On Thursday, Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko checked how MiG-31 fighters are being upgraded to the MiG-31BM version at the Sokol aircraft factory in Nizhny Novgorod.
At the enterprise, the deputy minister reported that the modernization, which has been carried out since 2007, with the complete replacement of on-board electronic equipment with modern samples and provides for the use of modern aviation weapons, increases the combat effectiveness of the aircraft by about three times.
Krivoruchko also told about the tests of the MiG-31BM with an electric control system instead of a mechanical one. As a result, there are a number of computers that are put on board.
The overhaul itself with the modernization of the MiG-31 takes no more than a year. During this time, the interceptors completely change the on-board equipment, put the airframe in order - depending on the condition of the aircraft, the replacement of its elements can range from 15 to 50 percent. The wiring and all rubber inserts are completely changed on the machines. The wiring and the cab light are also being replaced.
By the way, the manufacture of almost all components of the MiG-31 has been transferred to the territory of Russia. "Today, as part of import substitution, we have almost completely transferred to the territory of Russia, by 99 and 9 percent in the period, the manufacture of all components according to the level of suppliers of the 1st category. They have completely abandoned all former Soviet republics, now everything is being produced on the territory of Russia," the Deputy Defense Minister was informed.
Alexey Krivoruchko also visited the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant, where, in particular, he got acquainted with the progress of work on the latest armored vehicles on the Boomerang platform. - they told me in the department. The Deputy Head of the military department also showed the production lines of Tiger armored vehicles, BTR-82A armored personnel carriers and other armored vehicles.
The head of the 154th military representation, Lieutenant Colonel Yuri Chikin, later said that state tests of an armored personnel carrier and an infantry fighting vehicle based on the Boomerang platform are scheduled to begin next spring. "The car has passed preliminary tests with a positive result. Currently, prototypes are being finalized for submission to state tests, which are scheduled to begin in March - April 2022," the officer said. He clarified that the completion of state tests is scheduled for November - December next year.
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The K-16 armored personnel carrier and the K-17 infantry fighting vehicle have been developed on the Boomerang platform. The APC is equipped with a combat module with a 12.7 mm machine gun. The BMP has a Boomerang-BM combat module with a 30-mm automatic 2A42 cannon, as well as anti-tank missile launchers "Kornet".
Yuri Gavrilov
