Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-31 Foxhound
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.
Introduction
Avionics
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 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 fighter-interceptor MiG-31 was constructed by Mikoyan design bureau to combat strategic reconnaissance aircraft SR-71 and strategic bombers of B-1 type, which are able to carry
MiG-31 ensures interception of winged-missile carrier aircraft at the distance of 2000 km from the homing airfield at altitudes from 30 to 28000 m. Communications capabilities of MiG-31 enable it to perform functions of a long-range radar aircraft for MiG-29, Su-27, Su-30.
Further extension of MiG-31’s combat efficiency is obtained through group actions. A team of four MiG-31s, working in the mode of informational interchange, can control a front line of 800-1000 km long.
Crew- 2
Max. take-off weight- 46200 kg
Max. speed (near ground)- 1500 km/h
Max. speed- 3000 km/h (2.83 M)
Service ceiling- 20000 m
Ferry range- 3000 km
Combat radius:
M=2.3 720 km
M=0.85 with drop fuel tanks 1400 km
M=0.85 with one in-flight refueling 2200 km
Max. fuel endurance: with drop tanks 3.6 h
& with in-flight refueling 6-7 h
Take-off run- 1200 m
Landing run-800 m
The FOXHOUND carries the long-range AA-9 air-to-air missiles, and can engage 4 different targets simuitaneouly with the M-9.
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. 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.
Role  interceptor
air superiority

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
Powerplant:  Two Tumanski R-15BD-300
afterburning turbojets rated at
49.78kN each
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. 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. The FOXHOUND carries the long-range AA-9 air-to-air missiles, and can engage 4 different targets simuitaneouly with the M-9.
Visual Profile of the MiG-31
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