Recently, it was frequently reported that the Russian MiG-31 fighter crashed. A few days ago, Russia revealed that a MiG-31 fighter crashed in the coastal Krai, and two pilots ejected and escaped. The plane crashed in a desolate place, and it was reported that there was no damage to the ground. According to preliminary information, it is a possible crash caused by a technical failure.
From 2010 to 2022, Russian MiG31 fighter accidents and disasters seemed to occur frequently. This has caused people to doubt this fighter jet that is hailed as the most advanced. However, the MiG31 fighter jet back then was a sharp sword hanging over NATO. Let NATO be frightened all the time, let’s talk about the story behind it back then.
The only way to break the martial arts in the world is to be fast. The faster the flying weapon is, the stronger the survivability and penetration ability it has, and it can suppress and get rid of the opponent. The MiG31 fighter jet development direction was in this direction, and to this day, the MiG31 is still the fastest-flying fighter in the world.
This has to talk about the MiG-25 back then. As soon as the MiG-25 came out, it was shocked to drop Western chin at a maximum speed of Mach 3.2 and exclaimed. However, although the MiG-25's excellent high-speed performance has caused great panic in Western countries. However, there are also shortcomings such as poor mobility, large fuel consumption, short combat radius, and excessive damage to humans. Therefore, the former Soviet government ordered the Migoyang Design Bureau to develop the MiG-31 with more complete performance based on the MiG-25.
So many people today believe that MiG-31 was developed to replace MiG-25. But this is only half true. At that time, the former Soviet Union planned that the MiG-31 not only replaces the MiG-25, but also replaces the Tu-128, an interceptor of the Soviet National Air Defense Force.
, however, is different from the world-famous MiG-25, because the Tu-128 is a model developed entirely for the Soviet Union's own defense needs. Therefore, it has always been relatively low-key. Although it was hailed as the largest interceptor at that time, the data was actually strictly kept confidential. Only more than 100 were produced before and after, and it was never exported abroad.
In the 1950s, the Cold War gradually reached its climax, and the war was about to break out at any time. The huge Soviet territory could be invaded by American high-altitude bombers at any time, especially in the remote Siberian region. However, it is quite difficult to build sufficient air defense missiles and radar positions on the ground on such a vast land, so the Soviets thought of a solution: that is, let air defense missiles "go to the sky" and patrol the huge Soviet territory above the clouds that are not affected by the climate. In this way, Tu-128 was born.
Tiu-128 was developed by Tupolev Design Bureau. It was developed from the bomber Tu-98, with a length of 30.06m, a wingspan of 17.53m, and a maximum take-off weight of 43 metric tons. The weapon is four R-4 missiles, with radar guidance and infrared versions. Tu-128 There were routine patrol missions every day. Once enemy planes were found to invade Soviet territory, they immediately went from the patrol position to intercept. The tactics of
-128 are also very simple: after confirming the enemy target, launch all missiles at the target, and then leave immediately. Although the Tu-128 does not have the terrifying highway of the MiG-25's Trimach, the air stagnation time, range and duty efficiency of the two pilots are better. The huge fuselage can also accommodate larger radars. Unlike the MiG-25, which relies entirely on ground mechanisms to guide "fire" to targets,
can protect a larger range of airspace because the Tu-128 can cruise in the air for a long time and search for enemy aircraft. However, the disadvantage is that both the take-off time and sprint speed are inferior to the MiG-25, so you must first take off and arrange the array in advance, and it is impossible to intercept temporarily.
Interestingly, the US Navy had a similar concept back then. After the aircraft carrier battle group set off, it often used S-3 anti-submarine aircraft to carry long-range missiles to patrol and defend the fleet battle group outside. To achieve the purpose of early defense and preemptive action. However, in the end, the United States also realized the disadvantages of this tactic and developed an F-14 fighter that has both supersonic and endurance capabilities. The same is true for the arch-rivaled former Soviet Union. He realized these problems and hoped to create a high-speed and Tu-128 long-range interceptor with the MiG-25, and even the newly added functions must be similar to the US Navy's F-14: multi-target attack.
So on the basis of the MiG-25, the MiG-25 design bureau installed the phase array radar of the latest technology at that time, used turbofan engines to improve range and air stagnation time, and also installed a cannon that neither the MiG-25 nor the Tu-128. The Soviets also added the mission elasticity of the new MiG-31 and were preparing to try to replace another interceptor, Su-15.
At that time, due to the slow development of large early warning aircraft of the Soviet Union, the Soviets even allowed the MiG-31 to transmit target information between friendly aircraft. The method was to replace one early warning aircraft with four MiG-31 marshallings. Although the efficiency of battlefield management and intelligence reconnaissance and collection is not as good as that of the orthodox early warning aircraft, it was also the Soviet Union at that time that it was impossible to get it.
Someone once joked that if the MiG-31's plan had not been adopted by the former Soviet Union at that time, it might have been the fighter version of the Tu-22 bomber. Then the idea of the American B-1B bomber with the AIM-120 missile will be ridiculed for being a copy of the Soviet Union. The ability of the
weapon was tested in actual combat. I believe everyone must be very concerned about the actual combat capability of the MiG-31 against NATO fighter jets. But unfortunately, there has never been a real battle. The closest one to actual combat with the West was the shooting down of the Korean Air Flight 007 in the last century.
This disaster occurred in 1983. A plane of the Republic of Korea Airlines accidentally entered the former Soviet airspace. The Soviets mistakenly thought it was an early warning aircraft disguised as a civil aviation aircraft in the West and shot it down over Sakhalin Island. All 269 people on the plane were killed. Because the plane carried citizens of up to 16 countries and regions including the United States, the matter immediately triggered a strong diplomatic rebound. After the incident, the United States, Japan and other countries immediately searched the waters near the site of the incident. The US Air Force dispatched E-3 early warning aircraft and F-15 fighter jets, and the patrol route was almost adjacent to Soviet airspace, and the Soviet Union also took off several MiG-31s for surveillance and warning. It was the most tense stage of US-Soviet relations. In such a tense environment, the incident of the passenger plane being shot down may become the fuse for the war at any time.
At that time, the US Air Force was most worried about the Soviet Far East fighter jet. Although everyone knows that the MiG-31 had poor maneuverability and might not be able to beat the F-15. But Mach's speed plus 4 R-33 long-range missiles are a very terrifying threat. Once the MiG-31 uses high-speed direct rushing to the E-3 early warning aircraft, it immediately fires 4 volleys when it enters the missile range, and then uses high-speed to turn and flash people. The F-15 has no choice but to use the MiG-31 at that time. It is impossible to block the E-3 missile like a movie. Therefore, the US Air Force pilot at that time later said that he had been nervous and dared not be careless. As soon as the Soviet fighter planes move abnormally, the pilot will be ready to press the missile launch button immediately.
The danger of the situation at that time can be seen. Once it breaks out, it may really usher in World War III. Fortunately, the Soviet army was very restrained, and in the end both sides never really got into trouble. However, it also left a small regret for people, how well the MiG-31 performs against a US military aircraft.
However, in 1991, the curious military fans seemed to have received some comfort. Similar wars appeared in the Gulf War. An Iraqi MiG-25 used its high speed to fight and run, shooting down a US Navy F-18C fighter jet in chaos. Finally, the famous saying was left behind: "Any plane that can fly three Mach is worthy of respect."
