Mig 31 how does it compare with F-16, 15 ,117 mig 29 ,su 30+etc

Mig 31

At first let me admit that I dont have a deep knowledge on military aircrafts as many out here in this forum have .I just like military aircrafts and regularly attend airshows in Russia (almost 3 times a year)

But many Russian Pilots say Mig 31 is the best plane ever made

I dont see much discussions about this variant in this forum .
and sometimes I have a feeling that this bird didnt get her deserved admiration from the International community as did the Mig 29,Mig 21 and Su 27- May be because the Ruissians never sold it to other countries .

I see this forum has a lot of guys who share a good knowledge on aircraft progets...so I ll like to know their opinion about this aircraft and who does it compare with other leading aircrafts like F16, F15, Mig 29 Su 30 and the higher variants

has it ever been shot down in an air to air combat?




here are some info about the aircraft from a mig website


INTRODUCTION:

As one of the later models following a long line of successful Soviet- manufactured aircraft, the Mig-31 Foxhound is an all-weather interceptor plane which entered service in Russia possibly as early as 1976. Touted as the forerunner to the MiG-23, Su-15, and the MiG-25, the Foxhound "B" was endowed with the capacity for two fliers, supersonic velocity close to three times the speed of sound, dual turbofan afterburners, and folding wings. Its aerodynamic design includes a high degree of slope and twin outward cantered fins. As a highly-refined aircraft, the current versions of the MiG-31 have introduced many technical innovations to its various combat theatres. The complex electronically-scanned phased array-type Zaslon radar, along with its now-standard conical radome reside in the pointed front end of the plane. Also standard to MiGs are radar warning receivers and several antennae, capable of pursuing signals via VHF, the IFF system, and information drawn in through its vanes and yaws. The MiG's arsenal is not spectacular in proportion to its contemporaries, yet it is equivalent. Attached to its pylons are the AA-8 Aphid K-60 and AA-9 R-33 air-to-air missiles, the latter known to the North American Treaty Organization as the "Amos". R-40T Acrid medium-range infrared weapons as well as additional Amos missiles are housed on the plane's exterior, with the now ever-present Gsh-6-23 six-barrel Gatling gun which fires 23-millimeter projectiles. Composition for the aircraft is of vital importance, especially when reaching high altitudes or rapidity. Devices on the craft to prevent the lethal accumulation of static are present, as well as tough, heavier alloys comprising 33 per cent of the makeup of the craft's frame. Half of the skeleton of the plane is made of nickel, and another 16% of it consists of the light, durable, heat-resistant element, titanium. Russia's Nizhny Novgorod facility, called by some American insiders "the fox works", is the current producer of the craft, and reportedly 160 occupy CIS interceptor air forces.


PROGRAMME:

Designed as a long-range, extended-endurance PVO interceptor to replace the Tu-128 ad MiG-25. Development began in 1967 and the S-155MP avionics complex was ordered for the Ye-155MP interceptor in 1968. First flown, as Ye-155MP (originally Type 83 MiG-25MP) "831", 16 September 1975; second prototype ("832"), with radar, first flew 22 April 1976. Two preproduction aircraft (011 and 012) built by Sokol and flown 13 July and 30 June 1977; six development aircraft (201 to 203 and 301 to 303). Full production (of about 450) started 1979; first of 11 regiments operational 1983, replacing MiG-23s and Su-15s; production has ceased at Sokol Aircraft Building Plant (formerly GAZ-21), Nizhny Novgorod, though the Sokol plant has stated its willingness to reinstate production to meet even small orders. Mikoyan is offering modernisation programme to bring in-service MiG-31s to MiG-31M levels of capability, including integration of R-37 AAM.

DESIGN FEATURES:

Initiated to counter threat of USAF B-52 bombers carrying ALCMs. Basic MiG-25 configuration retained, but very different aircraft, with two seats; 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. Wing anhedral 4º from roots; sweepback approximately 41º on leading-edge, 32º at quarter-chord, with small, sharply swept wingroot extensions; all-swept tail surfaces, with twin outward-canted fins and anhedral on horizontal surfaces.

