Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound
Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound
Role: Two-seat twin-engined strategic interceptor.
DESIGN FEATURES: Basic MiG-25 configuration retained, but very different
aircraft, strengthened to permit supersonic flight at
low altitude; more powerful engines than MiG-25; major
requirement increased range, not speed; advanced
digital avionics; Zaslon radar was first electronically
scanned phased-array type to enter service, enabling
MiG-31 to track 10 targets and engage four
simultaneously, including targets below and behind its
own location; fuselage weapon mountings added; crew
increased to two. Wing anhedral 4 degrees from roots;
sweepback approx 40 degrees on leading-edge, 32 degrees
at quarter-chord, with small sharply swept wingroot
extensions; all-swept tail surfaces, with twin outward
canted fins and dihedral horizontal surfaces.
STRUCTURE:
Airframe 50 per cent arc-welded nickel steel, 16 per
cent titanium, 33 per cent light alloy; negligible
composites, except for radome; three-spar wings; no
wingtip fairings or mountings; small forward-hinged
airbrake under front of each intake trunk; undersurface
of centre-fuselage not dished between engine ducts like
MiG-25; much enlarged air intakes; jet nozzles extended
rearward; shallow fairing extends forward from base of
each fin leading-edge; fence above each wing in line
with stores pylon.
LANDING GEAR:
Retractable tricycle type; offset tandem twin wheels on
each main unit, retracting forward into air intake
trunk, facilitate operation from unprepared ground and
gravel; rearward retracting twin nosewheel unit with
mudguard.
POWER PLANT:
Two Aviadvigatel D-30F6 turbofans, each 151.9 kN
(34,170 lb st) with afterburning; internal fuel
capacity approx 20,250 litres (5350 US gallons; 4455
Imp gallons); provision for two underwing tanks, each
2500 litres (660 US gallons; 550 Imp gallons);
semi-retractable flight refuelling probe on port side
of front fuselage.
ACCOMMODATION:
Pilot and weapon systems operator in tandem under
individual rearward-hinged canopies; rear canopy has
only limited side glazing and blends into shallow
dorsal spine fairing which extends to forward edge of
jet nozzles.
AVIONICS:
Zaslon electronically scanned phased-array fire control
radar (NATO 'Flash Dance') in nose, with search range
of 108 nm (200 km; 124 miles) and tracking range of 65
nm (120 km; 75 miles); capable of tracking 10 targets
and attacking four simultaneously; retractable infrared
search/track sensor under cockpit; radar warning
receivers.
ARMAMENT:
Four R-33 (NATO AA-9 'Amos') semi-active radar homing
long-range air-to-air missiles in pairs under fuselage;
two R-40T (AA-6 'Acrid') medium-range infrared missiles
on inner underwing pylons; four infrared R-60 (K-60,
AA-8 'Aphid') air-to-air missiles on outer underwing
pylons, in pairs. Front pair of AA-9s is semi-recessed
in fuselage, rear pair on short pylons. GSh-6-23
six-barrel Gatling-type 23 mm gun inside fairing on
starboard side of lower fuselage, adjacent main landing
gear, with 260 rds.
Aircraft Measures:
Length: 22.688 m (74 ft 5 1/4 in)
Height: 6.15 m (20 ft 2 1/4 in)
Wingspan: 13.464 m (44 ft 2 in)
Weight empty: 21,825 kg (48,115 lb)
Aircraft Performance:
Maximum permitted Speed: Mach 2.83
Service Ceiling: 20,600 m (67,600 ft)
Range: 1780 nautical miles
Thrust: 68,340 lbs