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Two MiG-31BM supersonic interceptor aircraft resume service in Russia's Far East

The two jets covered the distance of more than 7,000 km while returning to their home base

MIG-31 Marina Lystseva/TASS

MIG-31

© Marina Lystseva/TASS

MOSCOW, February 20. /TASS/. Two MiG-31BM supersonic interceptor aircraft have resumed their service with the Russian Pacific Fleet’s sea aviation following a deep modernization and overhaul, fleet spokesman Nikolai Voskresensky said on Wednesday.

"Today, two MiG-31BM supersonic interceptor aircraft, which were part of the mixed aviation regiment, returned to the Pacific Fleet’s sea aviation’s airfield in Yelizovo [Kamchatka] after maintenance and modernization," he said.

The two jets covered the distance of more than 7,000 km while returning to their home base.

Several other MiG-31BM aircraft are intended to join the Pacific Fleet’s aviation units by the end of the year.

http://mig35.tass.com/

Upgraded MiG-31BM jet (Foxhound by NATO classification) is designed to intercept air targets in distant areas inaccessible for ordinary fighter jets. The aircraft can provide network-centric combat control while operating with other craft. MiG-31BM is equipped with phased antenna array radar. The armaments comprise air-to-air missiles of the long-range R-33 family and R-73 short-range missiles. The length of the aircraft is 21.62 meters, maximum takeoff weight is 46.2 tons.

Maximum speed at high altitude is 3000 km/h. Practical ceiling is 20600 meters. Practical range with four R-33 and two suspended fuel tanks is 3000 km. MiG-31BM is equipped with an air refueling system. It has two D-30F5 engines with a takeoff thrust of 1500 kgf.

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