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.

New Anti-ship Missile Test By Iran

Iran on Monday had successfully testfired an anti-ship missile with a range of 300 kilometres (180 miles) that it had developed with homegrown technology so far unused by any other country.

"No enemy vessels would be able to escape it within a 300-kilometre radius from the borders of Iran," the commander of the elite Revolutionary Guards, General Mohammad Ali Jafari, said on state television.

The weapon has been developed entirely using domestic technology and according to our information so far no country has used this technology before.

In the past Iran has often boasted of developing new weapons systems only to be met with scepticism from Western defence analysts.

Jafari said that Iran's arsenal meant it could easily close the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which much of the world's oil supplies pass on their way out of the Gulf.

"Given the length of Iran's coast in the Strait of Hormuz area and its special geographical position... Iran has a natural strategic advantage," the Fars news agency quoted the Guards commander as saying.

"And given the equipment our armed forces have, an indefinite blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would be very easy."

Washington has never ruled out a resort to military action over what it charges is Tehran's effort to develop a nuclear weapon.

Iran insists it wants to develop nuclear power for civilian purposes only in the knowledge that its huge oil and gas reserves will eventually run out.

It has warned of a dire response in the event that it comes under attack by the United States or its regional ally Israel.

Deployment of F-22 Raptors To Guam

Approximately 130 Airmen and five F-22 Raptors from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, are deployed to Guam for two weeks to fulfill security requirements in the Asia Pacific region.

During the deployment, the Airmen will participate in exercises Jungle Shield and Cope Thaw.

Exercise Jungle Shield enhances the 13th Air Force's air defense mission in Guam and ensures the ability to fulfill Operation Noble Eagle responsibilities. F-22 pilots will also take part in Cope Thaw, providing them an opportunity to conduct routine training in an environment different from their home station.

F-22 pilots will fly three primary missions here: defensive counterair, offensive counterair escort, and offensive counterair suppression of enemy air defenses.

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Demonstration of Unmanned Supply Helicopter To US Army

Lockheed Martin and Kaman Aerospace Corporation have demonstrated to the U.S. Army and Marine Corps the feasibility of transporting supplies to ground troops by an unmanned helicopter.

During 45 minutes of operation at Ft. Eustis, VA, an unmanned K-MAX helicopter demonstrated autonomous take-off and landing, pick-up and delivery of a 3,000-pound sling load, and the ability to autonomously re-plan and detour from its designated route to accommodate changes to mission requirements and battlefield threats. The demonstration also illustrated the ability of a single ground operator to use both spoken and data commands to control the aircraft via data link, perform precision maneuvers at the pick-up or drop zones, and easily transfer control to another ground operator for maximum interoperability.

The April 23 demonstration was attended by representatives of the Army's Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD), the Combined Arms Support Command, the Training and Doctrine Command, Aviation & Missile Research, Development & Engineering Center and the Marine Corps Development Command.

The K-MAX unmanned aerial system was controlled by Lockheed Martin's KineForce mission management system, which is designed to translate the ground controller's objectives into mission executable plans, provide autonomous flight control capability, understand the dynamic battlefield environment, and react to threats. To command and control the K-MAX, a ground controller used a hand-held tablet computer - compatible with a common interface system used by the U.S. Army for control of unmanned aerial vehicles - to define the mission plan and monitor the aircraft during flight.

The Kaman designed-and-built K-MAX helicopter features a unique intermeshing rotor system that eliminates the need for a tail rotor, directing all of the power from the Honeywell T5317A-1 gas turbine engine to the main rotors. The design gives the aircraft a one-to-one lift ratio, enabling the K-MAX aircraft to lift up to 6,000 pounds - more than the aircraft's own weight - and providing superior high altitude and hot environment performance and low noise signature. Currently flown as a manned power lifter by the logging and construction industries, the aircraft has low operating costs per flight hour, and has maintained a high reliability rate over more than 225,000 flight hours in demanding environments.

Kaman Aerospace, a subsidiary of Kaman Corporation, markets and supports its SH-2G and K-MAX helicopters, is a subcontractor for complex metallic and composite structures and components for commercial, military and general aviation aircraft, designs and manufactures missile and bomb fuzing devices for the U.S. and allied militaries, and is a leading manufacturer of widely-used proprietary airframe bearings and components. Kaman Corporation conducts business in the aerospace and industrial distribution markets.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.

Bushmaster Copperhead Utility Vehicle Launched Vehicle at Eurosatory

Thales is pleased to announce the launch of its armoured combat support vehicle, known as Bushmaster Copperhead, at the Eurosatory defence exhibition in Paris, France. This Utility or ‘Ute’, to use the Australian slang, is a 4-wheel drive cab chassis protected logistic vehicle that can carry a 4,000 kg load on its 9.4m2 tray. It also provides crew the protection, mobility and combat flexibility to fulfil the ever growing mission needs in demanding situations encountered by military forces around the world.

