Aviapedia

Mig-31 Foxhound video from “Smotr” tv-series

By Pavel | March 28, 2006 on 2:39 pm | In Aviation Video, MiG-31 Foxhound, Mikoyan, Smotr |

Right-click to download Mig-31 “Foxhound” video.
20,4 Mb, 11:03, 480 x 360, wmv
Another video from “Smotr” tv-program team. Mig-31 Foxhound base near Tver. Take-offs, landings, some historical shots, interesting view of Mig-31 training facility.
Russian language, translation in this post.

Mig-31. This aircraft has official name which is not “plane”. Mig-31 is the only russian fighter with significant title “airship”. And this is absolutely deserved name.

Supersonic two-seater fighter-interceptor Mig-31 is the first 4th generation russian combat aircraft. Being created almost 25 years ago even today it is the fastest and highest flying combat aircraft on active duty.

“Mig-31 was created for the full-scaled war, its main targets supposed to be strategical bombers, EW aircrafts and most important - it can shoot down cruise missiles.” - says Valeriy Knish, fighter air regiment commander.

In 1970s Soviet Union borders were protected by Tu-128 long-range interceptor and Su-15 fighters. But they weren’t able to fulfill this task after USA got FB-111 medium-range bomber (it could approach target flying low-level) and strategical bomber B-1. Tu-128 and others Mig-31 predecessors weren’t able to intercept them with guaranteed result.

Mig-31 Foxhound One more unpleasant (for the USSR) US invention was Lockheed SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft - the owner of still unbeaten speed record. SR-71 freely flew over soviet borders at polar region and far east, gathering important information for US HQ. Soviet country urgently needed aircraft to intercept these expensive rocket-planes.

Mikoyan design bureau engineers were already working on upcoming Mig-31 prototype. Basic frame was taken from Mig-25, but only general things were kept - two tail fins and two slope air intakes by the sides of fuselage. Everything else was completely different.

“The main power of the plane lie in targeting system, in detection range, locking, launching, in the amount of air targets it can track and engage, the frontline it can cover by itself or in group not to allow enemy aircrafts to approach protected objects.” - says Valeriy Knish.

By the experts opinion it was Mig-31 creation for US to retire Blackbirds. After Mig-31 creation this unique aircraft became vulnerable. After new Mig entered service and successfully performed several interceptions, US aviation activity have decreased greatly.

“When we were on duty on the border, very often we have far not training alerts. Actually alert forces are created to work on real targets, not the training ones.”- says Valeriy Knish.

Mig-31 Foxhound Mig-31 has become two-sitter not by accident. To fully use all the powerful armament and hi-tech onboard equipment of the plane it should have second pilot.

“Crew consists of 2 people - pilot and navigator. Navigator is dealing with navigation and weapon systems, pilot is controlling the plane and performing main mission task - air-to-air missile launches.” - says Valeriy Knish.

Combat effectiveness of the plane strongly depends from the crew and armament capabilities.

Valeriy Knish: “Here is the main Mig-31 weapon - R33 missile. Its effective launching range is 120 km and aircraft has 4 of them.”

Only F-14 aircraft can carry missiles of the same level, but Tomcats are almost retired. Today in Russia were created new R37 missiles with 280 km launch range.
In addition Mig-31 has several short-range missiles for close air combat.

Mig-31 can reach huge speed level. And during the design process it was very important to lower down carried missiles resistance to the incoming air. Mig designers succeded in this task - missiles are placed in the way to slowdown plane twice less then all the planes before.

Mig-31 Foxhound Mig-31 is able to terminate any air target. It can detect, and trace up to 10 targets on different altitudes, with different headings and speeds. Hardware is choosing 4 most dangerous targets. It doesn’t matter what sizes or speeds are they. Mig-31 may aim to the relatively small cruise missile coming on the ground level, to the helicopter hiding in the terrain accidents and to the supersonic recon plane flying very high. Even famous Stealth will not avoid Mig-31.

