MiG-31M Foxhound

Development of the MiG-31M was started in the Soviet Union in 1983 but as the Union dissolved, progress on the M variant was halted. The project was revived under Russian leadership in the 1990s and most MiG-31s in the current Russian Air Force have been upgraded to the M standard. The M standard has new weapon control systems designated Zaslon-M. The aircraft is equipped with a radar featuring a doubled effective range, which is capable of simultaneously tracking and engage more targets. The MiG-31M main armament is six long-range missiles under the fuselage in tandem, three abreast and four RVV-AE medium-range missiles under the wings, the cannon is dismantled. The aircraft design is somewhat updated - the middle fuselage fairing cross-section is larger, the cockpit canopy features a caseless windshield and smaller area of the operator's transparency, the wing is equipped with large leading-edge extensions, the infrared direction finder under the forward fuselage is non-retractable.

It is powered by enhanced D-30F-6M engines. The internal fuel tank capacity was increased. The aircraft has an in-flight refueling capability. The ECM and individual defense systems are united into the integral defense system. The operator's cockpit control board equipment was changed. Test-pilot Boris Orlov and test-navigator Leonid Popov flew out the prototype (registration number 051) on 21 December, 1985. In the late eighties, the Sokol aircraft plant (NGAZ) built the development batch of the MiG-31Ms, which underwent the official testing successfully.

Differences with MiG-31

 * Single-piece windscreen
 * LERX to improve its Angle of Attack
 * In-flight refueling probe
 * Larger spine for accomodating larger fuel and improved avionics
 * Wingtip hardpoints pods for ECM's
 * Zaslon-M radar
 * New IRST
 * 6x R-37 in fuselage recesses (2 rows of 3)
 * 4x R-77 on underwing pylons
 * The 23mm GSh-6-23 Cannon was removed
 * GPS & Global Navigation Satellite System
 * Tri-colour CRT MFDs in both cockpits
 * 9,000kg weapons load, optimized for strike (same as BM version)

Aces

 * Cosm (YAF/AC5) Snowflake and light blue SP Paint scheme

Standard Weapon

 * Missile: R-60MK (AA-8 "Aphid")

Special Weapon

 * XLAA: R-37 (AA-X-13 "Arrow")

Stats

 * Speed: 97
 * Mobility: 63
 * Stability: 56
 * Defense: 87
 * Air-to-Air: 84
 * Air-to-Ground: 37

Comparable Aircraft

 * F-14A Tomcat
 * F-14B Bombcat
 * F-14D Super Tomcat
 * F-15C Eagle

Related Development

 * MiG-25 Foxbat (predessesor of the MiG-31 and MiG-31M)
 * MiG-31 Foxhound