It is known that the draft long-range fighter-interceptor (promising aviation complex long-range interception — PAK DP) developed based on the MiG-31 is carried out in OKB im. Mikoyan, together with KB of Nizhny Novgorod aircraft plant “Sokol”. Development was started in 2013 beginning with the filing of the Commander of the VKS (then air force), and later by order of the chief of the General staff of the Russian armed forces.
The aircraft is planned to be developed in the framework of the program of armaments until 2020 and to replace the Park MiG-31, which is now in service HQs 120 cars (75 already upgraded, the rest will be brought to the level of BM in the next 2-3 years). With all the advantages of the “thirty-first” (he has no equal in the world not only for speed), the lifetime of these machines ends in 2028 and replace the necessary for them.
If you make a small excursion into the history of modern Russian interceptors, it is impossible not to remember the MiG-25, which was the “Pope” of the current MiG-31 and, accordingly, will be the “grandfather” of the MiG-41. So, “grandpa” for the first time said loudly about themselves in combat in Egypt during the next Israeli-Arab war. Its appearance in the skies over Israel paralyzed the aircraft in tel Aviv. First, because of the unusual for those times the speed, and secondly, because of top-secret electronic warfare station “Smalt”, which made the fighter invisible to American radar, standing on the arms of Israel.
Tell this story about the speed capabilities of the MiG-25. A young Soviet pilot to see the radar screen started up after him a missile from a fright “I pressed on the gas”. The fighter has gained such speed that it took from the missiles, but the pilot of increased congestion and lost consciousness. It came over the Crimean Peninsula, where he landed at the military airport “Belbek”. Covering fighter to have melted from the speed, but flight he lost.
The maximum speed of the MiG-25 never was measured. It is known that pilot-cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya in this fighter reached speeds of up to 2.7 thousand kilometers per hour. Speed limited by safety regulations for all types of MiG-25 is M2.8, that is 3 thousand kilometers per hour. Without external weapons, you can pick up nearly 15 percent of the speed of the plane, according to aviation experts, capable of 3.5 thousand km/h.
Rocket, American SAM MIM104 patriot can shoot down air targets at the speed of 1800 km/h to Mach 5 (the latter is not demonstrated in practice) and accordingly, not all of them can catch up with the Russian fighter.
MiG-31 high-speed characteristics may not greatly exceed “dvadcjatka”, but this fighter is so ahead of his time figure that still knows no equal. And in the next 10-15 years is unlikely in any country of the world will be something like that.
The purpose of the MiG-31 is the detection and destruction of ballistic and cruise missiles, various aircraft, ranging from a low-flying drones, and finishing with low-flying orbiting satellites. It is able to successfully hit the American fighters 5th generation F-22 and F-35. Fighter-interceptor shoots down aerial targets at speeds up to 5 Mach, which is able to detect at a distance up to 280 kilometers — thanks to the antenna phased array, which in the complete set are not on any other plane in the world.
The interceptor carries from 5 to 9 tons of payload in its Arsenal includes various types of munitions, including long-range missiles that can strike their own, without external target designation. The MiG-31 may be a flying command post.
But, despite such outstanding performance and the existence of various modifications of the aircraft, its service life (as mentioned) specialists limit 2025-2026 years. At this point, and should appear in the ATT fighter-interceptor of the new generation MiG-41. And the main feature of the new interceptor should be the speed of 4500 km/h.
This hypersonic aircraft will carry on Board and hypersonic missiles. Will the latest fighter to withdraw into orbit small satellites that now and some modifications to the MiG-31, however, the MiG-41 will be considerably greater opportunities.
“The new long-range interceptor MiG has already developed in the early 90’s under the code name “project 701″, says aviation expert Valentin Dudin. – New development was not similar to the previous migovskie fighters and its characteristics was to become the most powerful combat aircraft of the air defense with the alleged speed of up to 7000 kilometers. But not enough money, and the attitude of the defense industry” then it was irresponsible. But the current planned new interceptor will likely be developed based on the MiG-31, which is quite logical. It is faster and more economical. And the possibility of future MiG-41 will be orders of magnitude beyond previous models. He will be able to intercept even the Americans now being developed hypersonic attack drones, which theoretically is the teeth only s-500″.
The MiG-41 had not yet appeared, it is not known and its main characteristics and weapons, but the interceptor makes pretty to worry about our potential enemy. Still, the plane outrunning missiles is a weighty argument in deterring aggression. And in 10 years it will be as quietly and safely fly over American soil, as it did 45 years ago, his “granddaughters” – the MiG-25. Heredity, nothing helped.
