[Johnny Gage]

Air Power
MiG-31 FOXHOUND

The Mig-31 Foxhound is a substantially improved derivative of the Mig-25 Foxbat. The Mig-31 is an all weather, two seater interceptor with advanced digital avionics. The MiG-31 is a two-seat supersonic (Vmax=3,000 km/h) aircraft with a tapered moderate-swept wings, all-swept twin-fin tail unit and all-moving tailplane. The MiG-31 airframe is an all-metal monoplane with lateral air intakes. Provision is made for installation of two underwing fuel tanks with a total capacity of 5,000 liters.

The most capable Russian air defense interceptor aircraft, the FOXHOUND has a multiple-target engagement capability and was the first Soviet fighter to have a true look-down, shoot-down capability. The N007 Zaslon radar was the first electronically scanned phased array radar to enter service in the world. It could scan 200 km forward and track 10 targets simultanieously. This radar could also track and engage target flying behind and below the aircraft. The Zaslon antenna is of the fixed type, instead of being mechanically directed the radar beam is moved electronically. This allows the full fuselage diameter to be used for the antenna, a considerable advantage since antenna diameter and effective operating range are directly related. Electronic steering of the radar beam is faster than can be performed mechanically, and it is also more accurate. All signal processing is digital.

The radar ensures simultaneous search and attack of several targets using long-range missiles and makes possible to interact within a group. The MiG-31 interceptor fighter can intercept air targets in VFR and IFR weather conditions, day and night and in continuous and discontinuous field of control and guidance commands (solo and in group), of regardless target defensive maneuvers and ECM.

The aircraft avionics enables the use of missiles with radar- and IR-homing heads. The FOXHOUND carries the long-range AA-9 air-to-air missiles, and can engage 4 different targets simultaneouly with the M-9.The MiG-31 aircraft weapons mix comprises four R-33, four R-60M and two R-40T missiles and a GSh-6-23 built-in gun.

The airframe was extensively redesigned for supersonice flight at low altitude, with the welded nickel steel content reduced from the Mig-25's 80% to 49%, with 16% titanium, 33% aluminium alloy and 2% composites. The wings of the aircraft are high-mounted and swept-back with square tips and a negative slant. There are four underwing pylons. There are two turbofan engines in the fuselage. The aircraft is powered by two D-30F6 turbofans developing a takeoff thrust of 15,500 kgf each. The mixed-flow turbofan is fitted with an afterburner and fully-variable flapped jet nozzle. The new Soloviev D-30F6 engine was specified for the MiG-31 in order to improve range, the key performance parameter for which an improvement over the MiG-25 was demanded. There are rectangular and diagonal cut air intakes on sides of the fuselage. The exhausts extend beyond the tail plane. The fuselage is rectangular from the intakes to the exhausts and has a long, pointed nose. The aircraft has a bubble canopy. The tail fins are back-tapered with angular tips and canted outward. The flats are swept-back and tapered and mid- to low-mounted on the body.

The first Mig-31 flew in 1975. By 1987 over 150 FOXHOUNDs were operationally deployed at several locations from the Arkhangelsk area in the northwestern USSR to the Soviet Far East. The FOXHOUND is dedicated to the homeland air defense mission.

In 1992 the Chinese reached agreement with the Russian Federation to buy 24 MiG-31 Foxhound long-range interceptors. The MiG-31s were expected to be assembled at a newly set-up factory in Shenyang, with production at a rate of four per month expected by 2000. The last aircraft was to be delivered by the year 2000. According to some reports the agreement included a license to build as many as 700 aircraft, and some projection envisioned that at least 200 would actually be deployed by the year 2010.

The Mig-31M is an improved version of the basic Mig-31. The key to the MiG-31M's effectiveness is the SBI-16 Zaslon fixed phased array antenna radar, codenamed 'Flash Dance' by NATO, which is said to be the world's most powerful fighter radar. The cockpits were upgraded in the Mig 31M with a number of Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) and an increased number of missiles.

The MiG-31E provides facilities for vectoring up to three fighters, types MiG-21-93, MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-29, Su-27 to ensure a covert attack. A group of four MiG-31E fighter-interceptors is capable of interchanging data in the automatic mode on presence of air targets in the zone up to 800 km wide.

The first stage of tests of the upgraded MiG-31BM high-speed multifunctional long-range jet fighter were completed in mid-1999. The main difference between the MiG-31P (Foxhound, according to the NATO classification) and the new MiG-31BM multifunctional air strike system is that the latter is capable of destroying both air and ground targets. The designers and manufacturers of the MiG-31 hope that the new modification will result in international sales. The upgraded MiG-31BM is fitted with a powerful onboard computer system and a radar with a phased array which will allow the pilot to simultaneously activate the air-to-air and air-to-surface missile fire modes. When working with air targets, the MiG-31BM is capable of intercepting up to 24 targets simultaneously.