Successful result of attack is guaranteed - not related to the weather conditions are, time of day or enemy electronic warfare activity.

“This is really unique plane, the tasks it can solve by its own are impossible for any other fighter in the world. And when it is group of 4 aircrafts, it’s impossible even for some squadrons.” - states Valeriy Knish.

Four Mig-31 are able to cover 800 kilometers frontline. Information exchange process between the planes is constant. All the tasks by the targets locating and group coordination are being automatically solved by the onboard systems. Besides, Mig-31 can coordinate attack of several fighters of other class, with less advanced radars systems.

Mig-31 Foxhound “In distinction from maneuverable Su-27 and Mig-29, Mig-31 is not so good in aerobatics of close air combat, but it isn’t necessary. All the enemies should be destroyed in BVR missile combat.” - says Valeriy Knish.

In comparison with planes of the same class, Mig-31’s demands for the landing strip are very low. Unique truck type gear, when wheels are placed by the “separated tandem” scheme, allow to use airfields with almost any type of flight strip surface and in almost any condition, including iced.

These days temperature outside was minus 30, during the nights reached minus 37. It was very hard for the technicians and engineers, but aircrafts are ready for take-off.
Such frosts are not a problem for this aircraft. Actually, it was from the beginning designed for hard weather conditions usage, on the North territories and on the Far East regions of Russia.

Today Mig-31 is being upgraded. New electronic hardware should bring new life into this project. But for now there is no much such modified aircrafts. In regular units modernization process goes really slow.

There are problems with pilots too. Young pilots coming to the regular units are not ready for flights. They need to study a lot.

Mig-31 never had training modification, for this purpose were used dual control Mig-25. But they are already fully worked out and now pilots have to spend most of their time on simulator.

Mig-31 Foxhound Second cockpit of Mig-31 has fully doubled controls, but still it can’t be used as a trainer. When first Mig-31 aircrafts started to arrive to regular units, only class 1 pilots were able to fly them. Now requirements are much softer, but still for young pilot before he will be able to take off on Mig-31 it is obligatory to study for about a year on special simulator complex.

This complex can simulate any emergency situation - from fire to the engines malfunction. And young pilots has many things to work on very hardly. Though their lives are in absolute safety while on simulator, after tough trainings flight suits are soppy from sweat.
Pilot may become a real ace only after many hours spent on simulator and years of flights during regular duty.

In this unit new generation pilots training goes together with combat duty. This fighter air regiment protects Moscow and western approaches. Migs has very big operational range, so covered area of responsibility is really huge. That is why these people feel great responsibility - they protect millions of Russians and the heart of the country.

Training process here is very close to real situations and it never stops.

There are not many Mig-31 left on regular duty, and this amount decreases constantly, new planes are not being produced. But for our country with great territories this plane still has the strategical importance.

Serial production of Mig-31 was launched in 1979. Since then it was upgraded and modified, finely tuned for new tasks many times. Aircraft design has amazing potential and it can be modernized for a very long time. But main Mig’s reserve is people, pilots. It was time when predecessors were very excited about new aircraft. And today new pilots has great wish to fly Mig-31. The only thing they need is such possibility.

55 Comments »

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Wow, Russia looks extremely cold!
The MiG-31 is a very nice platform. – Very solid and rugged from what I can see.
I doubt that any of our (USA) fighters will be able to operate, let alone take off in those severe conditions.

Hats down for those Soviet Engineers.

Comment by Steve — March 28, 2006 #
And dont forget, its Mach 2,83 plane!! And it got world most powerful radar; SBI 16 Zalson (”Flashdance”)

Comment by Do you watch viva la bam, or jackass? — March 28, 2006 #
:….)

its so beatifull, im crying….

lol

Comment by russian — March 29, 2006 #
It was -30 C (-22 F) during the day and -37 C (-34 F) in the night
Far not every car will start in such conditions

Comment by Pavel — March 29, 2006 #
“It was -30 C (-22 F) during the day and -37 C (-34 F) in the night ” - Holy shit, Russia’s well cold! Our fighters would probably break if they sat outside at night at those temperatures!

