Mikoyan MiG-31

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan_MiG-31

Also
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone...ombat-aircraft

The Mikoyan MiG-31 (NATO reporting name: Foxhound) is a supersonic interceptor
aircraft developed for use by the Soviet Air Forces. The aircraft was designed
by the Mikoyan design bureau as a replacement for the earlier MiG-25 "Foxbat";
the MiG-31 is based on, and shares design elements with the MiG-25. The MiG-31
has the distinction of being one of the fastest combat jets in the world. It
continues to be operated by the Russian Air Force and the Kazakhstan Air Force
following the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union in late
1991. The Russian Defence Ministry expects the MiG-31 to remain in service until
at least 2030.

The MiG-25 made substantial design sacrifices in order to achieve high speed,
altitude and rate of climb. It lacks maneuverability at interception speeds and
is difficult to fly at low altitudes. The MiG-25's speed is limited to Mach 2.83
but it could reach a maximum speed of Mach 3.2 or more with the risk of engine
damage.

Serial production of the MiG-31 began in 1979. The MiG-31 is able to maintain
combat effectiveness despite the potential use of active and passive radar
jammers and thermal decoys by adversaries. A group of four MiG-31 interceptors
is able to control an area of air space across a total length of 800–900 km; its
radar possessing a maximum detection range of 200 km in distance (radius) and
the typical width of detection along the front of 225 km.

The MiG-31 was designed to fulfill the following mission objectives:

* Intercept cruise missiles and their launch aircraft by reaching missile launch
range in the lowest possible time after departing the loiter area;

* Detect and destroy low flying cruise missiles, UAVs and helicopters;

* Long range escort of strategic bombers;

* Provide strategic air defense in areas not covered by ground based air defense
systems.

MiG-31 production ended in 1994. A total of 519 MiG-31s was produced of which
349 "baseline models" were produced at the Sokol plant between 1976 and 1988.
The second production batch of 101 MiG-31DZs was produced between 1989 and 1991.
The final batch (MiG-31B) of 69 aircraft was produced between 1990 and 1994. Of
this final batch, 50 were retained by the Kazakhstan Air Force after the
dissolution of the Soviet Union. Of the "baseline models," 40 airframes were
upgraded to MiG-31BS standard.


Role
Interceptor aircraft

National origin
Soviet Union / Russia

Manufacturer
Mikoyan-Gurevich / Mikoyan

First flight
16 September 1975

Introduction
6 May 1981

Status
In service

Primary users
Russian Air Force
Kazakhstan Air Force

Produced
1975–1994

Number built
519

Developed from
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25

Like the MiG-25, the MiG-31 is a large twin-engine aircraft with side-mounted
air intake ramps, a shoulder-mounted wing with an aspect ratio of 2.94, and twin
vertical tailfins. Unlike the MiG-25, it has two seats, with the rear occupied
by a dedicated weapon systems officer. The MiG-31 is limited to only 5 g when
travelling at supersonic speeds. While flying under combat weight, its wing
loading is marginal and its thrust-to-weight ratio is favorable. However, the
MiG-31 is not designed for close combat or rapid turning.

The wings and airframe of the MiG-31 are stronger than those of the MiG-25,
permitting supersonic flight at low altitudes. Like the MiG-25, its flight
surfaces are built primarily of nickel-steel alloy, enabling the aircraft to
tolerate kinetic heating at airspeeds approaching Mach 3. The MiG-31 airframe
comprises 49% arc-welded nickel steel, 33% light metal alloy, 16% titanium and
2% composites. Its D30-F6 jet engines, each rated at 152 kN thrust, allow a
maximum speed of Mach 1.23 at low altitude. High-altitude speed is
temperature-redlined to Mach 2.83 – the thrust-to-drag ratio is sufficient for
speeds in excess of Mach 3, but such speeds pose unacceptable hazards to engine
and airframe life in routine use.

The MiG-31 entered operational service with the Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO)
in 1981. It was the world's first aircraft with a phased array radar, and is one
of only two aircraft in the world capable of independently firing long-range
air-to-air missiles as of 2013. (The other is the Iranian Air Force F-14 Tomcat
which uses a domestic version of the long-range AIM-54 Phoenix called the
Fakour-90.) The MiG-31BM has a detection range of 282 km for a target with a
radar cross-section of 5 square meters, and 189 km for stealth targets.

Specifications (MiG-31)

General characteristics
Crew: 2 (pilot and weapons systems officer)
Length: 22.62 m (74 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 13.456 m (44 ft 2 in)
Height: 6.456 m (21 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 61.6 m² (663 ft²)
Empty weight: 21,820 kg (48,100 lb)
Loaded weight: 41,000 kg (90,400 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 46,200 kg (101,900 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Soloviev D-30F6 afterburning turbofans Dry thrust: 93 kN (20,900
lbf) each
Thrust with afterburner: 152 kN (34,172 lbf) each


Performance
Maximum speed:
At high altitude: Mach 2.83 (3,000 km/h; 1,860 mph)
At low altitude: Mach 1.21 (1,500 km/h; 930 mph)

Cruise speed: Mach 2.35 (2,500 km/h; 1,550 mph)
Combat radius:
With 4 × R-33E and 2 drop tanks without one aerial refueling: 3,000 km (1,860
mi; 1,620 nmi)
With 4 × R-33E and 2 drop tanks with one aerial refueling: 5,400 km
Combat range: 1,450 km (900 mi; 780 nmi) at Mach 0.8 and at an altitude of
10,000 m (33,000 ft); 720 km (450 mi; 390 nmi) at Mach 2.35 and at an altitude
of 18,000 m (59,000 ft)
Service ceiling: 20,600 m (67,600 ft)
Rate of climb: 208 m/s (41,000 ft/min)
Wing loading: 665 kg/m² (136 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.85

Maximum g-load: 5 g

Armament

Guns: 1 × 23 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23M rotary cannon with 800 rounds (later
removed)
Hardpoints: 8 × underwing pylons and provisions to carry combinations of:
Missiles:
Air-to-air missiles: 4 × R-33E
2 × R-40RD/TD
4 × R-60MK

Anti-radiation missiles: 4 × Kh-58UShKE

Avionics

Phazotron Zaslon passive electronically scanned array radar




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