MiG-31 - Secrets of the Supersonic Assassin

[@miketeeveedub5779]

Impressive aircraft, regardless of all the hate in the comments. This airframe is still with us design-wise for 60 years, and with updates can serve for many years to come. There aren't many, if any, active aircraft with the same flight envelope of this monster. Thanks for the in-depth video. Salute!

[@halliwedge]

The "Hate" is just people fact checking this obvious Propaganda Parrot. Case and point: "Hijacked" Mig-25...The man Defected, how do you Hijack a 1 man aircraft? Vatnik cope.

[@Jaatsoldier]

Most people criticising this plane have forgotten the need for a mig 25 in high altitude interception such as shooting that Chinese spy baloon over US that took 4-5 days to shoot down.

[@viruspter1dactl]

@@Jaatsoldier that was because of the political implications of destroying a super powers property. not because our jets couldnt do it.

[@Yautah]

The fact that is still in service is not necessarily a testament to its capacity, it might rather be a testament to the state of the russian aviation. There's plenty of obselete stuff still flying, doesn't mean its good.

[@Jaatsoldier]

@@viruspter1dactl I'm not sure about US politics but the balloon was at over 60,000 ft. F22 has a ceiling of upto 50, 000-55000 ft and even that is difficult to achieve. Later when balloon lowered down a bit, F22 released missile that climbed the rest of the ceiling. So even that was difficult for the plane.

[@perfectcell1157]

Sheer fucking power is what this plane is about, and I absolutely love it

[@vinishshetty8055]

It is not a jet plane, Its two monster engines with a cockpit.

[@justforever96]

AKA a jet plane.

[@ismamanam8340]

typical bindian ahh comment

[@TMHYAH7]

A pilot strapped to 2 massive engines

[@Эндрю-ш8ю]

​@@TMHYAH7и ракета «Кинжал».😂. Удачи

[@krzysztofwaleska]

Not true. Two massive engins and a lot of space for fuel. The rest is just unimportant additions :) It is just like space rocket.

[@pyronuke4768]

And to think for years I thought this Foxhound was just a slightly moderized Foxbat. How wrong I was! It blows my mind that the Soviets had a phased array radar fitted to a fighter before the Americans did.

[@RustedCroaker]

And a digital data link.

[@jop4691]

But, but... I thought the Russians and Chinese copied everything from America. How is this possible?

[@johnweerasinghe4139]

They had the data link concept in their ww2 planes. The important lesson is that the West, just like the Nazis never credit soviet Russian technical accomplishments but will adapt them. The net result is that there is an ignorance of Russian technical capability that lasts to this day. Ukraine is revealing some of this Russian technical capability.

[@pyronuke4768]

@@johnweerasinghe4139 how does that work with 1940's technology?

[@johnweerasinghe4139]

@pyronuke4768 I read years ago that the Soviets were already developing communication between the ground, and the squadron leader coordinated target info through data links. Obviously, through radio. I tried to imagine how that would have worked, but I remembered that in the early 30s, the Soviets were experimenting with remotely controlled tanks using radio waves. They abandoned it because they concluded the technology wasn't practical. The Soviets were more advanced than we give them credit partly because they were secretive. 10 years before the US, they had phased array radar. They can shut down a communication system as the Donald Cook experienced, and our glide bombs and Hi Mars in Ukraine are useless because the Russians can bend the GPS signals.....

[@stianby]

There is no other airplane that can take off from sea level and intercept a blackbird. With a top speed closing on 4000 km/h. Impressive

[@coreyandnathanielchartier3749]

If they could have intercepted the SR-71, they would have. Lay off the vodka.....

[@evulclown]

@@coreyandnathanielchartier3749 Vatnik fantasies, as usual. If they had to wake up from their plethora of lies within their delusional dream world then they would need to accept and live in reality... Which is far too depressing in Russia.

[@thanksskeletor4812]

@@coreyandnathanielchartier3749you are delusional.

[@billynomates920]

but plenty of planes that can take off from land and ingest a seagull (i'll get me coat...)