Anyway, is that somewhere in Siberia?

Comment by Steve — March 29, 2006 #
Keep in mind they built the plane for speed, nothing else.

Comment by Russian Admiral — March 30, 2006 #
Siberia? Not at all, Tver is between Moscow and St.Peteresburg, apprx 160 kilometers from Moscow to the North-West.
To Russian Admiral - I’m completely disagree Mig-31 was built only for speed. It’s best flying command center for today, the main advantage is multiple-target engagement capability and information exchange between other planes in squadron ability. It’s in addition to its interceptor functionality.

Comment by Pavel — March 30, 2006 #
Well, to be honest it just was such time of the year It was february, both in Tver and Moscow in 2006 it was extremely cold. So it is not usual situation for airbase near Tver Still this is true, they were combat-ready even in such conditions.

Comment by Pavel — March 30, 2006 #
Tver used to be called Kalinin. My old friend from highschool used to serve in the PVO (Air Defence) regiment there. Later he crashed in Yak-28 in Arxangelsk.

Every time I watch these “Smotr” videos I think it’s sad that Russia is trying to glorify and through such “Discovery-Chanel” type programs present old, outdated USSR-era planes as something new and modern that Russis should be proud of. All the cool graphics and soundtrack don’t make the 40-year-old analog control panel of the Mig31 look any newer. In reality since fall of the USSR, Russia hasnt produced anything new that hasn’t been a spin-off from platforms incepted during the cold war. Russian VVS is living on borrowed-time and as old-outdated planes like this MIG 31 become obsolete nothing new is being produced. Too bad.

Comment by Skimeister — March 31, 2006 #
Yeah, it may be an old design aircraft, so what? The B-52 is a WWII aircraft and it is still flying efficiently, and it will continue to do so until 2030.
The thing that this is a late 70´s design is not an obstacle to admit it is still a hell of an aircraft, very mighty and powerfull. I wonder how many countries in the world can even dream of having an operational fleet of Mig-31 to protect their borders.
The only thing this airplane needs is a more sophisticated avionics and weapons system. And this can be done (and certainly it will be done in near future) in a short time. Not to mention that this method saves huge amounts of money to the budget of any country. Modernizing periodically an aircraft is much better that design a new one every decade. No country has the means to do so. I just saw that the F-35 is planned to be operational until 2050, and Eurofighter until 2045.
Russians should feel very proud of their design capabilities. I doubt any country would ever dare to trespass your airspace without having this hound dogs in front.
Regards.

Comment by Marco — April 23, 2006 #
How fast can it fly in low level flight?

Comment by JAS fan — May 13, 2006 #
Not fast, around 1500 kmph at sea level

Comment by Pavel — May 23, 2006 #
The B 52 is NOT a ww2 era plane, it first flew in 1953 and entered service a few years latter. WW2 ended in 1945.
Who cares if the basic design of most russian aircraft are old, they can still do their job and are good as or better than any aircraft another country can throw at it wether it be a new mig 29, a super flanker, the mig 31 or even the tu 95 and tu 160).

Comment by Munzy — June 27, 2006 #
actually the mig-31 concept been taken from the avro arrow …..a canadian plane with a tragic history

Comment by outlaw — August 22, 2006 #
LOS AVIONES RUSOS SON LOS MEJORES DEL MUNDO

Comment by CARLOS ALBERTO — August 23, 2006 #
What concepts were taken from the avro arrow?
Visually it looks no more like the arrow than any other modern fighter jet.
Except the horizontal stabalizer juts forward halfway down similar to the wings of the arrow.

http://www.aviapedia.com/fighters/mig-29vft-video-smotr

(picture at the very bottom)

Comment by Eric Bouwman — August 28, 2006 #
I think the MiG-31 has to be my favorite military aircraft in the world today. It is truly unique.

