Russia willing to export Mig-31s

[GTX]

Hi folks,

Recently reported on Aviapedia:

"Russian aircraft manufacturer MiG and military equipment export firm FGUP "Rosoboronexport" announced at the Farnborough 2006 airshow that they are willing to offer the famous MiG-31 to potential customers. Russia says potential customers come from the ex- MiG-25 customers like Syria, Libya and India.

These countries are withdrawing the old MiG-25 from active service. For example India stopped its MiG-25 fleet's operational career few weeks ago. So there's a place for Russia to offer the MiG-25's successor the MiG-31 to fill the gap in these air forces.

The MiG-31 offers much enhanced capabilities in comparison with the MiG-25. It has nearly the same maximum speed as the MiG-25 - 3000km/h and ceiling in 25 000 metres. It also has very advanced avionics suite with still one of the best fire control radars in the world. It enables pilot to attack multiple targets at the same time with different flying speeds and altitudes from very long ranges. The radar can track even the very low forward-radar-surface-area targets like stealth planes, UAVs and cruise missiles. The MiG-31 can operate as an airborne early warning or AEW station with its long-range radar and datalink systems.

MiG has already stopped the production of the MiG-31 and therefore MiG offers aircraft from Russian Air Force storages and has intentions of upgrading them to the export project MiG-31E standard. Russia is offering several different deal proposals for the old MiG-25 owners including an opportunity to exchange their MiG-25s to MiG-31s with some compensation."

For many years China was thought to have ordered some - now maybe they might.  Who else?  

Iran?

Regards,

Greg

[Shasper]

One slight correction, Max speed on the MiG-25 was Mach 3, but to keep the engines from exploding the redline was at M 2.8

Max speed for the -31 in Mach 2.83, but again for engine reasons the redline was put at M 2.5 IIRC.


Shas B)

[Iranian F-14A]

India might,but you have to remember they used the recon model of the Foxbat,not the interceptor,however,they might be interested in a recon model,if one existed.I doubt Iran will buy any,because unlike most fighters in their air arm,the Mig-31 isn't too adaptable to other missions other then shooting down B-1s and B-52s.As far as former Foxbat uses such as Algeria and Syria,I'm thinking the Su-30 would be the way to go.Libya might,but if their relations improves whith the west,as some think it might,then they might get something from France.Rafales or more likely,surplus Mirage 2000s.I can't really see China getting any either when they have the J-11 Flanker,J-10 and are working on the newer home grown fighters.To be honest,the Mig-31 is a dionsaur of the Cold War that was designed for one thing:Shoot down strategic bombers and cruise missiles.Doesn't have a real place in todays world.I think I remember reading somewhere that rather then buying more Mig-31s,the Russian PVO decided to go for more Su-30s.

[lancer]

Thanks for the gen GTX and IranianF14, I guess I can still do my Indian AF MiG31 then and it'll still be a wiff.

[GTX]

Iranian,

I tend to think that Iran would be interested - a few MiG-31s would be perfect for a country contemplating a possible war with the USA.  Just the thing to help blunt US airpower.

Regards,

Greg

[Iranian F-14A]

Iranian,

I tend to think that Iran would be interested - a few MiG-31s would be perfect for a country contemplating a possible war with the USA.  Just the thing to help blunt US airpower.

Regards,

Greg

I'll agree with you there.The USAF would stop and think before sending in their Lancers and Stratoforts where they could be picked off at long range by Mig-31s and Tomcats.Probbley pose a danger to other high value assets in the theatre,such as E-3s and E-8s,not to mention U-2s or Global Hawks.It'd eat those for breakfast.From what I under stand the Mig-31 was also designed to shoot down cruise missiles,so this too could prove useful,should a conflict with the US happen.Add to this the fact they have the F-14/AIM-54 and I believe they bought some S-300 (SA-10 Grumble) and SA-15 Gauntlet SAM systems recently.About the only thing that could get through would be B-2s.

