KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11025 posts, RR: 53 Reply 1, posted (4 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 3860 times:
Does it really matter? The Mig-31 is not as good a fighter as the Mig-29 or Su-27.
CaptOveur From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (4 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 3827 times:
You are going to have a hard time even getting a firm number as to how many they ever had in service.
Also, some countries are going to list airplanes buried in the sand, partially parted out, or sitting around broken, rusting, and with flattened tires as "in service"
Ptrjong From Netherlands, joined Mar 2005, 3519 posts, RR: 23 Reply 3, posted (4 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 3825 times:
Quoting Wvsuperhornet (Thread starter): Just was woundering how many Mig-31's Russia still has in active service along with their former sattelite countries?
According to Wikipedia, about 500 MiG-31s were produced, approximately 370 of which remain in Russian service, with another 30 or so in the Kazakhstan Air Force. The 370 number is quoted from www.globalsecurity.org.
The MiG-31 was never exported to other countries because it's a highly complex and costly interceptor, rather like the F-14 but without the agility. You seem to imply it's on the way out, but I'm not so sure of that. Wikipedia:
The MiG-31 was sought after for a variety of long-range missions. Following the collapse of the USSR, however, the budget for spares and maintenance collapsed, leaving many squadrons unable to maintain their complex aircraft. By 1996, only 20% of remaining aircraft were reportedly serviceable at any time; however, by early 2006, a stronger Russian economy permitted the return to service of around 75% of the Russian Air Force's (VVS') MiG-31s.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11025 posts, RR: 53 Reply 4, posted (4 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 3788 times:
Quoting Ptrjong (Reply 3): You seem to imply it's on the way out, but I'm not so sure of that. Wikipedia:
The MiG-31 was sought after for a variety of long-range missions. Following the collapse of the USSR, however, the budget for spares and maintenance collapsed, leaving many squadrons unable to maintain their complex aircraft. By 1996, only 20% of remaining aircraft were reportedly serviceable at any time; however, by early 2006, a stronger Russian economy permitted the return to service of around 75% of the Russian Air Force's (VVS') MiG-31s.
Wikipedia, no there's a source you can trust.
Quoting Ptrjong (Reply 3): Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 1):
Does it really matter?
You wouldn't be saying that if somebody asked how many F-...s there were still in the USAF.
Peter
Actually, you can find out how many of most USAF and USN aircraft types are in service. For example, the USAF still shows 21 B-2s in service, 16 are combat ready, 4 are for training, and 1 for testing. Look up the F-15. Right now you will find that all F-15A/B/C/Ds are still grounded, but all 255 F-15Es have RTS.
Wvsuperhornet From United States of America, joined Aug 2007, 499 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (4 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 3741 times:
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 1): Does it really matter? The Mig-31 is not as good a fighter as the Mig-29 or Su-27.
Personally no, but I was just curious since the Soviet Union collapsed the MIG-31 has still remained their most ellusive and secretive aircraft after all these years. Your right its not as good of a fighter as the MIG-29 or SU-27 but its not a fighter its an intercepter, in which a sqaudron could wreak havoc on cruise missles or even our bombers in the BVR area. SO I wouldnt discard them or write them off thats how wars are lost. Besides I thought the discussion boards were to ask questions about avaition.
Quoting Ptrjong (Reply 3): You seem to imply it's on the way out, but I'm not so sure of that
Thanks for your answer Peter and no I wasnt implying that at all. I can see where the aircraft would have it uses such as intercepting bombers and cruise missles and even recon, as stated above so no I wasnt implying that at all. I was just curious as to how many their were.
N74JW From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (4 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 3717 times:
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 1): Does it really matter? The Mig-31 is not as good a fighter as the Mig-29 or Su-27.
The strengths of the Mig-31 lie in it's armament and it's electronic suite. The R-33 was developed as a parallel of the U.S. AIM-54 Phoenix. While, it may have not been as capable as the F-14 and the Phoenix, four Foxhounds can cover 900km of airspace and hit multiple targets 70 miles away. That is bad news for any attacking B-52s, B-1Bs or even B-2As.
