Ahead of the much-anticipated delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has handed over this year’s first batch of upgraded and modernized MiG-31 fighters to the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD).
A message posted on the Telegram channel of UAC read, “The UAC PJSC – Nizhny Novgorod Aircraft Plant “Sokol” <…> sent the Russian Defense Ministry the first batches of MiG-31 aircraft this year, which were repaired and modernized.”
The transfer was carried out within the framework of the state defense order. In addition, all equipment has already passed ground and flight tests and is being sent to permanent bases. The UAC emphasized that the modernized MiG-31 aircraft have the high combat characteristics and capabilities required in modern combat.
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Military expert and Indian Air Force veteran Vijainder K. Thakur (retd) hinted that the UAC’s wording suggested that the aircraft might have been upgraded to the MiG-31l, which apparently is the Autonomous Kinzhal Launch standard.
EurAsian Times understands that Russia has extensively used the Kinzhal hypersonic missile against Ukraine in recent weeks and may be looking to expand the fleet of MiG-31 Foxhound that could carry the Kinzhal aeroballistic missile.
As of last year, Russia had three squadrons of the MiG-31BM or about 90 active fighters. It is unclear how many of these cutting-edge fighters are genuinely in Russia’s inventory because the UAC did not specify how many were provided to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
An additional batch of MiG-31 Interceptors may augur well for the VKS (the Russian Aerospace Forces) and significantly bolster its combat capability against any potential adversary. The aircraft has already proven its mettle by outperforming every other fighter deployed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The delivery is noteworthy as it comes ahead of the delivery of F-16s to Ukraine. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently announced the first batch of United States-built F-16 fighter jets were being sent to Ukraine. The official stated the F-16s were being transferred from Denmark and the Netherlands.
Blinken said, “And those jets … will be flying in the skies of Ukraine this summer to make sure that Ukraine can continue to effectively defend itself against Russian aggression.”
Military watchers have argued that while the F-16s would bolster Ukraine’s defensive and offensive capabilities, they would not be a silver bullet for the Ukrainian Air Force and would be outmatched by Russia’s fighters, including the MiG-31 fighter jets.
Writing for EurAsian Times, Indian Air Force veteran, Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retired), argued, “These Block 20 MLU F-16 MLU fighter jets are no better than the Ukrainian MiG-29s. If they have to push back the MiG-31s, they will require an upgrade with modern radar, avionics, and long-range AIM-120 air-to-air missiles (180 km range).”
Russia has utilized its lethal combination of MiG-31 fighters (including the MiG-31BM variant) and the extremely long-range R-37M missile to exert some air superiority despite its inability to do so in Ukraine. MiG-31 aircraft have reportedly shot down several Ukrainian aircraft in stand-off attacks, mainly by using the long-range R-37.
The Venerable Russian MiG-31BM Fighter Jet
The MiG-31 “Foxhound,” created in the 1970s to replace the MiG-25 “Foxbat,” is slower than its predecessor but has significantly higher combat capability and increased autonomy.
With the introduction of the MiG-31BM variant, the MiG-31 — originally intended for the Cold War theater — saw improvements in its primary role of interception and found new applications as a long-range attack aircraft. The MiG-31 was not developed for close combat and had poor turn performance, but it is a great platform with look-down and shoot-down capability and can track multiple targets simultaneously.
The multirole MiG-31BM has undergone extensive modification. The upgrade includes in-flight refueling, a new phased array radar, and network-centric battle control. Thanks to a stronger airframe, the service life has been increased from 2,500 to 3,500 hours.
According to the Russians, the MiG-31BM is 2.6 times more efficient than previous MiG-31 iterations. The updated Zaslon-M radar of the aircraft features an antenna with a diameter of 1.4 meters. It can identify air targets up to 400 kilometers away.
The new radar complex of the MiG-31BM can track 24 airborne targets at a time, six of which can be simultaneously attacked by R-33S missiles. The radar reportedly works well even during active radar jamming.
The MiG-31BM has multirole capability since it can employ air-to-ground, air-to-ship, and anti-radar missiles. It shares the same avionics as the MiG-29SMT and is equipped with a refueling probe.
The MiG-31BM also has newer multi-function displays (MFDs), HOTAS controls (an acronym for hands-on throttle-and-stick), and other improved avionics. With a range of about 56 kilometers, the aircraft’s retractable under-nose fairing includes an infrared search and track (IRST) system.
Under the fuselage are 4× semi-recessed hard points and 4× underwing pylons that can hold up to 9,000 kilograms of munitions. They may be equipped with a variety of air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles.
The new Mach-6 R-37 missile has a range of up to 400 kilometers. The MiG-31BM can also carry R-33 long-range air-to-air missiles and R-73 short-range air-launched weapons.
The MiG-31 acts as an air-dominance fighter. It was equipped with digital secure data links, and the aircraft radar picture could be transferred to Su-30s and MiG-29s.
The MiG-31BM combat air patrols have proven highly effective against Ukrainian attack aircraft and fighters. MiG-31BM aircraft have reportedly shot down several Ukrainian aircraft, mainly by utilizing the long-range R-37M air-to-air missile. MiG-31s have been able to operate virtually unopposed because Ukraine’s fighters lack range, speed, or altitude.
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