[@bogdanscripcariu6501]

@@coreyandnathanielchartier3749 😂😂 Cope with that, western bot! 😅

[@thegreyhound1073]

The best interceptor ever built. You can be as stealthy as you want, but you can't shoot what you can't catch.

[@coreyandnathanielchartier3749]

Mach 3 doesn't do much good against a Mach 4 missile, although it is quite effective against unarmed passenger jets.

[@justforever96]

​@@coreyandnathanielchartier3749it's better than a Mach 1 plane trying to catch a Mach 4 missile. You think they do interceptions by chasing down the target from the rear or something? It's about _intercepting_ them, and the faster you can get to the same area as the target, the better. Then your missiles can hit the Mach 4 target. And most missiles don't do Mach 4. None of the cruise missiles are even supersonic. What, in your world unless an aircraft can deal with every single possible threat there is literally no point in making it? "But can it stop a ballistic missile? No, oh well, what's the point then. Let's just cancel the whole thing". What fighter do you recommend that has a better chance of stopping a Mach 4 missile?

[@divoulos5758]

​@@coreyandnathanielchartier3749from the range and altitude this thing fires from no missile will go mach 4. Missiles lose speed after long distances

[@PyromaN93]

​@@justforever96well, many of AA missiles do reach mach 4, some even close to mach 5, I guess... but for short time

[@milosmilictrob2046]

@@coreyandnathanielchartier3749 Yes, but, mach 4 is achieved only for a short duration of the flight, by the time those missiles reach where their target was, it will for sure run out of energy and they wouldnt catch something like MiG-31.

[@JohnDorian-j7x]

Very good and unbiased video. I'm glad you didn't do the trope of trying to compare and one up the capabilities of the MiG-31 over other, specifically, more western air systems/counterparts, even though you thoughtfully brought up differences in use/thought/paradigm changes across eras of fighter air craft design where relevant. Talking about its negatives of the air craft throughout the video without criticizing other aircraft immediately afterwards only adds to your credibility. Great video.

[@halliwedge]

cap. this is riddled with lies and bias.

[@justforever96]

Yes, I like how he treats the aircraft with respect in all cases, like he loves them all. Kind of how I feel about them.

[@justforever96]

​@@halliwedge"it's taking about a Russian asset and isn't completely bashing it and saying why it's the most terrible plane ever, therefore it's biased and full of lies". Right.

[@JohnDorian-j7x]

@@halliwedge List the top 3 lies and biases then. Enlighten us.

[@thanksskeletor4812]

@@halliwedgeoh no Ukraine is losing :( very sad :(

[@aftastosk6016]

One of my favourite planes. Very exciting

[@darkknight1340]

What an incredible aircraft,and still more than capable of outrunning and catching any adversary in today's skies.

[@DirkLarien]

OMG the 21 looks like a toy next to it :-) What a beast. Thank you, peaceful skies to you.

[@hangonsnoop]

Thank you so much for listening to our requests for a MIG-31 video. What an amazing aircraft!

[@aviator77migsukhoi34]