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 4): Wikipedia, no there's a source you can trust.
Nite92 From United States of America, joined Oct 2007, 48 posts, RR: 4 Reply 7, posted (4 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days ago) and read 3638 times:
I'm using Combat Aircraft US Edition Vol 8 No. 4. They quote the manufacturer of building 500 MiG-31's of all different versions. And they don't have any specific numbers reguarding the amount currently fielded.
PADSpot From Germany, joined Jan 2005, 1676 posts, RR: 6 Reply 9, posted (4 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 3607 times:
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 1): The Mig-31 is not as good a fighter as the Mig-29 or Su-27.
The MiG-31 is not a fighter. It's a long range interceptor. It does not have a counterpart these days. The F-14 came closest, but was not a pure interceptor. Also the MiG-31 has some nice feature that cannot be found on any other Eastern or Western airplane. But Ok, no other nation has to defend such a huge landmass like Siberia. So its an airplane in its own right.
However, the MiG-31 played a role when the Eurofighter design goals were set up 20 years ago.
Quoting Ptrjong (Reply 3): According to Wikipedia, about 500 MiG-31s were produced, approximately 370 of which remain in Russian service, with another 30 or so in the Kazakhstan Air Force. The 370 number is quoted from www.globalsecurity.org.
According to a Russian documentary I've seen recently 238 are in active service and 100 in reserve. The remaining frames are cleared for refurbishment and sale.
N74jw From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (4 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 3592 times:
Quoting Ryan h (Reply 8): Are there any of the older MiG 25 Foxbats still in service?
Russia does not use the Mig-25 in a combat capacity anymore. There are some Mig-25Us still flying for high-altitude research and expensive 'joy rides'. Libya's Mig-25s were retired a few years ago. Judging by the recent pictures posted from the Tripoli air shows, those airframes are not going to fly any time soon. Iraq probably buried their Mig-25s or most were destroyed by allied forces. Syria may have a few that are operational, but it is doubtful. India retired their Mig-25Rs in 2005/2006. Bulgaria sent their three Mig-25Rs back to Russia in trade for four Mig-23MLDs, which are also now retired. Egypt never operated the Mig-25, those were Soviet aircraft painted in colors of convenience. Algeria may have retired their Mig-25s some time ago. The age of any outstanding Mig-25 airframes would be pretty old at this time. According to Mig-MAPO, production stopped in 1982, so the youngest Mig-25s would be 25 years old now. Old enough to drink and rent a car in the US...
Sovietjet From Bulgaria, joined Mar 2003, 2206 posts, RR: 14 Reply 11, posted (4 years 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 3402 times:
There are about 200-250 Mig-31 still flying, according to stuff I've read on the Russian forums. I'll try digging up some more accurate information if I can.
Quoting Ryan h (Reply 8): Are there any of the older MiG 25 Foxbats still in service?
There is a squadron of Mig-25R in Shatalovo and another squadron in Monchegorsk. Some Mig-25U might be scattered around Mig-31 units.
Quoting N74jw (Reply 10): Bulgaria sent their three Mig-25Rs back to Russia in trade for four Mig-23MLDs
Not to be picky , but we exchanged 2 Mig-25R and one Mig-25U for five, not four Mig-23MLD. One Mig-25 crashed during BgAF service. One of the three Mig-25s is still flying at Shatalovo.
N74JW From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (4 years 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 3388 times:
Quoting Sovietjet (Reply 11): There is a squadron of Mig-25R in Shatalovo and another squadron in Monchegorsk. Some Mig-25U might be scattered around Mig-31 units.
According Mig-MAPO all remaining Mig-25PDs & Mig-25RBs have been retired from service.
Sovietjet From Bulgaria, joined Mar 2003, 2206 posts, RR: 14 Reply 13, posted (4 years 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 3376 times:
It's possible they may have recently been retired, but I know for sure less than a year ago they were flying. I will double check on the Mig-25s. Here is a good photoshoot from Shatalovo from 2004.
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