Comment by Foxhound — September 18, 2006 #
It’s big, it’s bad, and it’s a beauty Just like the Flanker

And armed

Comment by Zare — October 25, 2006 #
Oh my! Another Canadian sobbing in his beer about the Avro Arrow, which was basically an up-scaled F-106.

Please! If the Arrow was such an uber-plane, it would have been produced, politics or no. One advantage of the old USSR was, when they found something that worked, they built it, rather than haggling endlessly about it.

Tough, powerful, sturdy…..Russian aircraft, tanks and weapons of all types have been the workhorses of the Eastern Bloc for decades. Why do you think the world either buys American or Russian hardware? The U.S. may have a technological edge (note I said ‘may’), but you’ll never see a Raptor outrun a Foxhound.

This American is proud to fly a SU-37 in his gaming wing.

Comment by Yellow 13 — October 29, 2006 #
Great movie!
Great plane!

I don’t have a deep knowledge about russian military planes, is hard to find books and magazines about this subject here (Brazil), but… The little that I can read, and about what I listen to talk, seen to be very good plane… I’m admired about that be a old disign… congratulation to the russian enginers!

Comment by Feijon - Brazilian admiral of russia — October 29, 2006 #
Hi !

I write from Hungary!
I’m an aircraft mechanic. I never saw Mig-31 (cry) But I think It’s require a lot of work!
All the same I love this beauty. Unfortunately the Mig of engine developed from the solovjev D-30.(Mig-31 of engine developed from the Tu-134 of engine.) I worked with this engine, and i think it isn’t enough trustiness.
All the same I LOVE THE MIG-31 FOXHOUND

Comment by Blinder — November 26, 2006 #
Well the guy said it…MiG-31 is not agile fighter like MiG-29 or Su-27, it can’t pull more than 6G so it’s not made for dogfights but his main quality is in those R-33 missiles with range of 120 km. MiG-31 and it’s powerful Zaslon radar with total coverage of 240 deg leave only it’s rear third uncovered so WVR dogfight is never ment to happen if you encounter one of those birds.

I like newest MiG-31 upgrade (M version) with ability of carrying new R-77 AMRAAMski missiles and glass cockpit.

Welldone!

Comment by Vedran — December 20, 2006 #
I love this russian beauty (just like sharapova). I think this plane is best interceptor aircraft world. no one can beat it.

Comment by stratophere — February 5, 2007 #
Actually, there is: the American X-29A. It can pull up to 13G and has a max speed of 1,400 MPH above that it only has 30% radar detectability. So all you should give up on the MiG-31 and find out that Russain planes CRAP!!!!!!!!!!

(P.S. American aircraft RULE

Comment by ACE — March 16, 2007 #
For all American maybe Russians live in the past,
but their aircrafts are Faster, Better, Bigger, More
Man. then Americans aircrafts.
And check space program, Russians rocket engines
are more tech. advanced then Americans.
What I want to say you don’t have technology to
produce engines for space rockets to compare
Russians, instead you are using Russians engines
in your Rocket
Take care,
Chomy

Comment by Cveticanin Mica — March 23, 2007 #
This comment is a response to ACE. There are only 2 X29s so don’t get your hopes up. Oh and if Russian planes are crap why then did US build bomb shelters during the cold war and why does it want to put up extra missile defense systems in Europe next to Russia? I will tell you why, it’s cause they are scrared of the Russian planes. What is considered to be crap is the V-22 osprey. All it does is crash and the americans cant figure out how to make it work. Now thats crap.

Comment by UCSD — March 24, 2007 #
P.S.- I take it you, ACE, don’t know Russian and do not understand what they are talking about in the video. I will tell you one bit, it says the the SR-71 Blackbird never stood a chance against MiG-31.