Hi to author and others ! I must correct some data about former PESA radar N007/A Zaslon/A ( in MiG-31 basic version and MiG-31DZ ,then in MiG-31B and BS) and today operational version N007AM Zaslon-AM in MiG-31BM . In fact ,max detection /tracking range in combat mode PPS ( front hemisphere) as High PRF mode was and is today 600kms. PRF ( Pulse Repetition Frequency ) in HPRF mode is 200kHz. In Medium PRF mode ( combat mode ZPS or rear hemisphere) ,max detect/track range is 200kms with PRF of 50kHz. Max detect/track range in combat mode AVT ( automatic) with combination of HPRF and MPRF modes is 400kms. It is interesting that N0007 Zaslon had four times greater detect/track ranges in all three main combat modes then radars N001 Myech in Su-27 and N019 Rubin in MiG-29 ( 600kms in PPS vs 150kms, 400kms in AVT vs 100kms and 200kms in ZPS vs 50 kms ). N007 was X band PESA with working frequency range 9-9.5GHz. It has flat sloted reflector of antenna with diameter of 1.1m . Thanks to Argon-15A comp, N007 could automaticaly track 10 aircraft and with four R-33, MiG-31 could engage 4 differ. targets. Main TWT had average power in HPRF mode of 2.5kW's ( for N001 and N019 it was only 1kW) and max output pulse power in HPRF mode was 10kW's. AAM type R-33 has INS+SARH guidance but R-33S has INS+ARH/SARH guidance just like new R-37M. E.g. in 1985 there was one exercise held in North Pole region where one strategic missile carrier Tu-95MS6 acted as USAF strategic bomber/missile carrier B-52H. Crew of one patrol group of MiG-31 had task to detect him a.s.a.p. Tu-95MS6 flew at abotu 10.000m with 0.85 Mach and four-plane patrol group of MiG-31 flew in supersonic cruise mode with 2.35 Mach at more then 20 kms. They detected and track him at almost 600 kms in PPS combat mode and one of them got ''PR'' launch command for R-33 at about 300kms of distance! In 1993 on one exercise ,that heavy long range hypersonic AAM type R-33 was launched toward the target from a distance about 230kms. MiG-31M was only in prototype stage and never become serial or operational. It had completely new PESA radar N007M Zaslon-M with diameter of antenna of 1.4m . New 600kgs heavy very long range hypersonic AAM type K-37 was only test,not serial or operational. That's why its designation remained K-37 and not R-37. On April 1994, one prototype of MiG-31M ( 057 blue) , achieved record- breaking launch distance with one of six lunched K-37. It was 304kms. MiG-31BM has N007AM Zaslon-AM which is in fact C-band PESA . C-band is used for long range radar searching and what is very interesting for comm between air assets and Orbital assets ( in Russian for comm Bort-Orbita, Orbita-Bort).N007AM has 30% greater detection /tracking ranges in comparison with older N007A from the beggining of 1990's. As C-band radar it has f=6GHz and λ=6 cm. MiG-31BM can carry only AAM ,not A2G weapons. On underfuselage catapult launcher type AKU-410-1 it can carry older R-33/S and newer R-37M . MiG-31BM can launch R-37M even from a distance more then 400kms. Thanks to new Baget -53-06 comp, N007AM can automaticaly track 24 aircraft and MiG-31BM can engage 8 differ targets with 4 R-33/S or R-37M and 4 R-77-1, R-74 . MiG-31BM holds two combat 'launch distance' records in SMO. In Oct 2022 one UkrAF tact recce aircraft Su-24MR was engaged with R-37M from 217 kms and was hit and shot down. On Dec 2023,one Ukr AF fighter MiG-29 was engaged with R-37M from 125kms ,was hit and shot down. Here we can find data and info about new R-37M ( Product 610M ) .... kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIqypmZupK-NZ8U MiG-31BM can also carry new R-77-1 ... kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2m3ooSKZtGcjbM and of course new R-74 ( L/ML ). kzbin.info/www/bejne/l33YYp-OjtOsb9U

[@Siuuuuuuuu507]

Longest comment I have ever seen lol.

[@aviator77migsukhoi34]

@TT1ak Hi! Reason is simple for that. I am military radar and weapons specialist( officer) and I know Russian but I am not from Russia. I had to learn Russian when I was in Aeronautical Technical Military Academy . That is the reason why my comments are so long and with so many tehnical and tactical data/info.Many authors on YT are just ordinary civilians who don't know details I know. So my task is to correct them wherever and whenever I can and to present readers real info. All the best ....

[@aviator77migsukhoi34]

@@Siuuuuuuuu507 Hehe ,I tried so hard. All the best !

[@Эндрю-ш8ю]

А ещё есть модификация МиГ-31К, несущий гиперзвуковые ракеты «земля-воздух» «Кинжал».

[@jukkatakamaa7274]

@@Эндрю-ш8ю .....those are used to obliterate children hospitals.

[@richardpatton2502]

Powerful radar Long range missiles High speed to cut the range of enemy missiles Still a very serious weapon All the best to everyone

[@АлександрТарнавский-ы3н]

That's right, the most effective attacks on those shot down in the 21st century at the moment are flying MIG-31BM and SU-35S aircraft. One of the MIG-31BM crews, in terms of performance, has already broken Nikolai Sutyagin's record of the best ace of the Korean War, 22 downed.

