New squadron of upgraded MiG-31BM aircraft delivered to Russian Air Force

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World Defense & Security News - Russia
 
 
New squadron of upgraded MiG-31BM aircraft delivered to Russian Air Force
 
A squadron of upgraded Mikoyan MiG-31BM (NATO reporting name: Foxhound) fighter jets has arrived for the Russian Aerospace Force’s air base in the Nizhny Novgorod Region in the Volga area, the Russian Defense Ministry’s press office said on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
     
New squadron of upgraded MiG 31BM aircraft delivered to Russian Air Force 640 001Russia is currently upgrading its fleet of MiG-31 Foxhound interceptor aircraft
     
"Flight and ground personnel have undergone preliminary re-training to operate the MiG-31BM fighter jets and will start to acquire practical skills in future to use these aircraft," the press office said.

According to the press office, the upgraded MiG-31BM fighter jet has a modern control system. The aircraft’s target detection range is 320 kilometers (198.8 miles) and its destruction range is 280 kilometers (174 miles).

The MiG-31BM fighter jet can hit six aerial targets and track up to ten aerial targets simultaneously. The upgraded MiG-31BM aircraft is designed to intercept aerial targets at long distances, which cannot be hit by ordinary fighter jets. The MiG-31BM fighter jet can implement network-centric warfare methods operating jointly with other aircraft.

The MiG-31BM fighter jet is equipped with a radar with a phased antenna array. Its ammunition load comprises R-33 long-range and R-73 short-range air-to-air missiles.

The aircraft has a length of 21.62 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 46.2 tons, a maximum speed of 3,000 km/h (1,864 mph) at a high altitude, an operational ceiling of 20,600 meters.

The aircraft has an operational flight range of 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) with four R-33 missiles and two external fuel tanks.

The MiG-31BM fighter jet is equipped with a flight refueling system. It is powered by two D-30F6 engines with takeoff thrust of 15,500 kgf each.

According to data of the US Military Balance journal, the Russian Aerospace Force operates about 50 MiG-31BM fighter jets and about 100 MiG-31 aircraft of other versions.
     
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