A history of this advanced Russian jet, including useful information for model makers. Â The MiG-31 started life as an advanced derivative of the famous MiG-25P interceptor, becoming the first Soviet fourth-generation combat aircraft. First flown in 1975, it differed from its progenitor primarily in having a crew of two (pilot and weapons systems operator), a highly capable passive phased-array radarâa world firstâand new R-33 long-range missiles as its primary armament. Â The maximum speed was an impressive Mach 2.82, the cruising speed being Mach 2.35. The type entered service in 1981; more than 500 copies were built between 1981 and 1994. The powerful radar and other avionics allowed the MiG-31 to operate as a âmini-AWACSâ scanning the airspace and guiding other interceptors to their targets; a flight of three such aircraft in line abreast formation could cover a strip 800 km (500 miles) wide. Â To this day the MiG-31 remains one of the key air defense assets of the Russian Air Force. This book describes the MiG-31âs developmental history, including upgrade programs, and features a comprehensive survey of the MiG-31 model-making kits available on the market.
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