STRUCTURE:

Airframe 49 per cent arc-welded nickel steel, 16 per cent titanium, 33 per cent light alloy; 2 per cent composites, including 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.


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.

FLYING CONTROLS:

Large-span ailerons and flaps; leading-edge slats in four sections on each wing; all-moving horizontal tail surfaces; inset rudders.

POWER PLANT:

Two Aviadvigatel D-30F6 turbofans, each 93.1 kN (20,930 lb st) dry, 151.9 kN (34,170 lb st) with afterburning; internal fuel capacity 19,940 litres (5,268 US gallons; 4,386 Imp gallons) in seven fuselage tanks, four wing tanks and two fin tanks. Provision for two underwing tanks, each 2,500 litres (660 US gallons; 550 Imp gallons); semi-retractable flight refuelling probe on port side of front fuselage.


AVIONICS:

Comms: R-862 UHF, R-864 HF, P-591 voice warning system, SPU-9 intercom; SRO-2P IFF transmitter and SRZ-2P receiver; SO-69 transponder. Radar: NIIP N007 S-800 SBI-16 (RP-31) Zaslon or Zaslon-A electronically scanned phased-array fire-control radar (NATO "Flash Dance") in nose; search range of 108 n miles (200 km; 124 miles) in clutter-free forward sector; range in rear sector 48 n miles (90 km; 56 miles); capable of tracking 10 targets and attacking four simultaneously. Flight: A312 Radikal-NP or A-331 Shoran, A-723 Kvitok-2 Loran. Marshrut long-range and Tropik medium-range nav systems. ARK-19 radio compass, RV-15 radar altimeter, RPM-76 marker beacon receiver. Mission: In four-aircraft group interception mission, only lead MiG-31 is linked to AK-RLDN automatic guidance network on ground; other three MiG-31s have APD-518 digital datalink to lead aircraft, permitting line-abreast radar sweep of zone 430 to 485 n miles (800 to 900 km; 495 to 560 miles) wide by 140º sector scanning angles. Semi-retractable Type 8TP IR search/track sensor under cockpit; tactical situation display. BAN-75 command link; APD-518 digital air-to-air datalink; Raduga-Bort-MB5U15K air-to-ground tactical datalink; SPO-155L RHAWS; Argon-15 digital computer.



MiG-31 Technical Data


Prime contractor: Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau

Country of origin: Soviet Union

Function: Strategic interceptor fighter

Crew: 2

Year: 1975

In-service year: 1982

Engine: Two Aviadvigatel D-30F6 afterburning turbofans

Thrust: 34,100 lb. each 15,500 kg. each

Dimensions
Wing span: 44 ft. 1 in. 13.46 m.
Length: 74. ft 4 in. (including nose probe) 22.69 m. (including nose probe)
Height: 20 ft. 2 in. 6.15 m.
Weight:
Empty 48,015 lb. 21,825 kg.
Max. takeoff 101,640 lb. 46,200 kg.
Performance
Ceiling: 67,568 ft. 20,600 m.
Speed: 1,863 mph 3000 km/h
Range: 1,326 miles (on internal fuel)
2,050 miles (with fuel drop tanks, no missiles) 2,135 km. (on internal fuel)
3,300 km. (with fuel drop tanks, no missiles)

Armament

One GSh-6-23 six-barrel Gatling-type 23mm cannon with 260 rounds. Max. external weapons load (FE version) of 9,000 kg. (19,800 lb.) including R-33 ("AA-9 Amos"), R-40TD ("AA-6 Acrid"), R-77 RVV-AE ("AA-12") AAMs., Kh-31P-31A ("AS-17 Krypton"), Kh-25MP-25MPU ("AS-12 Kegler"), Kh-29L/T ("AS-14 Kedge"), Kh-59 ("AS-13 Kingbolt"), Kh-59M ("AS-18 Kazoo") ASMs., KAB-500, KAB-1500 guided bombs, FAB-1500 unguided bombs.
Typical interceptor configuration: Four R-33 (AA-9 "Amos"), two R-40T (AA-6 "Acrid"), or four R-60 (AA-8 "Aphid") AAMs.

