The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation published on its website a video of air patrols of the MiG-31 supersonic fighter-interceptor in the zone of the special operation.
On the footage you can see the preparation of the aircraft for combat duty, rise into the sky, flight and landing at the airfield.
According to the navigator of the MiG-31 crew, the aircraft covers the troops and facilities of the RF Armed Forces in the area of the contact line from attacks by enemy air attack and reconnaissance means.
“We carry out the task together with ground points and air control points.
When air targets are detected, guidance is carried out.
We carry out identification, capture, and after confirming the data and parameters of the target, we use guided air-to-air missiles against the enemy, ”said the pilot.
In mid-November, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the destruction of a Ukrainian Su-24 bomber by the MiG-31 crew, which was discovered during air patrols.
“During the duty in the air, an air target was detected and identified.
In agreement with the command post, the target was guided and the guided missile was launched, followed by tracking of the air target until it disappeared, ”says the crew commander of the MiG-31 aircraft.
Fighter-interceptor MiG-31 VKS of Russia
© Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported on the successful elimination of another Su-24 and Su-25 attack aircraft of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by the Russian fighter.
In an interview with RT, retired Major General Vladimir Popov, Honored Military Pilot of the Russian Federation, noted that thanks to modern weapons, the MiG-31 is successfully keeping a combat watch in the special operation zone.
“First of all, the MiG-31 operates in Ukraine as a fighter-interceptor and performs its tasks quite successfully.
He has a large arsenal of weapons.
It can take air-to-air missiles of various calibers.
It also transmits information about the air situation and targets to other VKS aircraft, ”Popov explained.
The ex-head of the anti-aircraft missile forces of the special forces command of the Russian Air Force, reserve colonel Sergei Khatylev, in a commentary on RT, in turn, noted that in the NVO zone the MiG-31 is in demand as a means of transmitting information to the Su-27, Su-30 and Su multifunctional aircraft -35.
“The MiG-31 is used to detect radar targets and subsequently issue target designation to aircraft that operate in a group.
This allows aircraft not to turn on their radar stations, which naturally increases their safety during combat duty, ”Khatylev emphasized.
Interception and destruction
The MiG-31 is the first domestic combat aircraft of the fourth generation.
The machine was created in the Soviet period to intercept and destroy various air targets at any height.
The flight capabilities necessary for this were primarily provided by powerful D-30F6 bypass engines.
Currently, the Russian Aerospace Forces operate an upgraded version of the MiG-31BM interceptor.
Its main functionality is to monitor the airspace, fight against various enemy aircraft and provide safe conditions for a massive missile and bomb strike.
The improved fighter can carry out combat operations at altitudes of over 20,000 meters and reach speeds of up to 3,000 km/h.
As follows from the materials of the military department, the MiG-31BM is capable of hitting supersonic air targets moving at a speed of 2.3 thousand km / h, and striking ground targets.
“The MiG-31BM high-altitude fighter-interceptors are designed to intercept and destroy air targets, including cruise and ballistic missiles, at extremely low, medium and high altitudes in simple and difficult weather conditions,” the website of the Russian Defense Ministry says.
The modern modification of the MiG-31 has a long range.
The vehicle is equipped with a new weapons control system and radar equipment, which allow detecting targets at a distance of up to 320 km and hitting them at a distance of up to 280 km.
“The MiG-31BM is capable of tracking up to ten air targets, as well as hitting six targets at the same time,” the Russian military department emphasizes.
According to the Ministry of Defense, as a result of the modernization of on-board radio-electronic equipment and weapons, the effectiveness of the MiG-31BM increased by 2.6 times compared to the basic version.
Fighter-interceptor MiG-31
© Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
The most important role in the process of searching for enemy aircraft and in aiming air defense systems at them is played by the Zaslon-M radar station (radar station) developed by the Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Engineering.
V.V.
Tikhomirov.
Largely due to its capabilities, a flight of two MiG-31BMs is capable of deploying two autonomous radar fields up to 500 km long in the sky.
In addition, according to Rostec, the radar actually turns the fighter into a command post.
“In particular, a powerful radar can be used to target air targets with guided missiles launched from other fighters approaching the enemy at a distance of a missile salvo in radar silence mode.
The aircraft can also be used as a kind of air command post, coordinating the actions of other types of fighters equipped with less powerful radars.
The MiG-31BM, like other types of domestic military equipment, was affected by import substitution.
At the end of November last year, the military and the Sokol aircraft building plant (Nizhny Novgorod) reported on the replacement of almost all foreign components on modernized fighters.
“We have completely left all the former Soviet republics, now everything is produced on the territory of Russia,” said the Nizhny Novgorod enterprise, which is overhauling and modernizing the MiG-31 fleet.
Another modern modification of the unique Soviet machine is the MiG-31K, the carrier of the Kinzhal hypersonic complex.
Last year, a regiment of these combat platforms was formed as part of the Aerospace Forces.
The combat debut of an aeroballistic missile practically invulnerable to modern air defense systems took place on March 18.
This weapon destroyed a large underground warehouse of missiles and aviation ammunition of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.
According to official data, during the SVO "Daggers" strikes at especially important targets.
According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the missile "showed its brilliant performance."
“Actually, no one else has such a missile: hypersonic, and with such speed, and with such penetrating capabilities.
It can neither be detected nor intercepted," Shoigu said.
Sergey Surovikin, commander of the combined group of troops of the RF Armed Forces in the NVO zone, also highly appreciated the "Dagger".
Launch of the Kinzhal missile from the MiG-31K
The Russian military sees the hypersonic system as a deterrent to NATO.
In August, three MiG-31Ks were deployed to the Kaliningrad region for round-the-clock combat duty.
At the end of October, the MiG-31K took part in the training of the strategic deterrence forces under the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Outstanding Opportunities"
According to Rostec, the Russian industry is working to extend the life of the MiG-31BM fleet by several thousand flight hours, which will allow these aircraft to operate for about ten years - until a more modern replacement appears.
“The development of the next generation of fighter-interceptors has already begun.
The project of a promising aviation complex for long-range interception (PAK DP) is at the stage of development work, ”the state corporation’s website says.
At the same time, according to Sergei Khatylev, today there is no urgent need to replace the MiG-31.
According to the expert, the aircraft still has serious modernization potential.
“In my opinion, it is necessary to continue to improve the MiG-31.
This machine has outstanding capabilities: first of all, it is the highest speed, high altitudes of combat work, the ability to overcome air defense systems.
According to a number of characteristics, the MiG-31 still has no equal, ”Khatylev summed up.