The sticks of the dog : MiG-31's long range air to air missiles

[zb10948]

Whoops, an error in writing. Seekerhead grants control to proximity fuse on the distance of 2000 meters. Ok, i'll correct that in the final article. Need to write something about R-40TD too. It's also a LRAAM, of previous generation.

[Carlo]

I'll change a bit the subject, but I thought this news isn't worthy opening a new thread for it, so I will add the post here:
"An agreement was made between RSK MiG and Kazakhstan for the modernization of 10 interceptors MiG-31 "Foxhound-A" to MiG-31BM standard. The modernization will be on the cockpit, the radar and the weaponry (adds the R-77 AAM and air-to-ground weapons). Also, the agreement will also provide for spare parts, simulators and support for the MiG-29 operated by Kazakhstan. 10 other MiG-31 should be modernized in 2008."
(http://red-stars.org/spip.php?breve664)
So, with modernized MiG-31 (apart from the MiG-29 and Su-27, which are already operated but I don't know if will be also upgraded), Kazakh Air Force will be a very respectable one.

[zb10948]

MiG-31BM has some structural improvements, eg. features twin pylons on the wings, while Izd01(DZ) and B(S) have only one per wing. It's a small structural upgrade, just like between MiG-21bis and MiG-21-93, latter also has an extra hardpoint per wing.

Other stuff includes SBI-16AM radar set, that's Zaslon-A from MiG-31B upgraded to match the numbers of Zaslon-M from MiG-31M. Upgrade process only includes new backbone DSP's, while the radar antenna remains untouched.

Cockpit is modernized with LCD MFD's. Apart from that, new fire control system and electronic warfare devices are also installed. BM should feature an derivate of L-150 Pastel EWS. New FCS can exploit R-77, R-37 and R-73 in A2A regimes, while the BM can also be used for SEAD and A2G punches with X-31A and X-31P missiles. Older R-60's and R-40TD/RD are also supported.

However, it's quite interesting to see what will Kazakhstan do about Foxhound's long range weaponry. They are currently using baseline R-33's with their Izdelye 01DZ Foxhounds. Radar set from that variant can track middle sized RCS from 150-160 km, while R-33 has 160 km of kinematic range, so that fits into numbers perfectly. Now, Kazaks are going to receieve new radars, which can track middle sized RCS'es at 300 km or so. While still having the same missile.

Perhaps Russia would be willing to develop an export variant of R-33S, with an 200 km of kinematic range or so. That would be logical, now that new generation of ULR-AAMs (R-37M), is going to be introduced in the following years.

[exiled knight]

damn it,i must use the plane that using ecm system to against it