Can the Mig-31 launch missiles at those high speeds?
Yes it can.
Remember Russians where the first to use low drag bombs to perform bombing at Mach 2.35 at 25 000m atitude with its MIG-25RB
And are the missiles you mentioned with those 300k ranges even in production yet?
Yes they are production. R-33S (R-33 is even in reserves as has being writen off) R-37M is in air-to-air missile production and K-100-S1 400km range based on S-300V missile 8M83 is being entered in production.
Viktor this modernization seems ongoing and not a finished product?
40 of MIG-31B has being modernized to MIG-31BM standard while development of most modern M2 modernization has being finished last year and all of them will be modernized as they will make most potent interceptor and BVR fighter in RUAF.
Not to bash the Mig-31 but is there funding for this?
210 Bin has being aproved for modernization program by 2015 so figure for yourself.
It's a huge heavy aircraft built on a 30year old design that can be seen on radar from very far distances . Sure it can fly fast and straight but in modern combat this aircraft is dated. Its difficult for missiles to hit a fighter size aircraft from 100 miles away doesn't seem odd that Russia would state such long ranges?
Do you know what amount of effort and planing was needed to even try to succesfully intercept MIG-25. No matter its adge this 50% fighter build from titanium is still untachable for todays BVR missiles... coss no one can catch him except fired at him from very close randge and none of thodays fighter except raptor has chanche to get him so close. In first gulf war 10 AIM-54 fired at MIG-25 failed to catchim and Israelis where forced to make aircraft traps to lure MIG-25 for a kill. Painstacking job.
Im telling you that fighter is second most capable BVR fighter in the world.
Russia would be better served by standardization huge Flankers fleets for this purpose it would save on training, equipment, parts, weapons, kind of the way the US uses there F-16, I realize a Mig-31 and a Viper aren't in the same class I'm just using it as an example. By using Flankers even different models would allow Russia Air Force to get better because a more standard level of training could be used across the board.
Russia being the biggest country in the world has hudge radar gaps witch only MIG-31 can cover and that was its only design purpose.
Russia only puts these wonder engines in old Mig-31s, it doesn't seem right to me. Wouldn't Russia use some of the this "high tech" on modern Flankers if some of the numbers you quoted real?
Flankers are made from different design specifications ... I suggest you compare fuell load and engine dimensions from MIG-31 to those of Su-27 and you will get right perspective.
Wouldn't have China requested these wonder Mig-31s to go far out and strike US carries or build some of the tech into there Flankers for the same purpose?
For long time MIG-31 had no ground or naval atack capability only with the introduction of MIG-31F and MIG-31BM variants where those avaible.
More to it Russia would only sold to China MIG-31E (export) variant witch is so mutch less capable than even basic MIG-31B that it is an insult to even consider it as a buy... thats why Flankers where bought.
It would serve Russia better building tech like this into a modern air frame like the Su-34 type and not 30 year old aviation fuel haulers that can only fly fast and straight.
MIG-31 will be retired once PAK-FA starts entering service in numbers as for now nothing can replace them. They have no price.
Comparing interceptor to a tactical bomber ... I dont follow your logic.
High end Flankers have powerful radar's and can carry what 10, 11, or maybe 12 missiles seems like a perfect interceptor to me and can fight and turn if they have too.
Flankers can carry only R-77 BVR missiles. MIG-31 can R-37M, R-33S, R-77 and in a while K-100-S1 so figure it for yourself.
Yust remember even basic MIG-31 can spend as mutch time on Mach 3 as Flanker can be on its afterburners .... not to mention its cruising speed , atitude etc etc ...You can basicly fly at Mach 2.35 at 25 000m and rain down 300km missiles from above and make a safe run....
I think it's old thinking and Russia could do better then maintaining a few regiments of Mig-31s. It's like a big huge boxer throwing a punch I'm going to move out of the way and hit back 99% of the time unless I'm a old B-52
Why stick it to B-52.. thise monsters are perfectly able to intercept SR-71 and as well as B-1 and B-2 guided by theirs EW radars.
