Mig-31 Mikoyan-Gurevich Foxhound

Apparatus of all superlatives, the Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig-31 Foxhound (current dog) is a interceptor trisonic (Mach 3 reached) developed in 1975 starting from the Mig-25 Foxbat, and which is always in service today, but only in the rows of the Russian Air force (the VVS).

Characteristics

At the beginning of the Years 1960, in front of acquisition by the United States of hunters of new generation and the alarming situation in which the air forces were Soviet (VVS), the government launched, inter alia, the program of Mig-31 ( project 83 within MiG).

The Mikoyan research department took again the basic configuration of Mig-25, but by reinforcing the structure and by employing new materials. The Migone (Foxhound in the Code NATO) was developed starting from a plane intended for the studies on the Mig-25: the E-155M (E=Experimentalnyï) equipped with engines RB-155B-300 of: 16000 kgp, two prototypes E-155M were transformed into testing ground for the engines Soloviev D-30F-6 with double flow which was to equip the future interceptor. Because of the engine installation of new, Mikoyan had to proceed to a replanning of the structure and benefitted from it to increase the capacity while carburizing which passed to: 19700 ℓ, the passable distance passing to 2 100 km in Supersonic flight and 3 300 km in subsonic flight .

The remotorized E-155M (E-266M) beat several records, its last performance relates to world records of absolute altitude, with: 37650 m with the hands of the test pilot chief from Mikoyan, the August 31st 1977, ever equalized…

The Migone resembles of so close to the E-155M which it was initially indicated E-155MP, and should have flown under the name of Mig-25MP; an inattentive observer could even confuse both. It is different from Mig-25 by the fact that it is two-seater (system operator of weapon in the back seat), it has a caster of nose with twin wheel and principal legs with two wheels out of tandem, new air-brakes, apexes and is lightened masses antiflutter the Migone.

This formidable interceptor has one of the best systems of weapon existing, articulated around the Radar of the most powerful fighter plan of the world: the SBI-16 Zaslon (carried for a target having a reflective surface of 16 m ²: 200 km, 120 for the continuation) whose beam is directed electronically and covers an arc of 120 degrees on each side of the axis. The Migone was conceived to be used above zones without radars on the ground, the north of the Siberia for example. These planes operate in formation of four (sometimes eight) connected by their system of data transmission and can thus cover a band of 900 km, the pilots having the same image on their screen. The plane also has a system of sweeping to Infrarouge in the front point. He, is still considered today, rightly, like the best interceptor in the world.

An improved version exists, named Mig-31M with a new windshield, increased apexes, new drifts and an absence of internal gun.

See too

the hunter Mig-31 interceptor, history and data sheet

List of the military aircrafts

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