4 regiments or 8 squadrons or 14)

in my counts, RuAF has received 144 MiG-31BM (47 "type 28" with refueling and 97 "type 58"-or type 78 using stored fusselages- without refueling also called "BSM")

There are about 80 MiG-31 as much in the reserve (probably many are in bad condition, and only are useful for spares)
However only a few are MiG-31BS capable for BM modernization (I think about 12-15 are necesary for end the BM modernization, as only Yelizovo need a second squadron)

then , the most MiG-31 in reserve now are MiG-31DZ that are useful for MiG-31K, you can build several squadrons with a cheap price and that can ve useful for rapid deployment to any point of the territory in case of threat

has no sense put these big missiles in the interceptors MiG-31BM when you can put Kinzhal in Tu-22, Tu-95 or even Su-34 without to loose their main characteristics

With the engines being back in production they should be able to put most of those in storage back in to service if needed, but they wont last forever.

by 2011 they has more 1000 engines in total, and only 100 airplanes in service (or 200 engines)
the rest are in reserve, and the engine repair chain works at full capacity, the useful life of the MiG-31 resource is guaranteed for as long as necessary even though it reaches almost 200 units in service

About the name of MiG-31K, really is MiG-21BP, the other name is unoficial, probably is a thing of journalists
https://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=488526&lang=RU
Sergei Shoigu examined the exhibition of the latest aircraft presented in Kubinka as part of the Army-2018 forum
08/21/2018 10:11:00
Industry leaders presented the MiG-31BP supersonic fighter with the Kinzhal complex to the head of the military department,  

By the way ,I don't understand why some insist on calling MiG-31D  to the MiG-31K type 08 (product izd.01DZ)
The MiG-31D was a Soviet prototype "product izd.07" and has nothing to do with this MiG-31K


This is MiG-31K tyoe 06 (izd.01DZ) Nº97
is capable to use only Kinzhal




These are MiG-31K type 08 (izd.01DZ), Nº82 with missile izd.293 and Nº94 with Knzhal
Type 08 is capable to use both Kinzhal and Antisatellite missiles

The K models, what kind of onboard electronics do they have?

has no sense put these big missiles in the interceptors MiG-31BM when you can put Kinzhal in Tu-22, Tu-95 or even Su-34 without to loose their main characteristics

They DON'T use BM models for Ks... that is just stupid... why waste an upgraded interceptor converting it to a dumb first stage of a high speed anti ship missile.

And no the Tu-22 and Tu-95 would be bad choices for Kinzhal missiles because height and speed are critical... range and speed are more critical than the number that can be launched.

If you say there are plenty of older MiGs that can be converted to K models then other options simply don't make any sense.

Industry leaders presented the MiG-31BP supersonic fighter with the Kinzhal complex to the head of the military department,

Is that actually BP or is it VR?

This is what I am talking about being a D model:





Although there is also this one that seems to be different with some sort of wing tip pod instead of aerodynamic endplate:

The K models, what kind of onboard electronics do they have?

They are the first stage for anti ship missiles... they will have communications systems and navigation systems but no radar and probably no capacity to carry any other weapon than the Kinzhal... they would not expect to get within 1,500km of the ships they launch attacks at so enemy aircraft should not be an issue.

AMCXXL wrote:the most MiG-31 in storage are MiG-31DZ, uncapable for modernization BM, simply the radar of the MiG-31B modification did not fit inside the fuselage of the MiG-31DZ because of the refueling mechanism, there was not enough space

All MiG-31B were equipped with IFR. Older MiG-31 are without them. Radar for MiG-31BM have space for IFR mechanism. They must have some other differences as MiG-31DZ were produced as antisat platform from the beginning.

Point is, that Russian NAVY need MiG-31K for Kinzhal missiles in their fleets. At least for Northern and Pacific fleets. Black sea fleet now have one squadron.

https://hushkit.net/2018/12/12/loneliness-at-mach-3-interview-with-a-mig-25-foxbat-pilot

Know it concerns the mig 25 but such a good interview and mig 31 is the daughter to the mighty interceptor/recon aircraft.

MIG 31 deployed to Syria.

https://www.rt.com/russia/527588-fighter-jets-syria-base/

Equipped with Kinzhal this plane can utterly dominate the Med.