Comment by UCSD — March 24, 2007 #
Whatever he is inventof the Americans never so good airplanes battle as the Russians mig 31 is and during one of the best huntings of history being of fourth generation now we hope much that it passes with mig the 1,42, su-47 Berkut and His SU-37 Terminator Greetings to all from Venezuela

Comment by REICH — March 25, 2007 #
Listen up,I was in Russia in 2003 for 3 months,after that I fall in love for Russia misfortune only my grandmother is a russian and everybody are bulgarians(included me).Now I live in Italy but my dream stays always to be a russian pilot and to protect Russia from every enemy.
I would like to say the MiG-31 it’s true that it has been constructed for speed but it will have some other good ability.
The Su-27 and the other Flankers are made for dogfight,long-range missions and ecc.(These are the best planes ever made in the world).
About the F-22″raptor” its max speed is about 1.8 Mach -2.1 mach,its maneuverability is low-starting rateo-23 degrees/sec,continuous rateo-17 degrees/sec,like some of the first Flankers.

Comment by goran — May 6, 2007 #
This thing is a beast, and it’s so beautiful. =3

Hmm… Foxhound + airfield w/ snowy landscape = love

Comment by Angel Mutsumi — May 7, 2007 #
hi thanks for yhe things you made to the poeople iwould like to send me a variety of pictures.

Comment by poul — June 8, 2007 #
Hi there

For more information and some hi-res pictures, check out the article I wrote on the MiG-31: http://www.aircraftinformation.info/art_mig31.htm

Comment by WiseGuy - aka Guy Martin — June 15, 2007 #
I just read skimeisters comments on the antiquity of the MiG 31. Sure most of what we see on the net is old footage and pics but there is a new version of this plane called the MiG 31BM which has all new avionics and flight control systems and the capability to track 24 targets at the same time.The Russian is air force is undergoing a programme of modernisation and it would be wise not to look down our noses at it because it is will be very capable. A few dozen F-22’s doesn’t make an air force invincible skimeister.

Comment by Neil — June 25, 2007 #
Part of the reason the F 15 was created. That and, this aircraft, are among my most respected fighters. Both have extreme capabilities. I am truly thankful they never went head to head. Losses would mount on both sides.

Comment by Sukio — July 1, 2007 #
Swedish pilots in the 80s used to start at 8000 meters altitude and accelerate north to mach 1.35, then climb with between 3-5 degrees angle at continous acceleration on an opposite heading to the Blackbird that was heading south. The encounters were very fast and dangerous said SAAB JA37 Viggen fighter pilot Per-Olof Eldh. One of the encounters occured the 9th of Januari 1986. He got a radar lock with Skyflash at maximum range. When the Blackbird passed about 2000 meters above him he could see the dark grey aircraft. Per experienced 5 encounters. Debriefings concluded successful shot down if they would had fired. The Blackbirs usually flew from Germany always on the same route over Denmark then to the right to Borholm then north as far east as possible along the Baltic Sea. Over Åland they slowed down to Mach 2.5 and turned back south increasing to Mach 3 again passing to the west in international air space between the Swedish large islands Gotland and Öland.

For the full story (In Swedish only) read here:
http://www.mil.se/attachments/iof_nr6_05.pdf

Comment by Arnbjörn — July 24, 2007 #
#

Actually, there is: the American X-29A. It can pull up to 13G and has a max speed of 1,400 MPH above that it only has 30% radar detectability. So all you should give up on the MiG-31 and find out that Russain planes CRAP!!!!!!!!!!

(P.S. American aircraft RULE

Comment by ACE — March 16, 2007 #

I had to quote this!!! excuse me - are you a american Rambo pilot!? For how long could you withstand 13g ? Are you retarded!? And BTW all that stealth tech and other americunt crap is obviously not working - you didn’t have balls to do ground attack on Serbia in 1999!!! It wouldn’t be like Iraq - you’re ass would be grass!!! First of all - you don’t even know basics on aerodynamics and electronics - so Ace, or whatever - you should cower yourself with ears and shut up!
Salute to Russian brethren form Serbia!

