Russian MiG-31 Fighter Jets Good Enough Until 'At Least 2028'

[SajeevJino]

Russian MiG-31 Fighter Jets Good Enough Until 'At Least 2028'​

Russia's MiG-31 Foxhound interceptors will stay in service until "at least 2028" or possibly five or 10 years more, Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said Friday.

"We are satisfied with this aircraft; it performs its functions wonderfully," the general said, adding that as next-generation long-range missiles and aircraft are developed, interception functions could be assigned to newer warplanes as well.

Bondarev's remarks seem to be a little bit at odds with his comments in April, when he said the Air Force hoped to receive a new long-range fighter-interceptor by 2020 and retire its existing fleet of MiG-31s by 2028. He also spoke out against restarting production of the MiG-31, which was discontinued two decades ago, saying the country needed a totally new interceptor to meet modern requirements.

The Russian Air Force has 122 MiG-31 interceptors in service and more aircraft in reserve, the general said at the time.

The MiG-31, the fastest fighter-interceptor in service anywhere in the world, has recently been the subject of a comprehensive upgrade to the MiG-31BM standard. The Russian Air Force has previously said it intends to take delivery of up to 60 MiG-31BMs by 2020, under a contract signed with United Aircraft Corporation in 2011

Russian MiG-31 Fighter Jets Good Enough Until 'At Least 2028' | Defense | RIA Novosti

 

[gadeshi]

Yes, and not just serve, but upgrades.

There are rumors about Irbis with larger antenna or even AESA for MiG-31 as well as new mission computers, data links, cockpit avionics, data fusion and situation awarneess suite as well as ECM suite.

 

[pankaj nema]

You know Guys This is One plane we should have bought

It is the best and fastest interceptor in the world for knocking out AWACS
and the planes providing escort security to AWACS say for eg F 16 in case of PAF

Off topic There is definitely something called Telepathy

Today evening I wanted to read some latest news on Mig 31 and its upgradation
and my wish has been answered immediately

Many Thanks to SanjeevJino

 

[gadeshi]

MiG-31 is obsoleted by its concept - to knock out missile cariers by reachin them via supersonic jump.

It is expensive and ineffective for now, when the target is not a weapons carier (which unloads in 1000 km from target, which is far beyound the MiG-31 combat radius), but the weapon itself.

In this situation carying more missiles and loitering more time waiting for attack is much more important than 3000 km/h speed for couple dosen of minutes.
That's why intercept is a Su-35 and PAK FA cup of tea and they will eventually change 31-s in the line.

However, Russia is ----ing big and needs quite a large fleet of capable fighters to protect it. So, upgrading still capable 31-s is a wise decision.