Specifications:
Countries of Origin: CIS (formerly USSR)
Similar Aircraft: MiG-25 Foxbat, F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle

Crew: Two
Role: Interceptor, air superiority

Dimensions:
Length 70 ft, 5 in (21.5 m)
Span 45 ft, 9 in (14 m)
Height: 6.60 m
Wing span: 14.02 m
Wing area: 61.41 sq m
Weight: (empty) 22,000 kg
Weight: (normal) 36,720 kg

Performance:
Maximum speed: Mach 2.83
Weight: (empty) 22,000 kg
Weight: (normal) 36,720 kg
Powerplant: Two Tumanski R-15BD-300 afterburning turbojets rated at 49.78kN each
Maximum Range: 1,250 km
Service ceiling: 20,700 m
Rate of climb: 8 min 54 sec to 20,000 m
Ceiling: 24400 meters
Cruise range: 1620 nm

In-Flight Refueling: No
Internal Fuel: 14200kg
Drop Tanks: 2000L drop tank with 1600kg of fuel for 91 nm range
Sensors: LD/SD TWS radar, possible IRST, RWR

Armaments:
Cannon
R-33 AA-9 Amos
AA-11 Archer
Typical: two R-40 missiles and Four R-60 missiles

All photos Copyright of Global Security.Org

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Johnny. That Mig sure looks like a copy of our F-15

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks Johnny for your Air Power profiles.

[Light Speed]

Foxbat Hunting

One of the sidelights to fighter operations in the Middle East during the 1970s and 80s centered around the repeated Israeli attempts to counter MiG-25 'Foxbat' operations - both the fighter and reconnaissance versions of this high-flying aircraft were operated within this time frame by the IDFAF's Arab opponents.

The first MiG-25 operations in the region were undertaken by a detachment of Soviet Air Force recce MiG-25R 'Foxbat-Bs', deployed to Egypt in October 1971 - their objective was to reconnoitre Israeli positions in the wake of the War of Attrition. Following a number of sorties along the Suez Canal, a MiG-25R made a provocative long-range overflight of Israel on 10 October which the IDFAF were unable to counter. However, when a Soviet 'Foxbat' attempted a repeat overflight on 6 November the Israelis were ready with a flight of stripped-down F-4Es, armed with Sparrows.

The MiG was attacked in a high-altitude snap attack - reportedly the F-4Es fired Sparrow missiles in a high-angle climb from 44,000 ft - head-on at the 'Foxbat', which was cruising at 76,000. What apparently let the attack down was that the proximity fuzz delay on the Sparrows (probably late AIM-7E models) could not cope with the Mach 3 speed of the 'Foxbat', and by the time they detonated, the MiG was out of their lethal radius.
Nevertheless, it was undoubtedly a sobering experience for the Soviet MiG-25 crews to see missiles tracking them at that height for the very first time.

Only two subsequent missions were flown (in March and May 1972), and these overflew the Sinai rather than Israel itself. It is believed that the photographs taken in these missions were later provided to the Egyptians, who found them invaluable in their planning for the 1973 War.

The Soviet 'Foxbats' were withdrawn in July 1972, only to return in the autumn of the following year after the cessation of the 1973 war. These aircraft would not penetrate Israeli airspace again, however, an as Egyptian relations with Moscow deteriorated, the detachment moved to Syria. There, both fighter and recce 'Foxbats' continued to fly regularly, and whilst originally a purely Soviet deployment, it eventually took on a Syrian component - the aircraft carried Syrian markings. Despite their 'arabification', the MiG-25s remained dependent on Soviet advisors and logistics support throughout - indeed, Syria's remaining ' Foxbat' are still reportedly maintained by Russian engineers today.

The Israelis were unable to counter the Syrian MiG-25 'Foxbat-A' fighters until the introduction of the F-15A into service. They then decided to 'defang' the Syrian 'Foxbat' threat once and for all by drawing them into a peacetime battle with F-15s. On 13 February 1981, two Israeli RF-4Es flew a high-altitude reconnaissance mission over the Lebanon to report on renewed Syrian offensive action. The Israelis though that this mission was likely to evoke a Syrian response, and sure enough two MiG-25s were scrambled and climbed after the RF-4s.
However, as they entered firing range on the rapidly fleeing Phantom IIs, they found that their targets had started to both dispense chaff and send out jamming signals from their ECM pods - a combination of the two had effectively obliterated the MiG-25s' radar picture.
Meanwhile, a pair of patrolling F-15As that had been vectored onto the Syrian fighters by either an E-2C or ground-based radar, popped out of the clouds undetected and fired AIM-7F Sparrow AAMs at the 'blind' 'Foxbats'.
One of the MiG-25s was destroyed, but the other escaped to retell the tale. Despite this loss, another MiG-25 attack was staged against RF-4Es over the Bekkaa Valley on 29 July 1981, and this again resulted in another 'Foxbat' falling victim to escorting F-15As.

Meanwhile, Syrian recce MiG-25s, which were capable of achieving faster speed and flying at higher altitudes than the fighter version, continued to overfly the Lebanon until 31 August 1983 when one was damaged by a modified Israeli HAWK SAM and forced down into the clutches of a waiting F-15A.

IAF Lockheed Martin F-16i with conformal fuel cells

From Photonics.com

Elbit to Supply F-16I Head-Up Displays El-Op Electro-optics Industries, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd., will supply Lockheed Martin with head-up displays for the Israeli air force's F-16I aircraft. The wide-field-of-view systems will employ advanced technologies based on the company's experience in the design and construction of more than 2000 displays for a variety of aircraft. Lockheed Martin's order is expected to exceed $7 million over four years.

Delivery of F-16I -July 2003