[@evilleader1991]

Ukrainians tremble when they know a Mig-31 is airborne :P

[@kariukikiragu]

Thank you... MIG 31 is really persistent in self-renewal in serendipity

[@toomanyhobbies400]

Best Mig-31 documentary on YT. Thank you!

[@RapideWombaticus]

Regardless of its abilities, its undeniably still an awesome shaped airframe. Great video mate

[@sovietjacksion6928]

The " no tail " or ( delta ) design look SICK !!!!!❤

[@JPR3D]

It's interesting how technology develops and causes doctrine to take sudden sharp turns that almost overnight make it obsolete. First it was all about getting up high to out-range ground guns. Then missiles made that no good, so it was about going faster to outrun them. Then radar and satellites got better, so speed didn't matter so much any more and planes slowed down. Then you had to fly low and fast to avoid radar. And then technology evolved that you could jam the radar, removing the need to fly low and fast.

[@alexv3357]

Then came low-observable aircraft, dramatically reducing the effectiveness of radar. And then FLIR and IRST sensors improved rapidly, somewhat offsetting the effectiveness of stealth, although not enough yet to change the game. And so on and so forth. The engineering arms race never ceases.

[@TheNicestPig]

Speed and altitude is still extremely important, just not as. Speed and altitude improves missiles kinematics, it doesn't matter if your fat pigeon can barely fly mach 1.4 to throw a missile at him that when he can fly mach 2.5 at twice the alt and get double the range of his missile.

[@justforever96]

I don't think anyone has removed the need to fly low and fast yet. It depends on the target and how much budget you have to spend on suppression and countermeasures support. Not everyone can do the US approach of sending in 25 aircraft to support a handful of attacking planes. And the lethality of modern MANPADS makes low flying less than it used to be.

[@robwernet9609]

Now they have missiles that can "home-on-jam" so jamming isn't even reliable anymore 😂

[@alexv3357]

@@robwernet9609 There are also a wide variety of both towed and disposable decoys, so just going after an emissions source often isn't enough. Every measure has a countermeasure.

[@TurboFEM]

With current technology, a hypothetical new engine for MiG-31 would easily achieve 2x better thrust to weight ratio. So keeping the size of engines similar (~2.4 tons x 2), the aircraft could go from 30 to 60 tons of thrust, while improving the cruise SFC by another 20-30%. That would be an insane machine.

[@lorenmax2.013]

Petition to bring back the cold war now lol

[@AKAtheA]

doubt that big of an improvement...given the speed, you quickly run into the problem of how do you keep the compressor from melting

[@true_xander]

​@@lorenmax2.013its already there 😢

[@PerryHunter]

Right before the wings come off.

[@true_xander]

@@PerryHunter of course wings must be done with modern materials too. I am more fascinated with the idea of sub-orbital jump using disposable solid fuel booster. Could be very handy for shooting down satellites (say, denying specific orbits with shrapnel charges)

[@kjvail]

I’m old enough to remember when the MiG 31 was Firefox. Stealth and Thought controlled weapons lol.

[@GJones462-2W1]

Cool movie. Weird-ass jet, but cool. Was disappointed that I had to wait until the last 15 min of the movie to see any flying scenes...

[@imrekalman9044]

But only if you could think in Russian. 😁

[@GJones462-2W1]

@@imrekalman9044 I'll just have my google translate app do it for me!

[@billynomates920]

@@imrekalman9044 rear turn clyde

[@lore.29]

Wonderful video! This long format video is one of my favourites on all yt!

[@Rusich945]

MIG 41 hypersonic interceptor including ballistic missile warheads.

[@mirandela777]

MIG 25 could reach up to Mach 3,2 (3,3) : one was recorded over Israel at over 4000km/h back on time, but at the risk of burning its engines. MiG-25 is the world's first serial fighter to have reached the speed of 3000 km / h. In 1977, test pilot Alexander Fedotov achieved an absolute world altitude record of 37,650 meters on MiG-25, and other 29 world records have been registered with this aircraft. Today, are almost 10 world records still standing for this aircraft, and while a bit slower than SR71, it could dance circles around ST71 ( SR 71 was forced to drop to subsonic speed in order to make an 180º turn, because how fragile was its airframe - as an example, the SR71 couldn't stand even G forces an airliner can endure...

