MiG-31 Foxhound

MiG-31 Foxhound is probably the best Russian Air-Defense fighter with long-range missiles and highly advanced radar. As one of the later models following a long line of successful Soviet- manufactured aircraft, the Mig-31 Foxhound is an all-weather interceptor plane which entered service in Russia possibly as early as 1976. Touted as the forerunner to the MiG-23, Su-15, and the MiG-25, the MiG-31 Foxhound "B" was endowed with the capacity for two fliers, supersonic velocity close to three times the speed of sound, dual turbofan afterburners, and folding wings. Its aerodynamic design includes a high degree of slope and twin outward cantered fins. As a highly refined aircraft, the current versions of the MiG-31 have introduced many technical innovations to its various combat theatres.
AVIONICS

RP-31 Zaslon radar

The N007 Zaslon was the first phased-array radar to enter service on a fighter aircraft. Zaslon is double the weight of the AWG-9, the largest US fighter radar. The NIIP team believed that the advantages a phased-array radar gave in terms of near-instantaneous scanning and multi-target engagement capability (a typical mechanically-scanned antenna can take 12-14 seconds to complete a scan) were worth the weight and cost penalties. In 1981, MiG-31 aircraft carrying the Zaslon radar entered service with the Air Defense aviation, and became fully operational in 1983. The 1.1m diameter phased array antenna weighs 300kg, the whole radar weighing in at 1000kg. Zaslon uses an Argon-15A computer (first airborne digital computer designed in USSR). Zaslon operates in 9-9.5 GHz band. It detects and engages targets down to 25m, including cruise missiles. Maximum possible search range is 300km for a large airborne target.

Range Search (kms) Track (kms)
Bomber 180-200 120-150
Fighter 120 90


Communication:
R-862 UHF, R-864 HF, P-591 voice warning system, SPU-9 intercom; SRO-2P IFF transmitter and SRZ-2P receiver; SO-69 transponder. Flight: A312 Radikal-NP or A-331 Shoran, A-723 Kvitok-2 Loran. Marshrut long-range and Tropik medium-range nav systems. ARK-19 radio compass, RV-15 radar altimeter, RPM-76 marker beacon receiver. Mission: In four-aircraft group interception mission, only lead MiG-31 is linked to AK-RLDN automatic guidance network on ground; other three MiG-31s have APD-518 digital data link to lead aircraft, permitting line-abreast radar sweep of zone 430 to 485 n miles (800 to 900 km; 495 to 560 miles) wide by 140º sector scanning angles. Semi-retractable Type 8TP IR search/track sensor under cockpit; tactical situation display. BAN-75 command link; APD-518 digital air-to-air datalink; Raduga-Bort-MB5U15K air-to-ground tactical datalink; SPO-155L RHAWS; Argon-15 digital computer.

WEAPONS
The MiG-31 Foxhound was designed to fly high and fast to defeat threats like Pershing-II missile and Sr-71 aircraft with long-range missiles. So to complement the RP-31 Zaslon radar, the R-33 Amos missile was developed. The R-33 is the first Russian air-to-air missile to use an onboard digital computer, which has stable characteristics compared with analogue devices. It is fitted with an active radar proximity fuse and impact fuse as well as with an HE-fragmentation warhead. Much like the American Phoenix, the Amos has a range of 160 Km, and races to the target at Mach 4.5. With a load of Six R-33, the MiG-31 becomes the ultimate launch-and-leave missile platform.

Other weapons include the R-40 Acrid from the MiG-25's arsenal, the R-60 Aphid self-defense missile and R-73 Archer missile was added in later models. A proposed ground-attack variant was to carry missiles like Kh-31, Kh-59 and PGMs, but it did not become operational.

POWER PLANT
Two Aviadvigatel D-30F6 turbofans, each 93.1 kN (20,930 lb st) dry, 151.9 kN (34,170 lb st) with afterburning; internal fuel capacity 19,940 litres (5,268 US gallons; 4,386 Imp gallons) in seven fuselage tanks, four wing tanks and two fin tanks. Provision for two under wing tanks, each 2,500 liters (660 US gallons; 550 Imp gallons); semi-retractable flight refueling probe on port side of front fuselage.

The MiG-25 had a maximum speed of over Mach 3.0 at altitude, but it is said that it seldom achieved that speed as after doing so, the engines broke down and had to be replaced, and also the airframe was subjected to a lot of damage. Whether the same problem has persisted with the Foxhound, only Russians can tell.

MiG-31 Technical Data

Contractor:
Mikoyan-Gurevich RAC MiG (formerly MiG-MAPO)

Country Soviet Union

NATO codename: Foxhound

Function: Strategic fighter-interceptor

Crew: 2

In-service
year:
1982

Engine:
Two Aviadvigatel D-30F6 afterburning turbofans

Thrust:
34,100 lb. each
15,500 kg. Each


Dimensions
Wing span:
44 ft. 1 in.
13.46 m.

Length:
74. Ft 4 in. (including nose probe)
22.69 m. (including nose probe)

Height:
20 ft. 2 in.
6.15 m.


Weight

Empty
48,015 lb.
21,825 kg.

Max. Takeoff
101,640 lb.
46,200 kg.


Performance

Ceiling:
67,568 ft.
20,600 m.

Speed:
1,863 mph
3000 km/h

Range:
1,326 miles (on internal fuel)
2,050 miles (with fuel drop tanks, no missiles)
2,135 km. (on internal fuel)
3,300 km. (with fuel drop tanks, no missiles)


Armament

1 Gsh-23 cannon, R-33 Amos, R-40 Acrid, R-60 Aphid, R-73 Archer, R-77 Adder and R-37 (later models).


Proposed attack version: Kh-25, Kh-31, Kh-29, Kh-59, Kh-59M, KAB-500/1500 and FAB-1500 bombs.