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Crews of MiG-31 fighters intercept airspace intruder in Urals drills

While maneuvering to dodge the air defense quick reaction alert forces, the notional intruder used up its fuel and had to land at the designated aerodrome

YEKATERINBURG, February 8. /TASS/. The crews of MiG-31BM supersonic high-altitude interceptor-fighters of Russia’s Central Military District forced a notional intruder to land during drills of air defense quick reaction alert forces in the Perm Region, the District’s press office reported on Monday.

"The pilots visually detected an aircraft and locked it on. The crews of MiG-31BM interceptor-fighters acted in pairs, forcing the intruder to climb to ultimate altitudes," the press office said in a statement.

While maneuvering to dodge the air defense quick reaction alert forces, the notional intruder used up its fuel and had to land at the designated aerodrome, the statement says.

The pilots performed about 30 sorties, practicing measures on their own to detect, track, force to land and notionally eliminate airspace intruders, the press office specified.

The upgraded MiG-31BM (NATO reporting name: Foxhound) fighter is designated to intercept air targets at long ranges inaccessible for strikes by standard fighter jets. The fighters of this type are capable of providing network-centric combat control while operating with other aircraft. The MiG-31BM is furnished with a phased array radar. The fighters of this type can employ R-33 long-range air-to-air missiles and R-73 short-range air-launched weapons.

The MiG-31BM is 21.62 meters long and has a maximum takeoff weight of 46.2 tonnes. The fighter jet can develop a maximum speed of 3,000 km/h at a high altitude and has a service ceiling of 20,600 meters. The fighter jet furnished with four R-33 missiles and two suspended fuel tanks has an operating range of 3,000 km. The MiG-31BM is outfitted with a mid-air refueling system and two D-30F6 engines with a take-off thrust of 15,500 kgf each.

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