Russia's upgraded MiG‑31BM fighters spark concern in Ukraine
2:37 PM EDT, July 17, 2024
The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced the receipt of the first batch of MiG-31BM interceptor fighters this year. These unconventional yet highly capable aircraft could pose a significant threat to Ukrainians, for instance, who currently lack an effective response to them.
The Sokol Aircraft Plant in Nizhny Novgorod delivered the fighters. According to the official statement, they "have high combat characteristics and are capable of successfully solving tasks in modern conditions."
New delivery of MiG-31BM to the Russian army
The Ukrainian military portal Defence Express, which specializes in military topics, notes that this is the first delivery of MiG-31BM to the Russian army this year. However, specific details, such as the exact number of machines, remain undisclosed. All units are said to have undergone appropriate modernizations, as well as necessary ground tests and flight trials.
The upgrades reflect that the MiG-31BM is not a newly built aircraft but an evolutionary version of the MiG-31 fighters, developed in the 1970s to protect the USSR from potential strikes by American strategic bombers. Since Russia no longer manufactures these aircraft, the Sokol Aircraft Plant upgrades existing models to the MiG-31BM level.
The MiG-31BM boasts enhanced combat capabilities. Powered by two D-30F-6 turbofan engines, this interceptor fighter can reach an altitude of nearly 69,000 feet and speeds of up to Mach 2.8 (approximately 1,864 miles per hour).
From the Russian perspective, the equipment onboard this over 72-foot-long machine is crucial. The manufacturer integrates a long-range radar and the capability to carry various types of armament, including air-to-air missiles such as the dangerous R-77 and R-37. With these features, the MiG-31BM poses a real threat to adversaries even at long distances. The range of the R-77 and R-37 missiles reaches about 186 miles, carrying fragmenting high-explosive warheads weighing 48 pounds and 132 pounds, respectively.
MiG-31BM fighters have already been seen over Ukraine, and their numbers may increase soon. Notably, the defending army lacks aviation that could compete with the MiG-31BM. Ukraine's combat aviation mainly consists of Soviet-era MiG-29s and Su-27s, which do not feature long-range weaponry. Hopes are pinned on the arrival of American F-16 fighters equipped with AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles and possibly French Mirage 2000s.