Comment by LordRaiden — August 8, 2007 #
Mr. Lord raiden it sounds like you do not know a thing about stealth technology, so do not knock it. If it is so bad then why are the Russians trying to develop it, which they never will. You must be one of those communists from Russia. Number one both the mig 25, and mig 31 are sitting ducks they are to big and cannot manuever as well as any American fighter jets. And remember that two f-14 Tomcats took out a couple of migs during the 1980’s. If one f22 Raptor with stealth technology can take out 5 f-15’s within 10 minuts during a aerial challenge, then they would sure take out any migs, you cannot see them on radar you idiot.

Comment by tomcat — August 20, 2007 #
Yes Mr raiden is right. you can’t shoot what you can’t see, and Avionic wise, American still beat the russian by a large margin. but Russian are developing a new generation of Radar so powerfull, it can burn through any stealth cover at significant range. there’s also a new passive EW radar like Vera-E and Kolchuga. it was said that Vera-E manage to detect a F-117A during balkan conflict that lead to it’s shotdown. The complexities of the stealth aircraft come in it’s Flight-Control computers, and that’s avionics, which the american held an edge. this is the subject of failure in russian stealth design, they can’t developed a reliable enough flight control computer. the aircraft with more stealth tend to be less aerodynamic while aircraft with more aerodynamic tend to be less stealth. Obviously, US sacrifice some of the aerodynamic perfirmance in favor of stealth.

Comment by Mehmet Al Fateh — August 29, 2007 #
the russians have new stealth tehnology with plasma,best in the world!!!

Comment by stax-serbia — September 12, 2007 #
it doesn’t matter how many a/c you can target, if you can’t see them with radar signature you’re still screwed. with stealth technology vs. f-15,16, and 18’s our birds kill ratio was 118:2 with the aggressors allowed to regenerate and stealths having to leave once killed. besides our weapons systems are far superior. don’t believe me, ask iraq and afghanistan regarding air to ground. as far as air to air, it’s a little closer in regards to capabilities.

Comment by jimbob — September 20, 2007 #
Superbe comme avion certes! Mais nous avons la “Rafael” en France avion aussi de haut technologie mais difficile de savoir ce quipassera dans un dog fight avec le MIG 31?

Comment by firefoxx — September 30, 2007 #
Great airship
I think it is not worth to talk about doghfight capabilities here. The MiG-31 is a specialized hunter, and I think it is very good on what it does. The stealth capabilities are of limited use, and if you have a squadron of those guarding an area, even an F-22 will have problems in hidding form everyone. Don’t get me bad, the F-22 is a very good plane, but you can’t be all-stealth. If you are in the air, you can be seen, and you are not stealht from every angle. That doesn’t work like that. This MiG is the real deal here. It is the best air defense interceptor in the world, and there is nothing that can compete. Maybe the F-14D would be a good adversary, but it is not in use anymore… What is a shame.
Anyway, this russian made marvel is really great!

Comment by S7alker — December 9, 2007 #
F-22 Raptor has a radar signature of a sparrow (bird). Good luck finding it, let alone shooting it down. F-35 Lightning JSF, almost as dominant.

Comment by Brad — December 12, 2007 #
The stealth capabilities are over-valorized. Seek the article about the Raptor being a big mistake, here in Aviapedia. They are very powerfull against older sistems, but tecnology evolves. One great rule of war: your enemies aren’t seeping!

Comment by S7alker — December 13, 2007 #
Brad. Don’t listen to fairy tales F/A-22 has radar signature of the bird… well… yes, but only:
1. from front angle
2. when radar is not in active mode
3. only for some types of radars (X-range)
You must consider that F22:
1. has IR signature
2. has much bigger RS for many of ground radars (e.g. S-300/400 radars, ground radars of airdefence system) even when it’s radar in passive scanning mode.

So, trust me, F22 just can’t invade some country with good airdefence system alone, being stealth for a long time.

