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

Τhere are 140 Mig-31B produced between 1990-1994, not so old they can serve for another 20 years. They must exploit this number of existing aircrafts

I think they will be those, which will be modernized to Mig-31BM standard.

Russia to Base MiG-31 Interceptors in Arctic

The Russian Defense Ministry is to base MiG-31 long-range interceptors at the Rogachyovo Arctic base on the island of Novaya Zemlya by the end of the year to defend against attack from the north, Izvestia reported on Tuesday quoting military sources.

"The MiG-31 squadron will be the main element of Russia's developing anti-missile defense system - the MiG-31 is capable of intercepting not only strike aircraft, but also cruise missiles with nuclear warheads from the Barents Sea to the shores of the Laptev Sea," the source said.

Military analyst Anatoly Tsyganok says the MiG-31BM has a range of 900 miles (1,450 km) on internal fuel, which can be extended to 3,355 miles (5,400 km) with air-to-air refuelling.

Although Russia does not have complete ground-based radar coverage across its northern areas, he explained, the two-seat MiG-31 can intercept targets up to 124 miles (200 km) away thanks to its advanced radar and long-range missiles.

The MiG-31, the fastest fighter-interceptor in service anywhere in the world, has recently been the subject of a comprehensive upgrade to MiG-31BM standard.

The modernized version boasts upgraded avionics and digital data-links, a new multimode radar, color multifunction cockpit displays, and a more powerful fire-control system. It can simultaneously track up to 10 targets.

Earlier this year, the Air Force said it was testing a new advanced air-to-air missile, which aviation analysts told RIA Novosti was likely to be the K-37M (also known as RVV-BD or AA-X-13 to NATO). This could be deployed on the MiG-31BM, significantly enhancing its long-range interception performance against cruise missiles.

An Air Force representative said there will be no problem basing the advanced supersonic MiGs on the frozen island, as the airfield has a good runway and a full range of facilities for those based and living there, including their families.

Russia has based the 63 Fighter Squadron equipped with Sukhoi Su-27 fighters at Rogachyovo since 1993.

http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20120925/176212312.html

Wasn't Mig-31 present in Arctic region before or it's about Mig-31BM which first unit will now serve in that region?

Interesting article from lenta.ru today

For the first time I have ever seen is being reported about the MIG-31BM modernization

So in 2012 we have 12 MIG-31BM introduced. Does anybody know how many that makes in total?

RuAF plans to modernize 60 planes to BM standard by 2020 but at this rate either they will stoop with modernization thing much sooner

than 2020 or they will modernize much higher number by 2020.

The upgraded MiG-31 went on duty near Krasnoyarsk

At the airport "Kansk" Krasnoyarsk arrived six modernized interceptor MiG-31. According to RIA Novosti referring to the representative of the Central Military Command (CVO), the aircraft went on duty in the second part of the Air Force and Air Defense.
According to the source, the aircraft went through a deep upgrade to the version of the MiG-31BM. In particular, the fighters got a new weapon control system, which can detect targets at a distance of up to 320 kilometers and hit them at a distance of 280 kilometers. The aircraft can simultaneously track up to ten to six and hit aerial targets.

A total of 2012 aircraft CVO received nine MiG-31BM. Previously reported to the Air Force plans to upgrade to the 2020 version of the BM 60 aircraft MiG-31.

In total, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), in service with the Russian Air Force are 198 fighter-interceptor MiG-31. Flightglobal MiliCAS estimates their number at 146 cars.

The MiG-31 is designed for two-person crew, can reach speeds of up to 3,000 kilometers per hour and has a combat radius of 720 kilometers. Aircraft is in service with six-barrel GSh-6-23, as well as missile air-to-air on six hardpoints.


http://lenta.ru/news/2012/12/11/mig31bm/

I think there were around 20 Mig-31BM before 2012.

Interesting report.

Apparently R-37M is finished and will enter in service in mid 2013.

On the other hand this is Izvyestia

MiG-31BM from mid-2013 will be equipped with new long-range missiles - "News"


TSAMTO December 20. Russian fighter aircraft several times to increase its striking power. This will happen with the adoption for service MiG-31BM long-range missiles to 37m-class "air-to-air," write "News."
A senior source in the Main Command of the Air Force said "News" that the missiles are fully debugged in the ICD "Vympel" them. Toropova and war await them next summer.

The source said the "Izvestia", the new missiles capable of striking high-speed air targets at a distance of about 200 km.

