MiG-31BM
Long-range interceptor
Heavy, supersonic interceptor — the core platform for GCI-controlled interception across the vast Russian airspace and the Arctic. Enormous speed and altitude, a powerful Zaslon radar and the very-long-range R-37M missile make it a key threat to AWACS, tankers and bombers. Also carries the Kinzhal hypersonic missile.
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- Length × wingspan × height
- 22.62 × 13.46 × 6.46 m
- Max. take-off weight
- 46,200 kg
- Empty weight
- 21,820 kg
- Dimension source
- Wikipedia; WEG (ODIN)
General
- Role
- Interceptor / air superiority at distance
- Crew
- 2 (pilot + WSO)
- Max speed
- Mach 2.83 (≈ 3,000 km/h)
- Ceiling
- 67,600 ft
- Combat radius
- ≈ 389 NM (supersonic) / 783 NM
- Employment
- GCI-controlled, IADS gap filler
Armament
- Long range
- R-37M (≈ 162 NM)
- Medium
- R-33 / R-77
- Short range
- R-73
- Special
- Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (hypersonic)
- Gun
- GSh-6-23 23 mm
- Kinzhal — carriers vs. stockpile (2026)
- >40 MiG-31K/BM converted into Kinzhal carriers, against an estimated missile stockpile of only ≈50 Kinzhals, with series production halted since ~April 2026 (Ukrainian HUR/SZRU estimates, Aug–Sep 2026) — carrier capacity far exceeds available stock. Source: RU Mil Tracker e-20260823-08, e-20260909-08 (earlier ≈100 estimate: Defense Express / e-20260721-s01, July 2026)
Sensors
- Radar
- Zaslon-M PESA — up to 173 NM
- Targets
- 10 track / 6 simultaneous engage
- Datalink
- APD-518 — forms a 4-ship interception net
Threat
- Primary threat
- R-37M against high-value low-agility targets
- Countermeasure
- Stand-off, avoid predictable CAP orbits
- Threat level
- Very high — outranges most NATO AAMs
News archive 2
Analysed reports from the RU Mil Tracker about this system, newest first. Archive since 2026-07-17.
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Ukrainian intelligence: Kh-47M2 Kinzhal shares ~90% of its components with the Iskander-M's 9M723, and 58 Russian firms make it
On 12 October Ukraine's Defence Intelligence (HUR/DIU) published a breakdown of the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal and its production chain, including an interactive 3D model on its War&Sanctions portal, as reported by Militarnyi and Euromaidan Press. HUR gives the missile the Russian industrial designation 9-S-7760 and describes it as a single-stage, solid-fuel aeroballi…
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Why Does Russia Need More Than 40 MiG-31 Kinzhal Carriers if It Has Only About 100 Missiles?
According to an analysis by Defense Express (Ivan Kyrychevskiy, July 20, 2026), Russia now operates more than 40 MiG-31K/I aircraft converted to carry the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missile, while the stockpile of that weapon stands at only around 100 units, according to Ukraine's Defense Intelligence directorate (HUR). Production runs at roughly five missi…