Aircraft & UAVs

MiG-31

Also known as
  • MiG-31 Foxhound
  • Foxhound

The MiG-31 is a Soviet-designed, twin-engine, two-seat long-range interceptor built for high-speed patrols, bomber and cruise-missile interception, and wide-area air defense. Russian industry sources describe the MiG-31BM modernization as adding the Zaslon-M radar and expanded weapons-control capabilities, while Russia's MiG-31K conversion carries the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal and MiG-31BM patrols have been documented with R-37M missiles in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.

MiG-31, Long-range interceptor with MiG-31K air-launched ballistic missile carrier variant, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: MiG-31 exercises May 2017 (8).jpg

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Soviet Union / Russia
Type
Long-range interceptor with MiG-31K air-launched ballistic missile carrier variant
Service note
Cold War Soviet interceptor design modernized for Russian service and adapted for Kinzhal strike carriage.
Designer
Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau
Designed
1970s; first flight in 1975
Produced
Produced until 1994, with later Russian modernization and conversion work.
Number built
More than 500 aircraft

Specifications

Crew
2: pilot and navigator/weapons operator
Powerplant
Two Soloviev D-30F6 afterburning turbofan engines
Maximum speed
About 3,000 km/h at altitude
Operating altitude
Up to about 21,000 m
Dimensions
About 22.7 m long with a 13.5 m wingspan
Airframe materials
Nickel steel, light alloy, and titanium structure reported by ODIN
Modernized radar
MiG-31BM Zaslon-M radar reportedly detects air targets up to 320 km and engages up to 280 km
Typical armament
Long-range air-to-air missiles; MiG-31K variant carries one Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missile
Variants

Open sources separate the family into interceptor variants such as MiG-31B and MiG-31BM and the MiG-31K strike-carrier conversion used with Kinzhal.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
MiG-31BLate-Soviet interceptor variant

Airforce Technology lists MiG-31B among MiG-31 production variants in the interceptor family.

Sources: MiG-31 Foxhound Interceptor Aircraft

MiG-31BMModernized long-range interceptor

Rostec describes MiG-31BM modernization around the Zaslon-M radar and expanded weapons-control capability; RUSI documents MiG-31BM patrols with R-37M missiles in Ukraine.

Sources: Rostec: MiG-31BM High-Flying Bird, RUSI: Russian Air War and Ukrainian Requirements for Air Defence

MiG-31KKinzhal carrier conversion

CSIS and IISS identify the MiG-31K/Foxhound-D as the Kinzhal launch aircraft used for Russia-Ukraine War strike reporting.

Sources: Kh-47M2 Kinzhal, Russia's War in Ukraine: Ballistic and Cruise Missile Trajectories

Carried Strike Munition

The MiG-31K conversion gives the interceptor family a distinct long-range strike role by carrying the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
Kh-47M2 Kinzhal, Air-launched aeroballistic missile, MunitionsKh-47M2 KinzhalAir-launched ballistic missile

CSIS lists Kinzhal as based on a modified MiG-31 fighter, and IISS describes Russia's Ukraine-war Kinzhal launches from MiG-31K Foxhound-D aircraft.

Sources: Kh-47M2 Kinzhal, Russia's War in Ukraine: Ballistic and Cruise Missile Trajectories

Long-Range Air-To-Air Missiles

The modernized MiG-31BM keeps the family tied to very-long-range air-defense patrols as well as the MiG-31K strike-carrier role.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
Vympel R-37M / RVV-BD, Very-long-range air-to-air missile, MunitionsVympel R-37M / RVV-BDVery-long-range air-to-air missile

RUSI reported Russian MiG-31BM combat air patrols using R-37M missiles against Ukrainian aircraft during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.

Sources: RUSI: Russian Air War and Ukrainian Requirements for Air Defence

Role Split By Variant

The same airframe family appears on the page in two different wartime roles: MiG-31BM as a long-range air-defense patrol aircraft, and MiG-31K as a strike carrier for Kinzhal.

ConfigurationPrimary role shown hereSource-backed distinction
MiG-31BLate-Soviet interceptor variantListed among the MiG-31 production variants in Airforce Technology's interceptor overview.
MiG-31BMModernized long-range interceptorRostec describes the BM modernization around improved radar and weapons control; RUSI documents BM patrols with R-37M missiles in Ukraine.
MiG-31KKinzhal launch aircraftCSIS and IISS identify the MiG-31K/Foxhound-D as the Kinzhal carrier used in Russia-Ukraine War strike reporting.

Sources: MiG-31 Foxhound Interceptor Aircraft; Rostec: MiG-31BM High-Flying Bird; RUSI: Russian Air War and Ukrainian Requirements for Air Defence; Kh-47M2 Kinzhal; Russia's War in Ukraine: Ballistic and Cruise Missile Trajectories.