As they say, "News", the performance characteristics of K-37m were not disclosed, and is now known only basic. In particular, according to the newspaper, "after the target coordinates missile uses an inertial guidance system. Just before to include the active seeker, which leaves little time to dodge missiles. The missile can destroy targets maneuvering overload to 8g, that is highly maneuverable aircraft such as F-16 and F-22 fifth generation. GSN is resistant to electronic warfare. Mass of the rocket - more than 500 lbs. In the final segment of the flight speed reaches its 6M. "

Interlocutor "News" in the Main Command of the Air Force said that the long-range missiles needed MiG-31, as it is intended to be a long-range interceptors.

http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2012/1220/100516276/detail.shtml

Front seat and back seat of RuAF Mig-31BM. Not so many LCDs as in prototype.

GarryB wrote:I remember reading another article where an official was talking about 100 upgraded Mig-31s by 2020. I thought the 60 upgrades by 2020 was the Tu-22M3M.

Maybe I have them the wrong way around, but I think 100 upgraded Mig-31s would be more useful than 100 upgraded Tu-22M3M aircraft... though obviously I would prefer 100 of both.

60 MiG-31BM, 30 Tu-22M3M. But i think the most logical is to double the number for both types.

medo wrote:



Front seat and back seat of RuAF Mig-31BM. Not so many LCDs as in prototype.

The previous prototypes had the entire old cockpit torn out- this is a cheaper and easier solution.

Though, I wonder if its not easier to just gut the whole cockpit and slap in those big SU-35 MDFs.

Interesting is, that they didn't replace RWR with newer one.

More 3 mig 31bm to Russian Air Force

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/4126/81237179.da/0_86d81_28d3f001_XXXL.jpg

MiG-31 WSO trainer cockpit.

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/4117/81237179.da/0_86d83_bc8be438_XXXL.jpg

BM WSO trainer.

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/5638/81237179.da/0_86d82_b4b53099_XXXL.jpg

BM pilot's cockpit.

The famous russian clock is now in the middle of 31BM WSO cockpit.

It could also raise the possibility of a new modification for the Tu-22M3M and a new role.

Is there enough money to keep them? they could rely on retired aircraft for spares, but it's not a cheap aircraft to run. Those variable geometry wings would probably need a lot of maintenance.

MIG 31 at Perm

MiG-31BM

http://www.mycity-military.com/imgs2/65178_45511219_34c%201.jpg

http://www.mycity-military.com/imgs2/143473_85333619_01-01-01perm%20ab-apr2013-25blue.jpg

MiG-31B looking nice itself.

http://www.mycity-military.com/imgs2/143473_85333619_01-01-01perm%20ab-apr2013-01blue.jpg

Picture of armed Mig-31BM is excellent. Will it also use R-77?

http://www.lenta.ru/news/2013/04/11/newinterceptor/

Russian air force order development of new interceptor to replace Mig-31 after 2020.

Russia to Field MiG-31 Replacement by 2020 - Commander

MOSCOW, April 11 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian Air Force is hoping to receive a new long-range fighter-interceptor by 2020 and retire its existing fleet of MiG-31 interceptors by 2028, Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said on Thursday.

“We have started development of a new aircraft of this type and I think we can develop this plane before the state armament program ends in 2020,” Bondarev said at a meeting with Russian lawmakers.

“The new plane should replace the existing fleet by 2028,” he said.

Bondarev spoke out against restarting production of the MiG-31, which was stopped 20 years ago, saying the country needs a totally new interceptor to meet modern requirements.

The Russian Air Force has 122 MiG-31 interceptors in service and more aircraft in reserve, he said.

The MiG-31, the fastest fighter-interceptor in service anywhere in the world, has recently been the subject of a comprehensive upgrade to MiG-31BM standard.

The MiG-31BM has a range of 900 miles (1,450 km) on internal fuel, which can be extended to 3,355 miles (5,400 km) with air-to-air refueling.

The modernized version boasts upgraded avionics and digital data-links, a new multimode radar, color multifunction cockpit displays, and a more powerful fire-control system. It can simultaneously track up to 10 targets.

The two-seat MiG-31 can intercept targets up to 124 miles (200 km) away thanks to its advanced radar and long-range missiles. The Air Force said in 2012 it was testing a new long-range missile for the MiG-31, which analysts who spoke to RIA Novosti said was likely to be the K-37M, also known as RVV-BD (NATO AA-X-13 Arrow).

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.

MiG-31 interceptors are an integral part of a comprehensive aerospace defense network being created in Russia to thwart any potential airborne threats, including ballistic and cruise missiles.

That's a surprising development. So, will it be large and fast like the MiG 31?

Internal carriage of BVR weapons, large AESA, and VLO frame could make this a real killer. I hope that's what we see on the finished product.