- Sputnik International, 1920, 25.02.2022
Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine
On February 24, 2022 Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people's republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev's forces.

Why Russia's 'Mystical' MiG-31 Fighters Strike Fear Across Ukraine

© Sputnik / Vladimir Sergeev / Go to the mediabankMiG-31 Foxhound fighter-interceptors with the Kinzhal high-precision hypersonic aero-ballistic missiles
MiG-31 Foxhound fighter-interceptors with the Kinzhal high-precision hypersonic aero-ballistic missiles  - Sputnik International, 1920, 18.12.2023
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Whenever a Russian MiG-31 supersonic interceptor aircraft takes off from a Russian air base near Ukraine, it triggers panic among the Ukrainian military, according to the National Interest. So why is the Kiev regime stricken with dread when these warplanes take to the skies?
Equipped with cutting-edge radar and missile systems, the MiG-31 fighter jet (NATO reporting name: Foxhound) has proven to be highly efficient in conducting patrol missions during Moscow's ongoing special military operation.
Each time the MiG-31 takes off, it triggers an air raid alert across the entire Ukraine, unleashing significant disruption to the national economy, according to reports in the Ukrainian press. Media outlets have complained that Russia has been essentially shutting down a substantial portion of Ukraine's business sector by simply scrambling the MiG-31 and allowing it to fly around for a period of time.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on October 18 that MiG-31 fighters armed with Kinzhal hypersonic air-launched ballistic missiles would permanently patrol the neutral airspace over the Black Sea.
In response to Putin's remarks, Yuriy Ignat, spokesperson for Ukraine's air force, told the national media that during the aforementioned patrol missions by MiG-31 fighters armed with Kinzhal missile systems, an air raid alert would be declared throughout Ukraine. Ignat stated that Russian air power could attack Ukraine with Kinzhals from both the northern and eastern directions, and in the Black Sea.
Crews of Russian MiG-31 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces perform air patrol missions in the Kherson direction - Sputnik International, 1920, 30.11.2023
Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine
Watch Russian MiG-31 Jet Perform Air Patrol Mission in Kherson Direction
The crux of the matter here is the MiG-31 supersonic aircraft plays a crucial role in enabling the Kinzhal missile to achieve hypersonic speeds. The missile is launched from an altitude of approximately 20 km at a speed of at least 1,500 km/h. This initial acceleration allows the Kinzhal to reach a unique top speed of 8-10 times the speed of sound, making it highly lethal and nearly impossible to intercept. It also has a range of around 1,500-2,000 km.

But that is not all. The MiG-31 has maintained a "certain mystique in the West," given that some of its capabilities have sparked a slew of speculations, according to the National Interest. The "all-weather" MiG-31 jet fighter boasts state-of-the-art digital avionics and efficient low-bypass-ratio turbofan engines, "which allow an increase in combat range," as per the media outlet. Furthermore, with a maximum speed of 3,000 kilometers per hour, the MiG-31 is considered to be among the world's fastest combat jets.

Russian MiG-31 supersonic interceptor aircraft - Sputnik International, 1920, 26.10.2023
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Russian MiG-31 Fighter Escorts Norway's Poseidon Aircraft Over Barents Sea
The warplane's ability to operate at high altitudes has been well demonstrated. In a recent drill conducted in October, the MiG-31 successfully operated in the stratosphere over the Barents Sea. "The crew of a MiG-31 fighter from a separate composite aviation regiment of the Northern Fleet practiced elements of an aerial combat in the stratosphere," the Russian Defense Ministry announced. As part of the exercise, the said MiG-31 fighter jet ascended to an impressive altitude of over 11,000 meters to intercept and neutralize a simulated intruder.
In late November, the Russian Defense Ministry released a video showing the crews of a MiG-31 fighter jet belonging to the Russian Aerospace Force performing air patrol missions in the Kherson direction.
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