[@yuriistetsenko5948]

4000 km/h is from the realm of urban legends. There is not a single reliable documentary confirmation. As for the altitude of 37 kilometers, it must be understood that this altitude was reached in a "jump" (any fighter could repeat such a trick with the appropriate modernization). Don't distort the facts.

[@coreyandnathanielchartier3749]

No serial production fighter jet has ever reached 4000Km/hr. Not even on utube. Most of your data for the handling and g-limits on the Blackbird are flawed and incomplete. You don't just slow down to subsonic speed at 80,000 feet and turn......

[@mirandela777]

@@yuriistetsenko5948 - your ignorance is abysmal, do you live in a cave, dude ??

[@CareraDrift]

Another great video , you visting the museum was the best part

[@baronmonkerson2195]

What an excellent breakdown of the Mig 31! The newer Mig 31BM variant is a very lethal and efficient machine. The avionics upgrades and newer radar make it pretty formidable and it could network with other Mig 31s and share data.

[@dbblues.9168]

I grew up in 80s America. As a Cold War kid, I've always loved soviet jets. They always went big and powerful. The "Foxbat" especially just exuded power.

[@air-headedaviator1805]

Bro is dubbing over himself. Ingenuity

[@justforever96]

I mean what else is he going to do? Totally remake the video twice so he's actually speaking English in his English versions and Russian in his Russian versions? This is perfectly fine for me. I'm not here to see his face, I come to listen and see the planes. He would have to shoot two separate takes for every scene he is in, one in each language. Screw that.

[@MichaelHatfield-j2z]

I love the hands on work in this video it awesome to see it in real life(relatively)

[@frankgaleon5124]

Ok, from the beginning of the E-155 project the MiG-25 was a demo-version of the MiG-31.

[@SkyshipsEng]

In fact, this can be true

[@janusz4156]

Star of Ace Combat series. 50 years of MiG-31 "Foxhound" in 2025.

[@epicmickey2351]

No it’s not the star of the Ace Combat Series….

[@NotOzy]

I’m pretty sure it’s the F-22 it’s featured on the AC7 game cover and in canon the plane trigger flies, on the AC4 game cover, on ACX game cover, on AC Assault horizon game cover, AC infinity game cover, AC Joint Assault game cover, AC Assault Horizon legacy game cover and on the AC1 game cover.

[@tenzinalexander]

I remember when I wanted to be a pilot I found the Migs to be so exotic and loved the story behind the Mig 25 ( this was back before the west knew about the Foxhound). It would have been even cooler if the story was just like the movie Firefox.

[@whyamisad5740]

Skyships Eng uploads? Now I know what to watch for dinner!

[@eggsandnoodles]

Just seeing you uploaded s new vid was enough to change my mood

[@johnkoldy]

A lot of research put into this video sky ships so i give you two thumbs up!Excellent work people.

[@ottbee6976]

Always love your videos and the clear and intelligent narrations. Keep doing what you're doing.

[@Poorexampeofhuman]

MIG is DEAD

[@vp6087]

@@Poorexampeofhuman Soviet Ukranian engineers are. No wonder.

[@tonieistotne9471]

​@@vp6087The MiG design office was headed by an Armenian. Ukrainians have made many contributions to engineering in the USSR, but this plane is not one of them.

[@vp6087]

@@tonieistotne9471 For participation in the development of three "mach" fighter-interceptor MiG-25 Gleb Lozino-Lozinskiy was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. Ukranian guy, later designed Buran shuttle. Any questions?

