MiG-31BM/Κ Interceptor/Attack aircraft: News #2

Read from an Ukrainian blogger last week that the Savasleyka Mig-31K regiment is the 44th... anyone else have confirmation or other info.

They are seeing eastern European countries get rid of their old cheap cold war soviet stuff by sending it to Kiev.. who cares if it is useless or broken... and they want to do the same and get promises of all new western gear to replace it.

MiG-31s Demonstrate High Altitude Interception Capabilities in Far North: What is the Foxhound’s Role and Future in Russian Service?

iG-31 interceptors deployed by the Russian Navy’s Northern Fleet practiced interception of enemy aircraft at high altitude over the Barents Sea, with the fleet’s press service reporting on November 7: "The crews of MiG-31 fighters of the Northern Fleet’s separate combined air regiment have practiced interception of a hypothetical enemy in the stratosphere. According to the drills’ scenario airspace monitoring means detected an air target approaching Russia’s state border over the Barents Sea… The crews identified the air target and escorted it over the Barents Sea, forcing the hypothetical intruder to turn away from Russia’s state border.” A MiG-31 from a separate mixed air regiment of the Northern Fleet was assigned to simulate the position of an intruder into Russian airspace. Although the large majority of MiG-31s in Russian service are deployed by the Russian Air Force, which fields well over 100 of the aircraft, an estimated 32 more are deployed under the Northern Fleet - approximately two thirds in a full MiG-31 regiment and around 10 airframes in a mixed regiment with Su-24M strike fighters.


Norwegian Air Force F-35A on Finnish Highway

MiG-31s from the Northern Fleet have shouldered a growing burden over the Barents Sea in the face of expanding NATO capabilities in the region, and in particular the Norwegian Air Force’s transition from F-16 to F-35 fighter aircraft which have revolutionised its combat capabilities. While the MiG-31 retained overwhelming performance advantages over the F-16, which was under one third its size and carried a radar under one sixth the size of its own, the F-35’s stealth capabilities and much more advanced sensors, avionics and weaponry have threatened to shift the balance of power considerably. Russia’s position is set to worsen considerably once ongoing issues with the F-35s are resolved, as the problematic American fighter class is still far from capable of high intensity combat. Norway’s neighbour Finland, which joined NATO in April, is set to replace its F-18s with multiple squadrons of additional F-35s, while large U.S. Air Force deployments to bases on Finnish territory are also under discussion.

Encounters between MiG-31s and Norwegian Air Force aircraft have been far from uncommon, a notable example being the interception of a P-3C Orion reconnaissance plane over the Barents Sea on December 12, 2022. Other than a small number of new Su-57 stealth fighters, the MiG-31 is widely considered Russia’s most capable combat aircraft for air to air combat, and recently saw its first engagements over Ukraine with both MiG-31K strike variants and MiG-31BM/BSM interceptor variants demonstrating particularly strong performances and gaining multiple kills.


MiG-31s on Arctic Deployment

Designed to be able to operate above the Armstrong Limit and fire all its weapons in near space, the MiG-31’s R-37M air to air missiles with extreme 400km ranges, unmatched Mach 6 speeds and very large 60kg warheads make them particularly dangerous against targets at all altitudes. The sheer power of their sensors made them the first combat aircraft in the world capable of long range interceptions against low flying cruise missiles. The interceptors have also been prioritised for integration of R-74 short range air to air missiles, which help to compensate for their limited low manoeuvrability by allowing pilots to target adversaries at extreme angles without needing to turn the airframes themselves. Although comprehensive upgrades to the fleet proposed in the 1990s were never applied due to budgetary shortages, the MiG-31’s capabilities were revolutionised from 2009 and throughout the 2010s with upgrades bringing the aircraft up to the MiG-31BM/BSM standard, which included integration of an entirely new radar and avionics. As the importance of operations in the Arctic has continued to grow, the MiG-31’s high suitability for operations in extreme climates including its ability to operate from ice airfields and very long range and high situational awareness has only increased the class’ perceived importance.

