Number 7: Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxbat
With a top speed of mach 2.83, the next aircraft on our list is the Mikoyan Gurevich-31 Foxhound (also this one was once available for tourist flights!). Due to its enormous twin-engine with a thrust of 2*152kN it was able to fly at supersonic speeds at both high- and low altitudes. It is a Soviet Interceptor built to take out enemy aircraft and has great capabilities to do so using a combination of active and passive radars. Four Foxhounds can together control a front of 900 kilometers in length. The weapons that it has to its disposal are:
- One 23 millimeter gun with 260 rounds.
- Under fuselage:
- 4x R-33 Air-to-Air (heavy) or 6x R-37 Air-to-Air missiles.
- On pylons:
- Long or medium range missiles, short range IR missiles or a special medium-range Air-to-Air missile for high speed targets.
The production ended in 1994 but is unknown exactly how many MiG-31 that were built but between 400-500 is said to be a qualified guess. The MiG-31 is still today in service with the Russian and Kazakhstan Air Forces. The MiG-31 is a derivative of the MiG-25 which can be read about further down (place 4)
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