MiG-31M - FOXHOUND-B
Developing a deep modification of the fighter MiG-31 on its own initiative in 1984, KB launched aircraft plant "Sokol" (g.Gorky later - Nizhny Novgorod), Chief Designer - E.I.Mindrov. According to unconfirmed reports the modernization program was called I-255. Modernization pursued calculated to improve the design and improvement of technological production of the aircraft. The first prototype compared to the basic MiG-31 significantly changed the fuel system - the amount of fuel in internal tanks increased by 1,500 liters, which led to a change in the alignment of the aircraft and the deteriorated stability and controllability. The MiG-31M had updated avionics and upgraded weapons system.
The first flying prototype of the MiG-31M #05-01-01 was assembled at aircraft factory "Sokol" immeni Gorky in 1984 and delivered to the final assembly in Moscow for the pilot production of the MiG Design Bureau - factory "Zenith". The first flying prototype of the MiG-31M ?051 board made its first flight December 21, 1985 (the crew of a test pilot Boris Orlov and test navigator Leonid Popov). The tests used aircraft tail number 053, 054, 055, 056 and 057. The tests were conducted at the air base in Akhtubinsk. During the tests, the aircraft #051 and 052 were lost. The state tests of the MiG-31M was completed in April 1994, the successful defeat of the air targets at a distance of 300 km.
At its own initiative group of engineering and technical workers of the Gorky aircraft plant under the leadership of Chief Designer E.I.Mindrova developed a variant of modernization of serial interceptor. To check the proposals of Gorky's engineers have identified one of the MiG-31 (after modernization received hull number +503- blue); improvements were aimed at facilitating the design and improve the manufacturability of the aircraft production, has undergone significant changes in the fuel system. Flight tests have shown that as a result of changes in the location of the fuel tanks, the aircraft's center of gravity has shifted, that worsened the stability and control of the interceptor. Bort +503- participated in the flight test program of the MiG-31M.
MiG-31M is a deep modification of the original version; has undergone changes both the appearance of the aircraft and its +nachinka-, weapons. MiG-31M has a wing root nodules larger area than previous versions of the MiG-31; gargrot is large due to an increase of 300 l volume accommodating the fuel tank; glass area on the right side of the navigator cockpit canopy is reduced to create the effect +temnoy kabiny- facilitating work with indicators tactical situation, while at the same time, the cockpit canopy glazing area is increased through the installation of reinforced cockpit canopy hood; nosecone radar antenna is tilted downwards at 7 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft to improve visibility of cockpit downward-forward cowl itself has a larger diameter; on the lower surface of the fuselage has a slot to accommodate not four semi-flush position (as MiG-31), and six air-to-air large radius of action; Cannon is absent; fuel consumer Rod moved to starboard; motors are spaced a greater distance from the longitudinal axis of the aircraft; increased area rudder. The seventh prototype on the wing ends established cigar-shaped containers with electronic warfare equipment, to increase directional stability in the rear part of the containers had the vertical surfaces of triangular shape. Mig-31m has dual controls, aircraft flight controls in the cockpit of the navigator missing.
MiG-31 M installed advanced radar-+Zaslon M-; in the instrumentation of both cabins multifunctional electronic indicators introduced; aircraft cockpit controls to the navigator is not set, as well as viewing the front hemisphere periscope; of the weapon control system instead of a retractable teplopelengator integrated optoelectronic surveillance-attack system and a laser range finder (optical head to systems and EDM are located in front of the cockpit canopy), and the weapons range has expanded with new air-to-air medium-range missiles RVV-AE, short-range R-73, an upgraded version of SD-R 33 - the R-33C and the new ultra-range missiles R-37. Increasing the take-off weight of an interceptor to some extent compensated by the installation of more powerful engines D-30F6M.
All MiG-31M were built at a plant in Nizhny Novgorod, the first aircraft built was intended for static tests, the second - board room +051- - December 21, 1985 for the first time raised in the air crew of a test pilot Boris Orlov and test navigator Leonid Popov . Just seven prototypes were produced - hull numbers +051- - +057-; +052- aboard crashed during a test, a test pilot Vladimir Gorbunov Design Bureau successfully ejected. State tests of the modernized interceptor was completed in April 1994, the successful defeat of the training of air targets at a distance of 300 km. Congratulations on the end gosisiytany MiG-31M and successful defeat of the target missile design bureau staff to President Boris Yeltsin of Russia. The test aircraft have been involved with the hull numbers +053-, +054-, +053-, +055-, +056-, +057-.
The premiere of the MiG-31M (side number +057-) took place in March 1992, when at the airport Machulishchy, not far from Minsk, a demonstration of the latest aviation technology leaders of the CIS countries (by the way, to show just arrived Yeltsin, Nazarbayev and Mutalibov that certain way characterizes the interest of heads of state for aviation). On display were allowed journalists to help the MiG-31M existence ceased to be a secret, and his photographs have appeared in the national and foreign press.
Mass production could not expand the MiG-31M due to lack of appropriations, but the Air Force Commander of the Russian Colonel-General Kornukov not exclude the possibility of upgrading to the level of the MiG-31M interceptor previously built.
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