[@tonieistotne9471]

@@vp6087 Yes. DO YOU KNOW WHAT PARTICIPATION MEANS? I have no doubt that there were many Ukrainians in the MIG design bureau, just as there were probably many Russians in the Antonov or Korolev design bureaus. If we want to attribute nationality to a design from the USSR, we should rather do it after the head of the bureau, otherwise there is no point every project would probably include Russians, Ukrainians, Kazakhs and Belarusians Armenians and so on. And by saying this, I am not trying to belittle Lozino-Lozinskiy, I am simply pointing out that calling the MiG-31 a Ukrainian design is an exaggeration, even if the chief engineer responsible for it was Ukrainian, because according to this metric, these are the An-124 and An-225 are Russian because their chief engineer Viktor Tolmachev was Russian

[@SuperDave_BR549]

Thank you Sky! your channel is superbly put together and enjoyable

[@mikem.s.1183]

Very good, detailed documentary. Excellent work, big thank you.

[@justforever96]

Check out his other stuff, he's one of my favorites. Not A Pound For Air To Ground is also very good and covers interesting stuff like this in equal detail. He even does missiles and tactics, a lot of cold war stuff from both sides.

[@MarkSynthesis]

Another great video, Skyships! I should've checked sooner, I was hoping you'd look at this lighting-fast beast! The MiG-25-influenced design with more modern lines always stood out to me, and I've always liked how the MiG-31 looked in comparison to the curves of the more heavily computer-designed MiG-29, Su-27, and F-16 and 18, etc. There's also the intrinsic element of "the air defense interceptor"--I don't know if your American viewers can necessarily relate, but those of us who grew up on stories from our grandparents looking up at the sky and seeing fleets of B-24 or B-26 bombers blocking out the clouds (like they did over Taipei in the 1940s, though that was not open to discussion for forty years) are probably more disposed towards sympathy for the pilots tasked with hunting and shooting down bombers, than the bomber crews themselves. Outstanding work as usual. I also had a chuckle to hear you using some of the same sound library melody samples as the popular Techmoan channel, which I'm also a fan of (specifically their ending them starting around 31:40).

[@bholdr----0]

How about a vid on the SU-34? It's pretty unique, as maybe the only modern multirole... bomber? (Its development, capabilities, similarities and differences vs other Sukhoi jets and other nation's comparable aircraft- if there is any, etc...) For example, just the cockpit configuration alone is worth discussing, as well as its range, air-to-air capabilities, etc. As a strike aircraft, it may be the best in the world, potentially even better than the new F-15 Eagle 2 (maybe?). It's just very interesting, and, like I said, unique, as far as I know, anyway... There are some vids about it, but, imho, 'The Duck' definitely deserves the quality of vid that this channel puts out... Eh?

[@garynew9637]

Yes, my favourite .

[@csk4j]

Great insight into iconic aircraft..what a transition from cold war to kinzal

[@bgdcsm]

From what i remeber reading when i was just a child, this was the first plane with phased array radar... i remeber a picture with it without the "nose"...

[@jamesburnett7085]

Wonderfully informative. It is interesting that the United States and its allies have endured without such a machine.

[@spladam3845]

Patriot park looks amazing, what a display. In the US when I was a kid the Mig-31 was legendary.

[@fahadkelantan]

Sure thing SkyBot

[@spladam3845]

@@fahadkelantan Holy shit did I just get called a Russian bot? This is ironic and hilarious. years of fighting Russian bots on twitter and now I've become one lol. When it comes to Aviation talk, I drop the politics though. The 25 and 31 were legendary, back then we all thought they were capable Mach 3 interceptors, the legend was greater than the aircraft in reality but we didn't know that. In the age of the 4th gen, it was the Mach 3 super jet Look, I'm very opposed to Russia's occupation of Ukraine and I think Putin is a dangerous asshat, but Russia made some kick-ass cold ware fast-jets. I love the 22, the Viper, and the Eagle is the greatest air superiority fighter ever made, but the Su-30 is my favorite jet of all time. Slava Ukraini

[@lemonov3031]

​@@spladam3845чей Крым?

[@JIUNnF]

@@spladam3845 Всего лиш политическиц цирк для народов но с человеческими жертвами.

[@vivekraychowdhury4348]

Big proud invention. Trivia:- the MIG-31 was featured in the Japanese anime movie Future War 198X and in the Commando comics episode 'White Comet'.

