"At a speed of 2500 km / h": Pacific Fleet fighters conducted a training battle in the stratosphere

The MiG-31BM fighters of the Pacific Fleet naval aviation conducted the first training battle in the stratosphere. This was reported to the Ministry of Defense. During the maneuvers, the aircraft worked out the interception of a potential violator of the air borders of Russia.

“One of the MiG-31BMs acted as a violator of the air border, which was faced with the task of penetrating into the airspace of Russia at maximum speed in the lower layers of the stratosphere, passing the established milestone and avoiding possible prosecution,” the head of the press service information department said BBO in the Pacific Fleet, captain of the 2nd rank Nikolai Voskresensky.

The target was successfully intercepted by the second MiG-31BM fighter, and according to the conditions of the training task, the pilot was forced to look for the enemy on his own, without involving ground-based air defense systems. After capturing the target, the pilots made electronic launches of long-range air-to-air missiles.

“The flight was carried out at a speed of 2500 km / h. and at an altitude of more than 20 km, ”the department emphasized.

It is reported that the exercises were held on the "practical ceiling" of fighter capabilities. This is the highest altitude that the plane can climb, while maintaining control and the ability to quickly rise higher.

In total, six missions to the stratosphere were carried out during the exercises. Pilots continue to master new aviation equipment and improve air defense skills, the Ministry of Defense concludes.

It is worth noting that the MiG-31BM is an upgraded version of the MiG-31 fighter, which received an improved weapon control system and a new radar.

Improvements made to the aircraft significantly improved its combat capabilities, RT honored pilot of Russia, member of the Presidential Commission on Aviation Development Yuri Sytnik told RT.

“The fact is that high-precision weapons (which are carried by a fighter . - RT ) require high-precision piloting and several other sights. This refinement was carried out with the MiG-31. And almost on the same base, on that platform, a new plane was obtained. In general, the concept is the same as the constructor of the MiG-31 intended, but the quality of the aircraft was two to three orders of magnitude higher, ”the expert noted.

In addition, according to Sytnik, a fighter can intercept not only airplanes and helicopters, but also space technology.

Modernization Progress

At the moment, the aviation component of the Russian army is undergoing modernization. According to Yuri Sytnik, the most ambitious updates were received by bombers.

“The biggest upgrade concerns the Tu-95 strategic bombers. Engines, chassis, hydraulics remained from the old car, but (now the plane has. - RT ) other avionics, other sights, other possibilities for carrying strategic weapons, launching missiles from the aircraft. All this made the aircraft even “survivable” for at least 25-30 years. The modernization also touched Tu-142 aircraft, ”he said.

In addition, the Il-76 transport aircraft received new engines. This, according to Sytin, “increased the flight range, reduced fuel consumption and noise”, as well as “increased the radius of the aircraft.”

Also, the Mig-29 aircraft was modernized. “He became more mobile and began to perform a wider range of tasks,” the expert notes.

Regular exercises

Earlier, on August 15, in the Kaliningrad region, naval aviation exercises of the Baltic Fleet took place. The maneuvers involved more than ten crews of Su-24 front-line bombers and Su-30SM multipurpose fighters.

The pilots spent about 50 sorties, during which more than ten tactical scenarios were worked out. These included fire cover for ground units, the destruction of command posts, armored vehicles and enemy manpower, aerial reconnaissance and the destruction of air targets.

During the exercises, 200 unguided missiles were launched, more than 50 bombs were dropped and 800 30-mm shells from air cannons were used up.

On July 9, naval aviation exercises of the Russian Black Sea Fleet took place. Air units carried out the search and destruction of the landing squad of ships of a potential enemy. The pilots also worked out evasion maneuvers on the ships of a conditional enemy. The maneuvers involved front-line bombers Su-24 and heavy fighters Su-27, in addition, unmanned aerial vehicles were used.