Known Variants

MiG-31B, MiG-31BM, MiG-31BS, MiG-31D, MiG-31E, MiG-31EH, MiG-31F, MiG-31FE, MiG-31LL, MiG-31M, MiG-31MF, MiG-31S

Operators
Russia

Aircraft's Price
1997 - est. $57-60 millions.

The Mig-31 is one of the greatest jets ever imo. Most people don't notice the extensive redesign that has happened to the mig-31 and cant tell the difference between it and a mig-25 by looking at it.

www.fas.org...

Here's a comparison showing how different it really is aesthetically to the mig-25

www.vectorsite.net...

The thing is this aircraft is revolutionary in a few aspects. It is the first fighter ever to used a phased array radar system ( it was claimed by the russians (i dont know if this still true today) to be the most powerful fighter radar in the world. which made it able to use its datalink to direct other fighters to enemy aircraft. Secondly, it was the first Soviet aircraft to use digital computers designed for aircraft.

The Mig-31 gave the soviets true look down, shoot down capability and the ability to engage multiple targets.

here's a link if you're interested about the Mig-25 vs the SR-71. its a good read.

www.wvi.com...

Anyways, rest assured the Mig-31 is a totally different plane to the Mig-25 and is a revolutionary aircraft for the world.

If you want a comparison to western aircraft the Mig-31 is by no means a dogfighter (i think it can only pull like 5G's) but its potent missile system (the zaslon radar and the Vympel missile) make it an extremely potent interceptor combined with its datalink. You can't really compare it to other fighters as some of them have different roles (interception, interdiction or with later aircraft multi-role). Think of the mig-31 as an extremely fast, capable floating missile platform that can effectively work with upto 4 other Mig-31s using the phased radar/datalink system to cover massive amounts of terrain to destroy incoming enemy threats. Like any aircraft, used by a good crew it will perform favourably against western aircraft, it has the capabilities to do so. However if the training and cooperation of the airmen is poor it can get owned.

thanks,
drfunk



Edit: changed pictures to links.....were not sized properly.

[edit on 5-6-2005 by Seekerof]

I feel that the MIG31 is a excellent plane but just like the Tornado F3 there time is at an end both excellent long range interceptors but that not what the mil needs now.

Cheap and multi role

RAB

thanks a lot for your excellent analysis
I ll like to add a few more questions

1 As per your analysis its not a perfect Dog-Fighter rather it has supremacy in other roles like interception etc ....I ll like to know what Western/ US aircrafts fall in equivalent category rather is there an western equivalent ? if so then how does it compare with Mig 31

2 to what fighter generation does it belong ?

3 Is there any link that can provide info about the Combat/war/ military history (like how many of them have been destroyed ..or which aircraft have they ever shot down etc) of the mig 31 as well as the other popular birds like F15 16 117, Su 27 and higher and mig 29 ?

Its closer compared to the F-14. The MiG-31 and F-14 were both designed as interceptors.

You surely know much about the Mig 31, So if we comapare the Mig 29 with the "-31" modell (as I'am going to call it from here), the -31 modell gives 31 000 kg of thrust while the "-29" gives 32 000 kg of thrust, the differense isn't major... The Russian planes are well-known mostly because their planes have so good maneuverability-skills... And the "-31" isn't an exeption... Shortly you can say that the "-31" modell is a better variant of te "-29"... More weapons, more accuracy and more maneuverability...