Timeline

MiG-31 Key Events

  1. First flight

    Rostec's MiG-31BM history places the MiG-31's first flight in 1975 as the Soviet Union developed a long-range interceptor for all-weather, all-altitude air defense.

    Sources: Rostec: MiG-31BM High-Flying Bird

  2. Accepted into service

    The MiG-31 was accepted into Soviet service in 1981, with Rostec describing its main operating area as the long Arctic air-defense zone.

    Sources: Rostec: MiG-31BM High-Flying Bird

  3. Production ends after more than 500 aircraft

    Rostec states that MiG-31 production continued until 1994 and that more than 500 aircraft were produced.

    Sources: Rostec: MiG-31BM High-Flying Bird

  4. Kinzhal use reported in Ukraine

    IISS identified Russia's first reported Ukraine-war Kinzhal use on 18 March 2022 and described the missile as launched from MiG-31K Foxhound-D aircraft.

    Sources: Russia's War in Ukraine: Ballistic and Cruise Missile Trajectories

  5. MiG-31BM patrols pressure Ukrainian aviation

    RUSI reported that Russian combat air patrols pairing Su-35S and MiG-31BM fighters made the R-37M missile a persistent threat to Ukrainian aircraft in October 2022.

    Sources: RUSI: Russian Air War and Ukrainian Requirements for Air Defence

  6. Ukraine reports Patriot intercept of a MiG-31K-launched Kinzhal

    AP reported Ukraine's statement that a Patriot battery shot down a Kh-47 missile launched by a Russian MiG-31K from Russian territory.

    Sources: AP: Ukraine downs Russian hypersonic missile with US Patriot

  7. Modernized aircraft delivered

    United Aircraft Corporation reported delivery of repaired and modernized MiG-31 aircraft to Russia's Ministry of Defence after ground and flight tests.

    Sources: UAC: MiG-31 aircraft delivered under state defense order

Media

MiG-31 Images

MiG-31, Long-range interceptor with MiG-31K air-launched ballistic missile carrier variant, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: MiG-31 Foxhound.jpg
MiG-31, Long-range interceptor with MiG-31K air-launched ballistic missile carrier variant, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2
Source: MiG-31K RF-92462 Army-2022.jpg
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Sources

MiG-31 FoxhoundPublisher: U.S. Army ODIN Worldwide Equipment Guide | Note: Supports general MiG-31 background, airframe materials, propulsion, and performance details. | Accessed: 2026-06-30MiG-31 Foxhound Interceptor AircraftPublisher: Airforce Technology | Note: Supports manufacturer attribution, production context, dimensions, operators, and armament overview. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Rostec: MiG-31BM High-Flying BirdPublisher: Rostec | Note: Supports MiG-31 development history, first flight, 1981 service entry, production ending in 1994, more than 500 aircraft built, MiG-31BM radar modernization, and MiG-31K Kinzhal carriage. | Accessed: 2026-06-30UAC: MiG-31 aircraft delivered under state defense orderPublisher: United Aircraft Corporation | Note: Supports ongoing Russian repair and modernization deliveries of MiG-31 aircraft to the Russian Ministry of Defence in 2024. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Kh-47M2 KinzhalPublisher: CSIS Missile Threat | Note: Supports the MiG-31K role as a modified MiG-31 carrier for the Kinzhal missile. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Day 659: Russia steps up missile attacks at UkrainePublisher: Ukraine Crisis Media Center | Note: Documents Russian MiG-31K sorties and Kinzhal missile launches during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Russia's War in Ukraine: Ballistic and Cruise Missile TrajectoriesPublisher: International Institute for Strategic Studies | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War context for Kinzhal employment from MiG-31K aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-06-30RUSI: Russian Air War and Ukrainian Requirements for Air DefencePublisher: Royal United Services Institute | Note: Direct 2014 Russia-Ukraine War source for Russian combat air patrols using MiG-31BM fighters and R-37M missiles against Ukrainian aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-06-30AP: Ukraine downs Russian hypersonic missile with US PatriotPublisher: Associated Press | Note: Direct 2014 Russia-Ukraine War source for Ukraine's statement that a Kh-47 missile launched by a Russian MiG-31K was intercepted by Patriot. | Accessed: 2026-06-30MiG-31 exercises May 2017 (8).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing source; the file is attributed to Mil.ru and licensed under CC BY 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-30MiG-31 Foxhound.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Gallery image provenance; Wikimedia Commons lists the file as public domain in the United States as a U.S. military work. | Accessed: 2026-06-30MiG-31K RF-92462 Army-2022.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Gallery image provenance and CC BY-SA 3.0 licensing for a Russian Air Force MiG-31K displayed at Army-2022. | Accessed: 2026-06-30