But well, if we are speaking about some abstract place in a sky - yes, F22 really has advantage.

Comment by Sol — December 13, 2007 #
Sol, I certainly agree that the “F22 just can’t invade some country with good airdefence system alone, being stealth for a long time”. There were many in the U.S. who were against the development of the F-22 because of cost (~200 million/plane) & necessity. However, it is very difficult to shoot down, just ask any F-15 pilot lol. F-15 is still a good aircraft.

Comment by Brad — December 14, 2007 #
S7alker, I read the “F22 mistake” article by Pavel. The most intelligent comment from the article was, “So all these analytics reports can be checked only in real combat environment.
Hope we will not be able to check them at all”. For every expert, there are other experts who disagree. The U.S. and Russia are never going to get into a battle of fighter jets. If a WWIII scenario occurs (god help us), do you really think we will be sending large numbers of F-22’s to Russia and Russia sending Mig-31’s & 35’s to the U.S.? What’s the point? The battle will end with long-range missiles equiped with nuclear warheads. I have personally witnessed an F-22 cruising along, stop on a dime, flip over 180 degrees and continue on smoothly. Very impressive. What’s with all this talk about how the F-117A was shot down, as if every one has a theory. That information is classified. Recently a B-2 pilot revealed the truth to me. What you read/see in the media is what the military wants you to believe.

Comment by Brad — December 14, 2007 #
Well, after reading all this comments I have to add something. MIG 31 as well observed is a BVR hunter and most important as a failsafe in case of extreme jamming or even an alternate mode of detecting stealth airplanes has a secondary detection unit: a thermal detector that can pick up all the stealth airplanes in construction or existence. It’s located in the airframe and can be deployed up to mach 3. Not that many birds have several thousand degrees…not even the american eagle.
In conclusion (at least for me) I dont care how many G the aircraft can pull, or have trust vectoring controls, or stealth, in BVR mode at distances in excess of 100km this plane (MIG 31) is supreme.

Comment by BlueICE — January 6, 2008 #
Brad,

I sincerely doubt a B-2 Pilot reveled classified information to you. First off why would a B-2 pilot be in the know about classified information that doesn’t even concern his airframe? And if he did know, why would he leak it to you?

Comment by KamelRed — January 12, 2008 #
I simple can’t believe the stealth technology is some magical techonology who will make you will the war imediatly. It doesn’t happens that way. There are always counter-measures. As someone as said, if it is a peice of metal in the sky, it can be detected.
I-m not saying your sources are not valid, Brad, I do think they really are saying the truth, but… I remain skeptic. I do realy think there are countermeasures for the stealth fighters. The Typhoon has already been labeled as a Raptor-Killer by official sources, and I wander what will came next. Nothing is impervious, and only tactics and even luck will determine the winner in any confrontation. USA doesnt rules, as nobody else rules. Everyone and everythig has its weaknesses.
Hope you don’t get me bad, I’m only making a point. I don’t have nothing against any nation. But there are things I think must be said.

Comment by S7alker — February 5, 2008 #
I’m not talking about war, I’m talking about aircraft vs aircraft. In a scenario where the only weapons available to one combatant is the F22, and to the other is the Mig31, under current technological capabilities, who will be able to see whom first? The only correct answer to that question is the F22, unless the F22 pilot flies around with his radar systems turned off ALL THE TIME, which would make no sense, because that’s the very reason for its very existence, to use its techology while at the same time avoiding the detection technology of its opponent. With respect to “the great rules of war”, it was a German WWI ace pilot Boelcke who came up with one that determines outcomes of battles to this day: “see your enemy before he sees you!” KAMELRED, you do not know who I am, what I do, what I know or what kind of intelligence I am privy to. Or, for that matter, what my real name is. Who’s embassy was “accidentally” bombed in Belgrade? For the rest of you, “Nothing is impervious, everyone and everythig has its weaknesses”. Agreed. Technology keeps marching on. For decades, the Soviet Union had superior aircraft, while the United States had much better electronics. Stealing from one another has closed the gap in both instances.

