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: