Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-31 Foxhound

With a top speed approaching Mach 3 and equipped with both powerful sensors and air-to-air weaponry, the two-seater MiG-31 interceptor has proven to be one of the Cold War’s most formidable survivors – finally coming into its own during the Ukraine War. Development began in 1975 with a design based on that of the MiG-25 Foxbat and progressed to the point where, although it bore a superficial similarly to its forebear, it was largely a new aircraft. The MiG-31, NATO reporting name Foxhound, entered service in 1981 and more than 500 were built. Several dozen examples remain in service today with both the Russian and Kazakh air forces – and throughout 2022 and 2023 Foxhounds using R-37M long-range AAMs operated virtually unopposed against Ukrainian fighters, which lacked the speed, range, altitude and firepower to engage them. MiG-31s have also provided a valuable platform from which to launch Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles against Ukraine while remaining within Russian airspace.Author Sergio Santana details the aircraft’s early development, its long operational history and its most recent operations in this all-new look at one of the world’s deadliest combat aircraft.