[@Bernievids]

A great story of this mythical platform, beautifully told. For those of us in the west, we never really saw this plane except for in books and spy pics. it was amazing how much as high school kids we knew in the late 80's with reference to what you've said. Perhaps it's the same information - stolen from the Agency's finest. Something that is with you your whole life is quite a story and amazing to still see it operational is even spookier. The older designers knew how to make planes. both sides.

[@RedTail1-1]

My intro used to be "what's going on/welcome back fellow aviators" and I actually had some middle-aged man comment " You are NOT an aviator!!!" ..... Some people, man.. So now I say "virtual aviators" instead of "fellow" because I don't need people going around spreading rumors that I'm calling myself a Pilot.. anyway.. I say all that to bring up how I'm surprised no one has flipped out on you like that guy did to me for you calling viewers "aviators" even though an aviator doesn't necessarily mean a pilot. It can mean someone who is into aviation and that's how a lot of people use it outside of the Navy(they call themselves naval aviators rather than pilots to feel superior and separate themselves from the Air Force)

[@justforever96]

Screw that guy. You can call yourself whatever you want it's not like a stolen valor thing.

[@cubethai]

Lol

[@robbyowen9107]

Great stuff as always Sky, thank you!

[@CroArmyNikRus86]

Correction - F-14s radar can fire at targets only im one plane horizontaly and it had less search and track range. Zaslon was on the top for 20 years.

[@alanloyd7164]

The ability to carry hypersonic aeroballistic missiles, plus the R37 extreme long range air to air missiles make this an extremely dangerous plane. Nothing else like it.

[@Jack2Japan]

Literally: My favorite aircraft.

[@flyingcactus1953]

this channel is so good, why do I only know about it now, OMG

[@rikulappi9664]

Mig-31 + ground radars combo was the ultimate interceptor of its time. EDIT: F-15 + AWACS pretty good too...

[@MrFedec9]

Great show! Thanks!

[@edutaimentcartoys]

mig-31 reborn

[@UCi6TXs4AcvhbnwE6AL1mEhg]

I just subscribed. Love from Greece.

[@CCPJerBear]

I saw an AAAAAAAAAAARDVARK

[@justforever96]

Just something about these videos that makes them especially enjoyable. Not sure if it's the always positive attitude towards the material, or the kind of unique perspective (to an American), the interesting choices of topics, or the really cool footage and preserved examples he always shows. Definitely been one of my favorites for a while. I found another guy with a slightly different style, but whose just as good, calls himself "Not A Pound For Air To Ground" (maybe should have thought that name out a little bit first), and he also does a lot of interesting stuff that other channels don't cover. If you haven't seen him and you like this i recommend his videos.

[@deuce-_-]

18:16 Quick note, the F-2 was the first plane with an AESA radar, not the second with a PESA one. AESA is overall a much better radar system compared to PESA and therefore it is understandable why it didn’t enter service until the 2000’s.

[@worldoftancraft]

AESA, modern ones, can't scan mechanically. That's why they are prohibitively expensive if you want more than 120° of view.

[@arsenijearsen3041]

Well AESA is just different in size PESA is better in some features, AESA in some.

[@voidtempering8700]

​@@worldoftancraftThere are AESA that are mounted on mounts that can steer mechanically. Check out the Captor-E and KLJ-7A.

[@AlexanderTch]

AESA is not better than PESA at all. AESA has the only one advantage - each radar cell can operate on different frequency and it allows to overcome some jamming measures. In other feautures PESA is not worse than AESA and in some cases much better. What do you call F-2? Japanese copy of ancient F-16? Mig-31 was the first plane with ESA radar, Active and Passive. So, afther that USA started to equip their planes with something like that.

[@voidtempering8700]

@@AlexanderTch Um, an AESA can do everything a PESA can, and things a PESA cannot do. And no, the Mig-31 didn't have an active array and passive array. To this day it still uses a PESA radar.

[@paulybassman7311]

Mig 31, sponsored by 'Pinkgrip'. Thanks Again Sky👍🇬🇧

[@Audfile]

If i was a trillionair I'd have a Mig 31 and cruise high and fast anywhere I felt like going, Howard Hughes style

[@fahadkelantan]

Few a few miles. Haha. Big boys use an SR-72.

[@DeepPocketsEnt]

Is this the Mig that can almost reach "space"?

