The Mikoyan MiG-31 (NATO reporting name: Foxhound) is a supersonic interceptor aircraft that was developed for use by the Soviet Air Forces. The aircraft was designed by the Mikoyan design bureau as a replacement for the earlier MiG-25 "Foxbat"; the MiG-31 is based on and shares design elements with the MiG-25. The MiG-31 is among the fastest combat jets in the world. It continues to be operated by the Russian Air Force and the Kazakh Air Force following the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Russian Defence Ministry expects the MiG-31 to remain in service until 2030 or beyond; that was confirmed in 2020 when an announcement was made to extend the service lifetime from 2,500 to 3,500 hours on the existing air frames.

The single-seat MiG-25 could achieve high speed, altitude and rate of climb; however, it lacked maneuverability at interception speeds and was difficult to fly at low altitudes. The MiG-25's speed was normally limited to Mach 2.83, but it could reach a maximum speed of Mach 3.2 or more with the risk of engine damage.

Development of the MiG-25's replacement began with the Ye-155MP prototype which first flew on 16 September 1975. Although it bore a superficial resemblance to the MiG-25, it had a longer fuselage to accommodate the radar operator's cockpit and was in many respects a new design. An important development was the MiG-31's advanced radar, capable of both look-up and look-down/shoot-down engagement, as well as multiple target tracking. This gave the Soviet Union an interceptor with the capability to engage the most likely Western intruders (low-flying cruise missiles and bombers) at long range. The MiG-31 replaced the Tu-128 as the Soviet Union's dedicated long-range interceptor, with far more advanced sensors and weapons, while its range is almost double that of the MiG-25.

Like that of its MiG-25 predecessor, the introduction of the MiG-31 was surrounded by early speculation and misinformation concerning its design and abilities. The West learned of the new interceptor from Lieutenant Viktor Belenko, a pilot who defected to Japan in 1976 with his MiG-25P. Belenko described an upcoming "Super Foxbat" with two seats and an ability to intercept cruise missiles. According to his testimony, the new interceptor was to have air intakes similar to the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, which the MiG-31 does not have, at least in production variants.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a Russian Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-31B "Foxhound" interceptor that was attached to the 712th Interceptor Regiment, then deployed to Kansk, Russia, during 2022. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7-1/4-inches
Length: 12-1/2-inches

Release Date: December 2023

Historical Account: "Armament" - The MiG-31's main armament is four R-33 air-to-air missiles (NATO code name AA-9 "Amos") carried under the belly.

One GSh-6-23 23 mm (0.91 in) cannon with 260 rounds. (The MiG-31's predecessor, the MiG-25 did not include a cannon.

Fuselage recesses for four R-33 (AA-9 "Amos") or four R-37 (AA-13 "Arrow") (MiG-31M/BM only).
Four under wing pylons for a combination of (six places for charging (two spaces to add removable fuel tanks) Six R-37 (missile) long-range air-to-air missiles 280 kilometers (170 mi).
Four R-33 long-range missiles 300 kilometers (190 mi) 2012.
(?)x Kh-31 long-range air-to-ground missiles (200 kilometers [120 mi]) for high-speed target (maneuvering with an overload of 8 g).
(?)x R-33 (AA-9 "Amos") (1981) 120 kilometers (75 mi), R-33S (1999) 160 kilometers (99 mi).
Two or four (superior limit) x R-40TD1 (AA-6 "Acrid") medium-range missiles (R-40 - 50-80 kilometers [31-50 mi]), MiG-25P, 1970) launched at altitudes of 0.5-3 kilometers (0.31-1.86 mi) (maneuvering with overload four g).
Four R-60 (AA-8 "Aphid")

Four R-73 (AA-11 "Archer") short-range IR missiles,
Four R-77 (AA-12 "Adder") medium-range missiles (100 kilometers [62 mi]) for high-speed target (maneuvering with overload of 12 g).

Some aircraft are equipped to launch the Kh-31P (AS-17 "Krypton") and Kh-58 (AS-11 "Kilter") anti-radiation missiles in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role. Anti-ship missiles Kh-31A (up to six) and air-to-surface missiles X-59 and X-29T (up to three) or X-59M (up to two units), up to six air bombs KAB-1500, or up to eight KAB-500 with a television or laser-guidance. Maximum weight of the combat load is 9,000 kilograms (20,000 lb).

One Kh-47M2 Kinzhal high-precision ballistic missile with a range of about 2,000 km (1,200 mi), Mach 10 speed. It can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads. This gave the MiG-31 long range strike capabilities for the first time, alongside its primary interceptor role.