Comment by Brad — March 13, 2008 #
“Actually, there is: the American X-29A. It can pull up to 13G and has a max speed of 1,400 MPH above that it only has 30% radar detectability. So all you should give up on the MiG-31 and find out that Russain planes CRAP!!!!!!!!!!”
SAAB JA37 Viggen is capable of 12 G’s, SAAB 32 Lansen is capable of 12 G’s, however, none of them are “stressed” to that many G’s. It’s a fatigue life issue. I’m sure that an F-15 could take that kind of punnishment or worse, but not without reducing the projected lifespan of the airframe! The X-29 is experimental!!! You could take more G’s out of it because it’s not built to last for 30 years. The wing-geometry of the X-29 alone is enough to reduce radar-signature. It’s not the plane, it’s the forward sweep of the wings that does it. NASA are not the only ones who have explored that particular feature. The forward sweep reduces induced drag as well so it can sustain higher continuous/instantanious turn- and climb-rates! The construction of the wing is considered by most countries to be too risky or too expensive for massproduction.
Why is it that you all compare everything with the F-22. No plane has yet been built to counter the F-22! It’s like comparing the Gloster Gladiator to the Bf-109. When the Mig-31 first reached the frontline squadrons, the F-22 wasn’t even thought of other than some pilots dream far off in the distant future. Next thing you know you’ll be asking yourselfs/eachother if the Sopwith Camel would stand a chance against an A-10 or if the Stuka could stop a Challanger II tank!

Comment by freddan — March 31, 2008 #
Both planes are excellent at what they are supposed to do I assume. What nobody has talked about it pilot training. I can only guess, but I would think that the training in the U.S. is mostly superior to Russian training. Why? $$$$$$$$. I have heard that Russia is not able to spend as much money on training as they would like. And this has got to be taken into account. A well trained pilot in a good plane could have an excellent chance against a poorly trained one in a superior airframe.

Comment by Scott — April 5, 2008 #
Greetings! My country use both US and Russian-made aircrafts so I believe I can comment them with little bias. Dear Mr fredden, the only reason why they keep battering MiG-31 and F-22 is based on the currently most possible first encounter that will occur if F-22 attempt to intrude Russian airspace. The first VVS jets that will answer the F-22 will be MiG-31 due to its fast dashing and BVR capability to recover breached airspace. Other air wings composed of Flankers and Fulcrums will take over if the BVR warfare of MiG-31 was failed.
The closest US counterpart for MiG-31 was F-14 Tomcat. However, they will never come head to head in any situation so we will just compare their specs, not ‘encounter scenario’. Both of them have almost same radar coverage (+-200 km), MiG-31 can track 10 targets simultaneously, Tomcat 24; MiG can engage 4 targets in one time, Tomcat 6… MiG-31 has better speed, better service ceiling and stronger radar, but Tomcat has better avionics, better airframe and can engage better in dogfight. Both long range AAM AIM-54 Phoenix carried by Tomcat and R-33 carried by MiG-31 are theoretically have almost equal performance, but R-33 is never been combat-proven. This is only a specs comparison and I have no intention to look down any aircraft or their weapons. Thanks dudes.

Comment by Eternal — April 29, 2008 #
Back to F-22 and MiG-31… MiG-31 is operated in a group of 4 wings. They were not only data-linked with each other but also with surface radars. Even though F-22 is stealth, they are not stealth in every aspect angles. If a MiG-31 can’t see it, there are still possible for other MiGs and surface radars to pick a spike on the F-22. For them to be detected by PVO is just a matter of time if they ever breach Russia airspace. That is about detection, whether MiG-31can effectively engage F-22 is another story. F-22 has good maneuverability and good ECM (they are not sitting duck), while the performance of MiG-31 long range AAM (R-33 and R-37) is somewhat erratic.

Comment by Eternal — April 29, 2008 #