In 1995, at the 41st International Air Show in Le Bourget, the MiG Aircraft Scientific and Production Complex
(MiG ANPK) presented yet another MiG-31 derivative design - the MiG-31FE multipurpose frontline fighter featuring an improved weapons suite and new avionics. Such an aircraft is supposed to operate the majority of the air-to-surface missiles currently in service with the Russian Air Force (RusAF). The Kh-31P and Kh-25MP missiles are to become the main ground radar killers while the Kh-31A anti-ship active radar homing missiles will engage naval surface targets. Tactical air-to-surface guided weapons are going to include two Kh-59M missiles or three Kh-59 TV command guidance missiles or three lighter Kh-29L/T missiles. Instead of the missiles the aircraft can carry smart bombs - three KAB-1500L/TKs or 8 KAB-500Kr bombs - should the need arise. The laser and TV equipment of the air-to-surface weapons control system will be accommodated in an external pod. The maximal warload weight is to reach 9,000
kg (6 FAB-1500 bombs).
To kill aerial targets, the MiG-31FE will further operate the Zaslon radar, long-range
missiles R-33, the RVV-AE medium-range missiles and R-73 short-range missiles. With a mixed variant of armament, the aircraft will carry both types of the weapons (for example, four Kh-31s and four RVV-AEs), with belly-mounted air-to-surface missiles and the air-to-air missiles mounted under the wings. As to the configuration, design and power plant, the MiG-31FE differs but slightly from the series MiG-31 aircraft. The MiG-31FE maximal take-off weight grew up to 50 tonnes, the range in a subsonic mode is 2,500 km (with external fuel tanks - 3,000 km), in a supersonic mode - 1,200 km. At the customer's request, there can be western weapons and avionics installed and integrated with the Russian systems.
The machine
created with a sight on export, has drawn attention of the Russian air forces
and the majority the MiG-31 will be modernized in the MiG-31BM.
| Description |
| Design |
MiG ANPK |
| Type |
MiG-31FE |
| NATO code name |
Foxhound-B |
| Function |
multipurpose frontline fighter |
| First flight |
1998 (?) |
| Crew |
2 |
| Dimensions
& Weight |
| Length, m |
22,69 |
| Overall height, m |
6,15 |
| Wing Span, m |
13,46 |
| Wing Area, m2 |
61,6 |
| Max. take-off weight, kg |
50000 |
| Max. warload, kg |
9000 |
| Power-plant
|
| Engines |
2 Turbofan D-30F6 |
| Thrust, kgf (kN) |
max |
- |
| in afterburner |
15500 |
| Performance |
| Speed, km/h (M=) |
| max at altitude
17500 m |
3000 (2,83) |
| max at ground level |
1500 |
| Max g-load |
5 |
| Range, km |
subsonic |
2500 |
| subsonic with drop tank |
3000 |
| supersonic (М=2,35) |
1200 |
| Armament |
| Missiles AA |
R-33E |
6 |
| RVV-AE |
4 |
| R-40TD |
2 |
| Missiles AS |
Kh-31P, 31A |
6 |
| Kh-25MP, -25MPU |
6 |
| Kh-59, Kh-29L/T |
3 |
| Kh-59M |
2 |
| Bomb |
KAB-1500 |
3 |
| KAB-500 |
8 |
| FAB-1500S |
6 |
References and Credits:
- History and aircraft of Mikoyan design bureau / «Wings of
Russia», 1999, CD-ROM /
- Aviatsia i Kosmonavtika №11.1998;
- Aerospace Herald №1-2. 1999
- Suitcase from provision shop
Mig-31 / A.Larionov; The world of Aircraft №3-99 /
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
In 1995, at the 41st International Air Show in Le Bourget, the MiG Aircraft Scientific and Production Complex
(MiG ANPK) presented yet another MiG-31 derivative design - the MiG-31FE multipurpose frontline fighter featuring an improved weapons suite and new avionics. Such an aircraft is supposed to operate the majority of the air-to-surface missiles currently in service with the Russian Air Force (RusAF). The Kh-31P and Kh-25MP missiles are to become the main ground radar killers while the Kh-31A anti-ship active radar homing missiles will engage naval surface targets. Tactical air-to-surface guided weapons are going to include two Kh-59M missiles or three Kh-59 TV command guidance missiles or three lighter Kh-29L/T missiles. Instead of the missiles the aircraft can carry smart bombs - three KAB-1500L/TKs or 8 KAB-500Kr bombs - should the need arise. The laser and TV equipment of the air-to-surface weapons control system will be accommodated in an external pod. The maximal warload weight is to reach 9,000
kg (6 FAB-1500 bombs).