The future of the MiG-31 fleet remains highly uncertain, and while successors to the Foxhound were developed under the MiG-31M, Project 701 and the PAK DP programs the former two were cancelled and the state of the latter remains unknown. The possibility has thus grown that the MiG-31 may be retired without replacement by an equivalent interceptor class. With Russia relying increasingly heavily on ground based systems for long range air defence, such as the S-500 system now in large scale production, it has been increasingly speculated that Su-57 fighters - possibly as a modified extended range twin seater variant - could eventually replace the Foxhounds.

https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/mig31-interception-role-future

As the importance of operations in the Arctic has continued to grow, the MiG-31’s high suitability for operations in extreme climates including its ability to operate from ice airfields and very long range and high situational awareness has only increased the class’ perceived importance.

Hahaha, so the MiG-31 is a very good aircraft that is proving itself in several roles and in several important locations, but its future is uncertain... and they mention the MiG-31M programme and the project 701 programme have been cancelled but ignore the fact that when the MiG-31M was cancelled it was because there was no money, and the project 701 is a mach 2 supersonic design that would not be an enormous amount better than the current MiG-31s.

The PAK DP programme they say remains unknown so obviously the whole programme must be cancelled and and they wont continue with an interceptor aircraft despite itself proving so valuable and effective in a range of roles and with newer missiles that it could potentially launch to make them even more effective are on the cusp of being introduced.

Would this information by any chance be coming from a western source that thinks the MiG-31 is amazing but that Russia is on the brink of collapse and Putin is on deaths door?

It is a shame that western propaganda ruins everything they touch.

Don't bother with the text, I am aware that there is a lot of rubbish in it.
Well, again MWM is better than any other Western source.
It stings the eyes that there is no mention of the Su-35S aircraft in the first place and then everything else.

They already did the MiG-31BM upgrade which improves the electronics and radar. It allows the usage of several more weapon types like anti-radiation and air-to-ground turning the MiG-31 into a true multi-role aircraft. They replaced the glass in the canopy which means the aircraft can operate at higher Mach speeds than the Soviet model.

MiG is currently developing digital fly-by-wire for the MiG-31. If this is adopted they would likely replace the entire avionics suite with a glass cockpit instead of just having glass cockpit for the weapon systems and radar. It would also make the airplane easier to fly decreasing the strain on the pilot.

As for the PAK DP it is in development. Russia has three new engine programs right now all of which are making engine cores which could be suitable for a large interceptor. Izdeliye 30, Izdeliye RF, and the PD-35. If you look at the engine core parameters of the PD-35 it is better than even US 5th generation engines, with higher operating core temperature.

The PD-35 has a turbine inlet temperature of 1825 degrees Celsius. Compare that with 1649 degrees for the F119 in the F-22.

franco wrote:Read from an Ukrainian blogger last week that the Savasleyka Mig-31K regiment is the 44th... anyone else have confirmation or other info.

what is the complete name of regiment ?
can you write the link of Ukr blogger ?

Podlodka77 wrote:MiG-31s Demonstrate High Altitude Interception Capabilities in Far North: What is the Foxhound’s Role and Future in Russian Service?
Although the large majority of MiG-31s in Russian service are deployed by the Russian Air Force, which fields well over 100 of the aircraft, an estimated 32 more are deployed under the Northern Fleet - approximately two thirds in a full MiG-31 regiment and around 10 airframes in a mixed regiment with Su-24M strike fighters.

there is a lot of garbage in the "article"

starting there are 3 squadrons in the Navy Air Force, two in Monchegorsk and one in Yelizovo
This is 36 MiG-31BM received, despite 2 have been lost since SMO begun, one in each base
Even in the last satellite image can see 11 MiG-31 in service in Yelizovo, apart from 18 stored

The MiG-31 will remain in service for a long time, Russia has near 1000 engines of MiG-31, this is at least 5 engines for each airplane

PAK-DP probably will be a 6th generation airplane.... MIG-61 ??