[dragon]

MiG-31?  Add some medium green, dark green, dark tan, with camouflage grey undersides and you have- Hugo Chavez getting a similar reaction to using Viagra.  Just about anybody that hates the US would want one if the price is right and their Dictator is crazy enough.

[PolluxDeltaSeven]

about anybody that hates the US would want one if the price is right and their Dictator is crazy enough

Well, more than half the world hates the USA, and most of those countries are old and real republics    

I think that if we want to find a country that could buy the Mig-31, we have to find a country that the USA really hate, and not only a country that hates the USA.

North Korea and Iran come first in my mind, maybe Venezuela too... The USA don't hide  that they consider those three states as Evil on earth!   And in exchange, they don't hide what they think about the USA!

And we can also add to that Algeria, the main user of the Mig-25 in fighter variant in the world. They plan to continue using the Mig-25 for years, even when the Su-30 will be operationnal in Algerian Air Force... So, if the Mig-31 option is cheap enough, why not Mig-31 in Algeria? It will probably convince Marocco to buy the Rafale    

[dragon]

North Korea and Iran come first in my mind, maybe Venezuela too... The USA don't hide  that they consider those three states as Evil on earth!   And in exchange, they don't hide what they think about the USA!

Actually the US pretty much ignores Venezuela, which really angers the Dictator Chavez no end.  His ego can't stand being called "small potatoes".  He wants to be called "evil" like the other guys, but he isn't in the same league at all.  His only military-type action he screwed up beyond royally.    

[Mossie]

MiG-31, this one?!?



I think anyone would want to get their hands on one of those! B)

Seriously, I can think of several nations that hate the USA enough & could possibly buy the Mig-31 Foxhound.  Several Arab nations for a start, some of which already have MiG-25's like Libya (as already mentioned) or Syria.  Less likely are countries like Lebanon although it dosen't take too much of a stretch to imagine a strengthened Lebanon with current world events.

Several of the central African nations may also be capable with out too much of an imagination stretch, where a country may become rich from mineral resources & want to provoke the US.  African politics can be very volatile as well, pro-west African governments have become hostile very suddenly.  I suppose Zimbawe would be a possibility, along with Somalia, Sudan, all pretty hostile already.  Egypt has swung against the US on several occasions, especially when it's been openly hostile to Israel.  It would only take a small sea change in the country, again, with current events very much in mind.

Of course, France & the US are not the best of mates at the moment.....

Simon.

EDIT, just remembered, regarding the MiG-25's speed, the US once clocked it at Mach 3.1 over Israel.  Viktor Belenko was quized about this on his defection & said that that machines engines were completly destoyed after that mission.  It could do Mach 3+ speeds, but as Shesper said, it was at the risk of severe damage to the engines or aircraft.

[Mossie]

Just had another thought, the USA might even buy them.  I remember hearing a few years ago that the US bought several MiG's off somebody (-29's I think but I'm not sure) to "make sure that they didn't get into unfriendly hands".  It was criticised at the time as some said that it might lead to skint nations trying to sell them anyone just so the US would bail them out.  I think they were intending to use them as adversaries.

If this was true, then it's possible that the US may buy a few for use in agressor sqaudrons, albeit with basic avionics only.  Nice idea for a paint scheme?

Simon

[Shasper]

MiG-29's from Moldova

and they are not in service, but one is on static at Nellis IIRC.



Shas B)

[Mossie]

Cheers Shasper, it was lingering in the back of my brain somewhere! :dum:

Simon.

[dragon]

If this was true, then it's possible that the US may buy a few for use in agressor sqaudrons, albeit with basic avionics only.  Nice idea for a paint scheme?

I have built this using Italeri's MiG-29 and decals intended for TOP GUN F-5s and A-4s.  The effect was not bad.   In the future however I would use a Flanker type instead. B)  

[gooberliberation]

If this was true, then it's possible that the US may buy a few for use in agressor sqaudrons, albeit with basic avionics only.  Nice idea for a paint scheme?

Simon

I could imagine NASA using a couple as well, for stuff like chase aircraft and flying laboratories.