If we now compare the F-15 with the "-31" you can see that the top-speed of the F-15 is only 60 km/h more than of the "-31" So no major difference their either... However it maybe usless to compare these modells cos' the F-15 will soon be replaced by "uninvinsible F-22"

The F-16 however clearly looses to the "-31". It has a lower top-speed and of course looses to the famous russsian plane in maneverability...

last i must say that you can't compare the F-117 with the "-31" The F-117 is not a fighter. With tath I mean that it can't protect it self in the air...

hopefully you enjoied my comments...




Mig-29




F-16



F-15




F-117 "Nighthawk"

Originally posted by Figher Master FIN
You surely know much about the Mig 31, So if we comapare the Mig 29 with the "-31" modell (as I'am going to call it from here), the -31 modell gives 31 000 kg of thrust while the "-29" gives 32 000 kg of thrust, the differense isn't major... The Russian planes are well-known mostly because their planes have so good maneuverability-skills... And the "-31" isn't an exeption... Shortly you can say that the "-31" modell is a better variant of te "-29"... More weapons, more accuracy and more maneuverability...

If we now compare the F-15 with the "-31" you can see that the top-speed of the F-15 is only 60 km/h more than of the "-31" So no major difference their either... However it maybe usless to compare these modells cos' the F-15 will soon be replaced by "uninvinsible F-22"

The F-16 however clearly looses to the "-31". It has a lower top-speed and of course looses to the famous russsian plane in maneverability...

last i must say that you can't compare the F-117 with the "-31" The F-117 is not a fighter. With tath I mean that it can't protect it self in the air...

There is a lot of mistakes in this post. Yes the russian planes are maneuvrable, but Mig-31 is not (at least not especially). It is certainly not more maneuvrable than F-16, like you said.
Second it is not "better variant of Mig-29", it has very few common with it. It has more common with Mig-25.
Third the top speed of F-15 is not more than top speed of Mig-31. Oficially F-15 has Mach 2.5, while Mig-31 has mach 2.8. Of course F-15 is more manuvrable....
But the pics ae nice.

you must really compare the mig29 to the f/a-18 (and to some degree the f-16) and the su-27 to the f-15

as was mentioned the mig-31 is comparable to the tornado F3 or the f-14 - they are bomber interceptors

The Mig is a overall good jet but it has nothing on the F-22 Raptor and the JSF-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Pics Of the F/A-22:

F/A-22 Raptor

Another Pic of the F/A-22

Pics of the JSF-35

Joint Strike Fighter

JSF-35 Short Take Off Vertical Landing (STOVL)

Tornado F3



Mig-31



F-14

Hi prelude,

sorry i took so long been at uni all day. Anyways i'll try and answer your questions the best I can. I am no expert at aircraft but I am a fan of Russian aircraft.

1 As per your analysis its not a perfect Dog-Fighter rather it has supremacy in other roles like interception etc ....I ll like to know what Western/ US aircrafts fall in equivalent category rather is there an western equivalent ? if so then how does it compare with Mig 31

The Mig-31 is a poor dogfighter, its airframe wasn't built for it. The thing turns really slow and as I mentioned before can only turn at a mere 5G's. If a enemy plane got in close enough it would probably be toast. The mig-31 is an interceptor designed to take out US bombers.

The best western equivalent to the mig-31 in my opinion is the F-14. The R-33 (AA-9 AMOS) missile is based on the US phoenix missile (which i believe was acquired by the soviets after the iranian revolution). The phoenix missile is the primary armament of the F-14 and is a excellent missile. The R-33 is the primary armament of the Mig-31. Another interesting fact about the R-33 is that its the first soviet missile to have an onboard digital computer.

2 to what fighter generation does it belong ?

Well the term of fighter generations was actually invented by the Russians! apparently it was invented in the 90s when the Russians wanted to make a competitor for the JSF, asking for a "fifth generation fighter". It's gained in considerable popularity since then, but it is a rudimentary classification at best. To answer your question, the Mig-31 is considered to be a 4th generation fighter, in the same generation as the mig-29, su-27, F-14, F-15 and F-16.