AMCXXL wrote:

franco wrote:Read from an Ukrainian blogger last week that the Savasleyka Mig-31K regiment is the 44th... anyone else have confirmation or other info.

what is the complete name of regiment ?
can you write the link of Ukr blogger ?

Cannot remember which blogger... but it was the 44th Special Purpose Aviation Regiment. It was just in passing as they mentioned of the Mig-31K's orbiting the Black Sea. They also said there were 11 aircraft moved to the Southern Military District for this purpose.

franco wrote:

AMCXXL wrote:

franco wrote:Read from an Ukrainian blogger last week that the Savasleyka Mig-31K regiment is the 44th... anyone else have confirmation or other info.

what is the complete name of regiment ?
can you write the link of Ukr blogger ?

Cannot remember which blogger... but it was the 44th Special Purpose Aviation Regiment. It was just in passing as they mentioned of the Mig-31K's orbiting the Black Sea. They also said there were 11 aircraft moved to the Southern Military District for this purpose.

Yes, this are the squadron based in Akhtubisnk, that lost Nº92 last year, then 11 remaining

AMCXXL wrote:

franco wrote:

AMCXXL wrote:

franco wrote:Read from an Ukrainian blogger last week that the Savasleyka Mig-31K regiment is the 44th... anyone else have confirmation or other info.

what is the complete name of regiment ?
can you write the link of Ukr blogger ?

Cannot remember which blogger... but it was the 44th Special Purpose Aviation Regiment. It was just in passing as they mentioned of the Mig-31K's orbiting the Black Sea. They also said there were 11 aircraft moved to the Southern Military District for this purpose.

Yes, this are the squadron based in Akhtubisnk, that lost Nº92 last year, then 11 remaining

Aircraft dispersed over 3 airfields including Akhtubisnk.

franco wrote:

AMCXXL wrote:

Yes, this are the squadron based in Akhtubisnk, that lost Nº92 last year, then 11 remaining

Aircraft dispersed over 3 airfields including Akhtubisnk.

I dont see in the satellite images available

in Belbek there are MiG-31BM from Monchegorsk and before from Khotilovo

only in Siria were detached a couple of MiG-31K, the rest can you see in Akhtubinsk in satellite images

the Savasleyka regiment is currently deployed:

1st squadron in Akhtubinsk also detached in Siria
2nd squadron in Savasleyka also detached in Belarus or Kaliningrad
3er squadron in Belaya , one airplane was seen in Knevichy when Kim Yong Un visited Russia

sepheronx wrote:AMCXXL

I don't know if you already answered this, but how many MiG-31's does Russia actually possess that can be modernized to new standards and be flight worthy?  Do they plan to upgrade all said planes?

the MiG-31BM are passing another MLU, starting for the Kansk regiment, not clear if is only update or have any upgrade
with the SMO there are very few information

AMCXXL wrote:

franco wrote:

AMCXXL wrote:

Yes, this are the squadron based in Akhtubisnk, that lost Nº92 last year, then 11 remaining

Aircraft dispersed over 3 airfields including Akhtubisnk.

I dont see in the satellite images available

in Belbek there are MiG-31BM from Monchegorsk and before from Khotilovo

only in Siria were detached a couple of MiG-31K, the rest can you see in Akhtubinsk in satellite images

the Savasleyka regiment is currently deployed:

1st squadron in Akhtubinsk also detached in Siria
2nd squadron in Savasleyka also detached in Belarus or Kaliningrad
3er squadron in Belaya , one airplane was seen in Knevichy when Kim Yong Un visited Russia

Morozovsk or Mozdok (one of the M's) and one of the Krasnodar airbases but sorry cannot remember which one was said.

The PD-35 turbofan is probably not suitable for fighter aircraft?

PD-35 engines are high bypass turbofans suitable for subsonic flight and would be of no use to a supersonic fighter, but Lancelot is talking about taking the core of the engine and using that as the basis for a medium or low bypass turbofan like the current engines of the MiG-31 are but a more modern core design.

F-35 will shift the balance? This is a joke.

Nah, bad editing... take the F out of the third word and the truth is revealed...

