Declared retirement but Russia restores hundreds of MiG-31s

Although Russia announced its intention to retire the MiG-31 fighter after 2020, the reality shows that Russia is restoring many of these aircraft.

Recently, the Russian Air Force has restored and upgraded many "prides" from the glorious past of the Soviet Union, which are unique weapon systems that currently only exist in the Russian Army.

Some of the programs that can be mentioned here are the re-production of the Tu-160 strategic bomber, the modernization of the Tu-22M3 naval bomber, the upgrading of the world's largest self-propelled mortar 2S4 Tyulpan 240 mm in size, and the re-equipping of the Kirov-class nuclear missile cruiser...

Although the above weapons were born a long time ago, their power is undeniable and still meets the requirements of modern warfare when replaced with newer electronic systems.

In addition to the above categories, Russia is also conducting another program, although it attracts less attention, but its "magnificence" is no less.

A large number of MiG-31 long-range interceptors are being modernized.

Not long ago, the Russians said they were developing a new generation interceptor fighter with stealth features, very high speed and the ability to operate at high altitudes to replace the MiG-31 by 2028.

This statement made observers pay less attention to the MiG-31 line when they thought that their role was no longer much in the Russian Air Force, but in reality, what happened was completely different. Russia is quietly restoring and upgrading hundreds of MiG-31s ​​in storage after a long time of letting them rest.

It is estimated that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian Air Force had about 152 - 190 MiG-31/B/BM aircraft in service. They were supplemented with 18 MiG-31BM aircraft in 2014, the total number reaching 80 aircraft at the end of 2016. In addition, 100 - 120 other aircraft are being urgently restored and upgraded at the Sokol High-Tech Plant and the Rzhevsky Aircraft Repair Plant for delivery in 2018.

The large number of re-enlisted MiG-31s ​​will make the US Air Force and NATO countries startled.

The MiG-31BM version that Russia is modernizing is equipped with the Zaslon-M passive phased array radar with a range of 300 - 400 km, tracking 24 targets and destroying 6 of them at the same time.

The MiG-31BM's most notable weapon is the R-37 long-range air-to-air missile with a range of 150 - 398 km, a cruise speed of Mach 6, using a combined inertial and active radar guidance system, and a 60 kg fragmentation warhead.

The big difference between the MiG-31BM and the first generation MiG-31 is that it has escaped the traditional interception concept when it can perform the task of suppressing enemy air defenses with anti-radar missiles Kh-31P, Kh-58. In addition, the MiG-31BM can also destroy ground targets with Kh-29 missiles, or anti-ship missiles with Kh-31A, Kh-59MK.

With super-fast speed, large flight range, powerful weapons and soon to be in very large numbers, the MiG-31BM is expected to create a strategic balance when the NATO Air Force is approaching the Russian border.

According to Dat Viet Newspaper