3 Is there any link that can provide info about the Combat/war/ military history (like how many of them have been destroyed ..or which aircraft have they ever shot down etc) of the mig 31 as well as the other popular birds like F15 16 117, Su 27 and higher and mig 29 ?

to my knowledge no Mig-31s have ever been in combat or shot down in combat. The Mig-29 has been in combat with some poor quality airforces and has been no match for the US. I dont believe this to be representational of the mig-29s abilities as the aircraft in question were in poor airforce's and were against numerical and technologically superior aircraft. Also, these airforces did not have any AWACS ability. As the other fighters, i believe the su-27 hasnt been shot down in combat (though i've heard Ethiopian SU-27s took down 4 Eritrean Mig-29s, though they are both really poor airforces) and the American fighters all have been in combat and have outstanding combat records. 1 F-117 was shot down by the serbs.

hope i helped out,

drfunk

[edit on 6-6-2005 by drfunk]

The picture of the F-16 that someone posted is the F-16 Levi the Israeli F-16 it, has those ugly fuel tanks on the sides.

USAF F-16


Another Picture of the F-14

The MiG-31 is a very very poor dogfighter, being able to tolerate only 5Gs. In comparison, the MiG-29 can pull up to 9Gs. Having said that, it was designed for the future, for BVR combat. The R-33 is closer to the AIM-54 Pheonix than the AMRAAM, it was designed to shoot down American bombers like the AIM-54 was designed to shoot down Russian bombers. The R-33 however was designed to have a better accuracy against normal fighters, hence it had a slightly better manoverability than the AIM-54, but also shorter range.

The MiG-31 in my opinion belongs to the 4th generation. Quite quickly, it had modifications to carry R-77s, when the cold war had ended, and there was no need for a aircraft to specifically shoot down bombers. Chinese acquired versions also had some anti-satellite equipment on board. It is a great plane, but eventually after the Soviet union split there was no use for it. The MiG-21, MiG-29 and Su-27 family all are very sucessful export planes, and they became infamous from there on. The MiG-31 on the other hand was unflexible and unsold to other countries.

And, to this day, no MiG-31 has ever seen combat. This plane was designed to rule the skies as the best interceptor, and probably is the best interceptor, but the days of the interceptors are over. It had an extended range, but for many countries they bought the MiG-29 and Su-27 instead.



[edit on 10/6/05 by W4rl0rD]

Well, if you think like that then that's you opinion... But tell me one plane that has been proven to defeat a russian plane in combat...

F-16s, F-15s, F-14s, F-18s, F-4s, or heck, even F-86s. Meanwhile, Russian planes have never seen combat with experienced AFs and proper maintanence, so it won't be fair just comparing them like that.

BTW Westy, those fuel tanks are called conformal fuel tanks, AKA fuel tanks mounted on the bodies of aircraft, as in directly on them, and cannot be removed, and become part of the fuselage. Trust me, those American block 60/70s CFTs are much uglier than those on the Lavi

Might be true... but I'am more interested in the comments about my first comment... If you get the point... Damn, I feel stupid...

Umm...what was your first comment about anyway? I don't get your point. (I'm feeling stupid too)

While I think the F-16 black 60/70 looks too thick I still think it looks better than the Lavi.

There is a lot of mistakes in this post. Yes the russian planes are maneuvrable, but Mig-31 is not (at least not especially). It is certainly not more maneuvrable than F-16, like you said.

I'am pretty sure it is... And the thing about the top-speed... I think that the F-15 has a grater top-speed... At least my "sources" say that... And besides I think that pilots can be breaking those records as we speek... thre is no damn officer watching their top-speeds every time they are flying... And I'am sorry but I think that the F-16 Falcon would loose to the Mig-31... If not in maneuverablity then in speed... And I think that the only comment that i said WRONGLY was the one about that the -31 is closer to the -29 than the -25...

Please correct me if I'am wrong...