What nonsense is this? In addition to the MiG-31BM, Russia has over 130 equally powerful Su-35S. The Su-35S has a more powerful radar and can carry a whole range of weapons, including the R-37M, and over 100 additional Su-30SMs.

It is an American magazine, they couldn't possibly admit Russia has good aircraft of more than one type... blasphemy...

the MiG-31BM are passing another MLU, starting for the Kansk regiment, not clear if is only update or have any upgrade
with the SMO there are very few information

The good thing is that as they develop new systems and equipment for the MiG-41, they can upgrade the MiG-31s in service with similar systems, which will improve the performance of existing types, and also field test and get such things into full serial production faster so bugs can be sorted and improved performance achieved across the board.

New Radars, new IRSTs, other potential sensors and new materials and equipment....

Sukhoi essentially did the same with the Su-57 equipment being used in Su-35s to test and mature the equipment.

The leading wing edge radar array in the Su-35 is from the Levicon on the Su-57 for instance...

BTW can we please stop repeating conversations to reply to people. If you can't be bothered to quote the part of the post you are replying to simple type @ and put the username or an obvious abbreviation so we know who you are talking to directly.

Think of it as a conversation... you don't repeat everything someone has just said to then reply, and you don't reply the entire conversation leading up to the question or statement you are replying to...

MiG is currently developing digital fly-by-wire for the MiG-31. If this is adopted they would likely replace the entire avionics suite with a glass cockpit instead of just having glass cockpit for the weapon systems and radar. It would also make the airplane easier to fly decreasing the strain on the pilot.

A weight loss programme for the aircraft would be good, starting with a fly by wire system but also replacing old heavy materials with more modern heat resistant materials might increase performance by a significant amount and also give them experience with high speed designs with composite materials and programming a digital fly by wire system for such flight envelopes.

A new experimental radar array would be interesting and in an aircraft the size of the MiG-31 they could fit an array of cooling systems to allow new and powerful radar components to be added. Most such things get smaller rather quickly as they are produced and developed further so more compact versions can be evolved and added to smaller aircraft over time.

Arrow wrote:The PD-35 turbofan is probably not suitable for fighter aircraft? It is rather for transporters and air transport, for example to IL96-400M?
Military jet engines for fighter jets have higher temperatures at the turbine inlet?

Actually often the engines with higher temperatures at the turbine inlets are the engines for the widebodies, like Rolls-Royce Trent XWB for the airbus A350 (and probably it would be similar for the PD-35, which will have a higher temperatures than the PD-14 and ∆PD-8 and requiring better materials.

Auction in Kazalhstan for 21 airframes of MiG-31, all for less than 1,5 million dollars

There are 10 in Semipalatinsk (Semey) and 11 in Karaganda

Of them, there are 1 MiG-31B of 1991 (with refueling probe) and 20 MiG-31 (izd.01) of 1986

Taking into account those lost or retired (included 2 MiG-31B), in Karaganda, of the 27 that seem to remain, there should be other 16 in better condition, including 12 MiG-31B from 1991 and 4 MiG-31 (izd.01) from 1986, which would be very interesting to obtain, especially the squadron MiG-31B for the Yelizovo regiment.

I bet Russia will get them all, if only to prevent the US/UK/PRC from getting them!

The prices don't seem exorbitant.

AMCXXL wrote:Auction in Kazalhstan for 21 airframes of MiG-31, all for less than 1,5 million dollars

There are 10 in Semipalatinsk (Semey) and 11 in Karaganda

Of them, there are 1 MiG-31B of 1991 (with refueling probe) and 20 MiG-31 (izd.01) of 1986

Taking into account those lost or retired (included 2 MiG-31B), in Karaganda, of the 27 that seem to remain, there should be other 16 in better condition, including 12 MiG-31B from 1991 and 4 MiG-31 (izd.01) from 1986, which would be very interesting to obtain, especially the squadron MiG-31B for the Yelizovo regiment.

Yeah, as I wrote a few post ago the auction was supposed to happen on the 11th of November.

Does anyone has news about it?