A two-seat supersonic fighter-interceptor, further development of the MiG-31 with a new weapons control system designated Zaslon-M. The aircraft is equipped with a radar featuring a doubled effective range, which is capable of simultaneously tracking and engage more targets. The MiG-31M main armament is six long-range missiles under the fuselage in tandem, three abreast and four
RVV-AE medium-range missiles under the wings, the cannon is dismantled. The aircraft design is somewhat updated - the middle fuselage fairing cross-section is larger, the cockpit canopy features a caseless windshield and smaller area of the operator's transparency, the wing is equipped with large leading-edge extensions, the infrared direction finder under the forward fuselage is non-retractable. It is powered by enhanced D-30F-6M engines. The internal fuel tank capacity was increased. The aircraft has an in-flight refuelling capability. The ECM and individual defence systems are united into the integral defence system.
The operator's cockpit control board equipment was changed.
Test-pilot Boris Orlov and test-navigator Leonid Popov flew out the prototype (registration number 051) on 21 December, 1985. In the late eighties, the Sokol aircraft plant (NGAZ) built the development batch of the MiG-31Ms, which underwent the official testing successfully.
Description | ||
---|---|---|
Design | OKB A.I.Mikoyan | |
Type | MiG-31M | |
NATO code name | Improved Foxhound (Foxhound-B) | |
Function | long-range interceptor | |
First flight | 21 December, 1985 | |
Crew | 2 | |
Dimensions & Weight | ||
Length, m | 22,69 | |
Overall height, m | 6,15 | |
Wing Span, m | 13,46 | |
Wing Area, m2 | 61,6 | |
Take-off weight, kg | max. (2 drop tank) | 52000 |
Warload, kg | 9000 | |
Power-plant | ||
Engines | 2 Turbofan D-30F6M | |
Thrust, kgf (kN) | max | - |
in afterburner | 16500 | |
Performance | ||
Speed, km/h (M=) | ||
max at altitude 17500 m | 3000 (2,83) | |
cruise | 2500 (2,35) | |
Practical ceiling, m | 20600 | |
Armament | ||
Missiles AA | R-33S or R-37 | 6 |
RVV-AE | 4 | |
R-40TD | 2 |
References and Credits: