08 Mikoyan MiG-31M Foxhound
An advanced version of the MiG-31 began development in 1983, known as the MiG-31M (also known as the Ye-155MPM, and izdeliye 05). The new S-255 aerial intercept weapons system featured new ultra-long-range air-to-air missiles (the R-37) and advanced avonics suite (Zaslon-AM WCS) were the primary upgrades over the original MiG-31. The new aircraft also included a few alterations, such as a wrap-around windscreen, a revised dorsal spine, the removal of the cannon, and moving the refueling probe to the starboard side. A revised, digital cockpit was included with a multifunction CRT cockpit displays, digital flight controls, and a multimode phased array radar. The original D-30F6 engines were upgraded to D-30F6M engines and the overall weight of the aircraft rose to 52,000 kg (114,640 lb).
In this image, first real MiG-31M prototype aircraft (052 Blue) sits on the apron at Zhukovskiy. Note the wrap-around windscreen, enlarged radome nose cone, and missing the side-mounted cannon. The MiG-31M carries the R-37 long-range BVR missiles (NATO reporting name: AA-13 “Axehead”) on the underside fuselage mounts and the R-73 short-range IR missiles (NATO reporting name: AA-11 “Archer”).
08 Mikoyan MiG-31M Foxhound
An advanced version of the MiG-31 began development in 1983, known as the MiG-31M (also known as the Ye-155MPM, and izdeliye 05). The new S-255 aerial intercept weapons system featured new ultra-long-range air-to-air missiles (the R-37) and advanced avonics suite (Zaslon-AM WCS) were the primary upgrades over the original MiG-31. The new aircraft also included a few alterations, such as a wrap-around windscreen, a revised dorsal spine, the removal of the cannon, and moving the refueling probe to the starboard side. A revised, digital cockpit was included with a multifunction CRT cockpit displays, digital flight controls, and a multimode phased array radar. The original D-30F6 engines were upgraded to D-30F6M engines and the overall weight of the aircraft rose to 52,000 kg (114,640 lb).
In this image, first real MiG-31M prototype aircraft (052 Blue) sits on the apron at Zhukovskiy. Note the wrap-around windscreen, enlarged radome nose cone, and missing the side-mounted cannon. The MiG-31M carries the R-37 long-range BVR missiles (NATO reporting name: AA-13 “Axehead”) on the underside fuselage mounts and the R-73 short-range IR missiles (NATO reporting name: AA-11 “Archer”).