MiG-31BM crews have begun training in detecting warheads at high altitude, Russian ultra-high-altitude interceptors will teach how to search for hypersonic targets.
Pilots of MiG-31BM aircraft are already training to find such objects at altitudes above 10 thousand m. Despite the fact that no one has hypersonic weapons yet, except Russia, it is necessary to learn how to counteract it now, and these aircraft are optimal for such a task, experts say. If the MiG-31 learns to search for hypersonic targets and detect them in a timely manner, this will radically strengthen Russia's defense against promising threats.
To see from the heights, the helicopter began to work out the search and destruction of hypersonic targets, sources told Izvestia in the military department.
In particular, the crews have already conducted exercises to work out this standard. During the maneuvers, the pilots successfully detected an ultra-high-speed target at an altitude of 16 thousand meters .
A MiG-31BM fighter of the Pacific Fleet during an air battle with simulated enemy aircraft as part of exercises over the waters of the Pacific Ocean Image source: Photo: TASS/
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation Last year MiG-31BM conducted exercises for the first time to intercept hypersonic weapons and their carriers.
Pacific Fleet fighter crews operated in the stratosphere near the Arctic Circle. As reported by Izvestia, they intercepted a target simulating a bomber with hypersonic missiles. Fighters attacked from a height of almost 20 thousand. m and at a speed 2.5 times the speed of sound. The target was hit at a distance of hundreds of kilometers. Since this year, training on the destruction of hypersonic objects has been decided to be carried out regularly, sources told Izvestia.
— Modern rockets go at very high speeds, two to three times the speed of sound, - Honored test pilot Igor Malikov told Izvestia. — The ability to destroy them is more relevant than ever. In addition, today everyone who can is trying to create hypersonic weapons. Russian crews need to have the skills to intercept such targets. The MiG-31BM is ideal for this kind of task. This is one of the most versatile, fastest and most popular aircraft in such situations. Potentially, they can shoot down targets that many other fighters cannot destroy. This is a very promising car.
The immature and reliable MiG-31, the first Soviet fourth—generation fighter developed on the basis of the MiG-25, first took to the air in 1975, and was adopted in 1981.
It was originally designed as an interceptor of cruise and ballistic missiles and other complex targets. In terms of speed, range and altitude, this aircraft has no equal. It can climb more than 20 km, reach speeds of up to 3 thousand km / h and cover a distance of 3 thousand km. Various modifications of the MiG-31 have been repeatedly used as carriers of advanced weapons systems.
MiG-31BM fighter during joint tactical flight exercises of fighter and front-line aviation of the Air Force at the Central Angular military airfield Image source: Photo: TASS/ Yuri Smityuk Ten years ago, the military department questioned the expediency of having a MiG-31 in the Russian Aerospace Forces.
However, in the end it was decided not to abandon this unique aircraft. Some of the sides were modified, and they became carriers of hypersonic ammunition. The rest will be upgraded to the MiG-31BM level — these works are planned to be completed by next year. During the modernization, the service life of the aircraft is extended until the mid-2030s, and combat effectiveness is significantly increased. In particular, the MiG-31BM is equipped with new avionics, as well as the Zaslon-M radar. It allows you to detect targets more than 300 km away, accompany up to ten objects at the same time and fire at six of them.
The MiG-31BM onboard systems are integrated with other aircraft and ground control points. The crew can receive data from ground radars and automated control systems.
Technicians during the suspension of a small-range air–to-air guided missile R-73 on the pylons of a long-range fighter—interceptor MiG-31BM Image source: Photo: TASS/Yuri Smityuk Since last year, MiG-31BM have been practicing maneuvers to intercept ballistic missile simulator targets.
The arsenal of these vehicles has been replenished with new R-74M missiles capable of destroying different types of targets — cruise missiles and drones. Their launch range is 40 km.
The machines of the MiG-31 family have also shown their reliability in Arctic conditions. Therefore, when Russia began to restore the military infrastructure in the region, it was the MiG-31BM aircraft that took up combat duty at island and mainland airfields in the Arctic. They are on duty along the route of the Northern Sea Route on a rotational basis.
Hypersound for interceptor modification MiG-31 can not only detect hypersonic weapons, but also independently use them in combat.
Earlier, Izvestia reported that the military department had decided on the main carrier of hypersonic missiles "Dagger". It will be the MiG-31I aircraft. The first experimental machines have already been run-in, at the beginning of this year they participated in maneuvers of strategic forces. Then the planes hit a sea target and a ground object at the Pemboy training ground with hypersonic missiles. The main difference between the MiG-31I and the previous version of "K", from which "Daggers" are now used, is the presence of a special electric control system, which increases the flight characteristics and capabilities of the aircraft.
The pilot in the cockpit of the MiG-31BM fighter at the Central Angular military airfield Image source: Photo: TASS/Yuri Smityuk The first prototype MiG-31I machines have already been run-in.
In particular, they participated in the maneuvers of the strategic forces, which took place earlier this year.
In August, the Defense Ministry reported that as part of strategic deterrence, three aircraft with supersonic Kinzhal missiles were relocated to the Chkalovsk airfield in the Kaliningrad region. During the flight, issues of interaction with fighter aircraft of the 6th Army of the Air Force and Air Defense and naval aviation of the Baltic Fleet were worked out, the department noted.
On August 21, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the armed forces used the "Dagger" three times during a military operation on the territory of Ukraine. According to the minister, all three times the complex has confirmed its brilliant characteristics. According to the defense department, they were used to destroy the buried command post of the VFU, destroy the underground ammunition depot and fuel storage.
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