The Bushmaster Copperhead is the latest addition to the Bushmaster Family of Vehicles (FOV), and uses the same single shell V-shaped hull to provide protection against mine blast and improvised explosive devices (IED). This technology is enhanced by upgradeable ballistic protection options to the crew cabin and a protection system already operationally proven in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A cruising speed of 100 km/h, maximum range of 800 km, high clearance for obstacles and river crossings, tight turning circle, plus the capacity to go off road in all conditions, give Bushmaster Copperheads the ability to safely carry personnel, supplies and equipment to any frontline in any environment.

However, what makes the vehicle truly unique is the combination of protection systems and tactical mobility while carrying a substantial load.

Backed by an international supply chain, mechanical components are selected for their global availability, and are common with Bushmaster while providing Thales the ability to offer worldwide Through Life Support (TLS). Thales is always looking at innovative support packages to reduce the customer's risk while tailoring TLS packages to meet the their specific needs.

The Copperhead marks a significant achievement for Thales Australia’s design and construction team.The latest addition to the Bushmaster family of vehicles offers enhanced safety features while increasing the operational capability of the armed forces.

Background Information

The Bushmaster Family of Vehicles

The Thales Bushmaster Family of Vehicles (FOV) are modular-designed armoured vehicles offering high levels of protected mobility for combat, combat support and combat service support troops.

Their fully integrated protection, based on a monocoque hull, makes the Bushmaster FOV highly mobile while providing occupant protection from small arms, mine blast and improvised explosive device (IED) attacks.

The vehicles are operationally combat-proven, highly capable and affordable. They offer greatly enhanced protection, mobility, mission performance, reliability, mission flexibility and operational sustainability.

The adaptability of the vehicles enables system integrated approach to further modular protection and upgrades enhancements, as well as remote weapons stations, electronic warfare protection devices, and combat and control systems.

Thales has worked closely with end users to produce a single platform that can be adapted into different applications to support a wide range of operational roles.

Current variants of the Bushmaster FOV already in operation around the world include:

-- Patrol Vehicle (Troop Carrier)
-- Command Vehicle
-- Assault Pioneer Vehicle
-- Ambulance
-- Direct Fire Support Weapons Vehicle
-- Mortar variant
-- Copperhead
-- FireKing

The Copperhead is an armoured combat support vehicle and, is the newest addition to the Bushmaster FOV. The cab chassis 4 x 4 logistic vehicles variant is designed to meet the ever growing operational requirements for protected mobility of not only the crew but also the cargo. It can carry loads up to 4,000kg while still offering the mobility and protection of the Bushmaster FOV.

Also part of the range is the FireKing, a purpose-built fire fighting vehicle. It offers the world’s only crew survival module in the event of the vehicle being engulfed in flames, plus unrivalled protection and mobility compared to commercial fire fighting vehicles. It is currently in service with fire fighters in Australia.

The Bushmaster FOV mechanical components are selected for their global availability and supportability, which gives Thales the ability to offer worldwide Through Life Support (TLS). Thales is always looking at innovative support packages to reduce the customer's risk while tailoring TLS packages to meet the customer's specific needs.

Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, addressing defence, aerospace and security markets worldwide. Thales’s leading-edge technology is supported by 22,000 R&D engineers who offer a capability unmatched in Europe to develop and deploy field-proven mission-critical information systems. Thales employs 68,000 people in 50 countries with 2007 revenues of €12.3 billion.

Thales Australia is the leading defence systems and engineering company in Australia and is also present in civil sectors ranging from air traffic management to security systems and services. Employing 3,700 people in over 35 sites around the country, Thales Australia recorded revenues in 2007 amounting to over AUD1 billion.

RAF Reaper for First Time , Fires Weapons

An RAF Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle used its weapons system in support of coalition forces in Afghanistan for the first time this week.

As with any other munitions this was carried out under strict Rules of Engagement.

Unlike the United States Air Forces Reapers (Predators), which are frequently used to provide Close Air Support to troops, RAF Reapers are used predominately to provide Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) data to coalition and UK forces on Operations.

39 Squadron, which is the RAF's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron, was reformed in January this year and operates from Nevada in the USA as part of the USAF 432nd Wing.

The Reaper aircraft are based in Afghanistan but are remotely controlled by satellite link from the USA.

The Officer Commanding 39Sqn, Wing Commander Andy Jeffrey, said:

"Our mission is to provide persistent ISTAR, and where required offensive support to UK and Coalition forces involved in Operations. We are here to make a difference and save lives."

Although it's an RAF Squadron, 39Sqn is comprised of personnel from all three UK services; RAF, Royal Navy and the Army. The mix of different service personnel is seen by Wg Cdr Jeffrey as very much a key asset:

"To have an army soldier or Royal Marine who's had 'boots on the ground' in Afghanistan as part of the Squadron is absolutely fantastic."

During a mission the Reaper is controlled by a pilot and a sensor-operator both of whom are experienced aircrew. In addition, a mission coordinator, present in the ground station alongside the aircrew, is often an experienced soldier or Royal Marine.

Although operating from a purpose built ground station thousands of miles from where the Reaper is actually operating, Wg Cdr Jeffrey was keen to acknowledge the close bond between his Reaper crews and the troops on the ground on operations:

"You are in that fight, you are listening to the guy on the ground, on that radio, and who's taking incoming fire. It comes back to people, of saving lives and making a difference, and we are doing that."