Can Russia regain it's Military Might?

[swerve]

[Moderator mode]

Please, can we drop all the "mine is bigger than yours" stuff, & the WW2 arguments, & get back on topic?

PJI

 

[rjmaz1]

Mig-25 flying speeds arent higher than those of MIG-31 ... on tests MIG-31 has passed MACH 3. Its maximum allowed is Mach 2.83 same as MIG-25. Beside to catch MIG-25 planing had to be done because F-15/16 had no chance against him on its own. MIG-25 could cruise on Mach 1.8.

I've done a bit of research regarding the top speeds of aircraft and their value in combat. Originally i did this because people said the F-35 is slow and that Su-30 has a kinetic advantage.

What i found was the top speeds are never reached in combat. The majority of the time supersonic jets fly at subsonic even the supercruising raptor transits at subsonic speeds. If you want to compare speed of an aircraft you should not only compare the top speeds of an aircraft but their top speed at maximum dry thrust. Speed with dry thrust is the most important as it will determine the speed the aircraft is traveling before the engagement.

The Mig-25 and/or Mig-31 have been engaged before by F-15's before. When detected they were almost always traveling below mach 2. Most reports provided were around 800 knots, which is quite slow. When detected by the Eagles they always turned around, but their turning circle at that speed was quite large. Meanwhile the Eagles had dropped their tanks were accelerating. So by the time the Mig-31's had turned around the Eagles had closed in and had reached the same speed as the Mig-31's.

Then Mig-31's then accelerated away. The F-15 Eagles on more than one occasion has launched AIM-7 sparrow missiles. All of which ran out of fuel. Though in a 40 mile Mach 2 tailchase that is to be expected.

The speed of an aircraft at 100% military power is just as important as the dash speed with afterburners. Its unrealistic to travel at an aircrafts top speed if it cannot sustain it over long distances. 100% military power is usually where the aircraft provides the longest range. A good comparison in speeds would be to take the maximum speed and cruising speed both with a air to air weapons load and calculate the speed half way. This will give you an indication of the top speed the aircraft will travel on average during combat.

F-22 top speed: Mach 2
F-22 military power: Mach 1.6
Combat speed: Mach 1.8

F-15 top speed: Mach 2
F-15 military power: Mach 0.9
Combat speed: Mach 1.45

Mig-31 top speed: Mach 2.35
Mig-31 military: power Mach 1
Combat speed: Mach 1.675

Eurofighter top speed: Mach 1.8
Eurofighter military power: Mach 1.2
Combat Speed: Mach 1.5

F-35 top speed: Mach 1.6
F-35 military power: Mach 1
Combat speed Mach 1.3

These numbers are only estimates. It would be great if I could find the afterburner/dry thrust speeds limits with a basic air to air load.

Looking at my numbers though, The F-22 should be able to chase down the Mig-31 with higher acceleration, initial combat speed and range at speed. The F-35's slow-ish top speed in combat it should be nearly as quick as the fast F-15. Having internal weapons and a big fuel capacity helps.

Wll if a modern missile is flying at Mach 4 and MIG-31 at MACH 3 its only MACH 1 difference meaning in atitude missile will not last long before hiting balistic trajectory.

Again a Mig-31 will always cruise below mach 2. It will have to accelerate to above Mach 2 and will take some time. A missile on the other hand only takes a few seconds to reach Mach 4.

Of course the no escape zone would be much smaller against a target flying at Mach 2. So the survivability of the Mig-31 is improved. You could have to get closer before shooting the missile.

The F-22 from 100 miles away will be able to send the target information to an aircraft 50 miles away from the Mig-31. The close in F-22 then shoots off the missile. As the Mig-31 has not detected a threat it will not begin to turn or accelerate out of the AMRAAMs no escape zone. Once the AMRAAM goes active the Mig-31 will not have enough time to react.

MIG-31 armed with missiles and use of afterburners flys 1500 km at MACH 2.35

How does the Mig-31 take off at Mach 2.35?

Or did you mean it takes off and after 10 minutes it finally reachs Mach 2.35?

Your statement is incorrect and misleading. The Mig-31 may travel 1500kms, but it will only travel above Mach 2 for half of that distance.

1500kms at Mach 2.35 is pretty pathetic really. The F-22 can travel twice that distance but at a slightly slower Mach 1.6. So the F-22 will just keep chasing until the Mig-31 runs out of fuel and then proceed to shoot it down or let it crash.

 

[Preceptor]

Due to repeated incidents on this thread of platform comparisons and general "size-measuring" claims, despite comments and requests from members and Mods to keep this thread on topic, this thread will be closed for 3 days to allow a cooling off period. Once the thread is re-opened, then people can resume discussing Russia and what it can/would need to do, to rebuild the military.

-Preceptor