[@kondeamani5106]

Muscle car of the skies..

[@rafaelgadret]

Thanks for the great videos! I love this channel!

[@yumphallangthaphal1598]

Given its coming from SKYSHIPS,Doesn't need to wait for the vedio to end, just hit the like button.

[@SimpleThingsOnly]

I am at the beginning of the video, and I just want to say: I am more than 100% sure you will tell the good story, because I saw your MiG-25 video. I myself spent years of studying every literature I got about the MiG-25/31, talked to experts about engines, structure, skin, radars, electronics, and picked up some more than remarkable names and stories behind them about this remarkable design. I myself come from design, and I always used the wise thought from my nation: If you want to fly, let the falcons be your friends. This meant that, by studying how the other remarkable engineers were thinking and doing, I formed my design doctrine.

[@dremad7512]

In Russia we have few types of fighters: light low range fighters for defending objectives (Mig-29/35). Mid size aerial domination fighters (Su -30/33/35). Big fighter-bombers Su 34, manuver front line bombers. And interceptors - Mig-31. They role to intercept strategic targets (ballistic rockets, strategic bombers and satellites)

Na, they are all bags of arse, muchlike the rest of the place…

[@TesterAnimal1]

Then why are you wasting them attacking a friendly country which does not want to be taken over, but just left in peace?

[@polarking888]

Those sexy soviet Machines ❤

[@fahadkelantan]

Yes. A brick with wings makes you wet.

[@82maddhatter]

More like junk…

[@riansyahrian4938]

@@82maddhatter senjta soviet tidak ada menandinginya

[@Suslikvtapke]

@@82maddhatter Мусор у тебя в голове, в которую ты можешь только кушать.

[@texastimetraveling779]

Great video

[@Siuuuuuuuu507]

The MiG-31 holds a special position among Russian fighters. It is the only one in the Ukrainian war that can carry Kinzhal missiles, hypersonic missiles, and can fly at high altitudes, allowing it to conduct operations at altitudes that Patriot missiles cannot reach.

[@frankanderson5012]

@Siuuuuuuuu507 That’s just a ‘Top Trumps’ statement. Has no context, scenario situation and doesn’t take into account the plane or missiles actual practical capabilities. Real military abilities are not based on statistics and figures. There’s a reason why the world’s airforces haven’t gone down the route of aircraft like this and a reason why the Russians did originally but have not continued to do so.

[@Siuuuuuuuu507]

@@frankanderson5012 The reason why other countries do not build large fighters like the Mig-31 is that it is technically impossible except for the US. You say you don't have detailed statistics and numbers, but numbers and statistics don't determine everything about weapons. Furthermore, Russia is trying to build a successor to the MiG-31 called the MiG-41. What you say is wrong.

[@BlackHawkBallistic]

​@@Siuuuuuuuu507There are plenty of European countries capable of building an equivalent and China could build an equivalent though? Countries don't build them because they don't fit doctrine besides the Soviets/Russians, the nations that could build them, except for China, put a lot of stock in GBAD and things like AWACS

[@Siuuuuuuuu507]

@@BlackHawkBallistic What you are talking about is wrong. The only military aircraft that have achieved Mach 3 or higher are the Soviet Union and the United States.Europe is a group of small countries, and most fighter aircraft are developed by three or more countries. In the case of the MiG-31, it climbs to altitudes that SAMs cannot reach. Furthermore, China's current technological development has enabled it to build its own.

[@kanestalin7246]

​@@BlackHawkBallisticlots of countries can build them, but none are as large as Russia so they have no need to.

[@onogrirwin]

A beautiful and important plane. One of my favorites ever.

[@ronjon7942]

‘Dangerous predator’ seems apt.

[@ramonmedina1974]

A very beautiful aircraft! I like the Mig 25 and 31 so much.

[@justforever96]

Lol, something about a 100,000lb fighter... What a beast. WW2 fighters were like 6,000lbs. 10,000 for the really big ones.

[@mcal27]

Western commentators used to joke about the 31..until it made the longest range Air to Air kill in History and Ukrainian pilots complained about being taken down by them... Fabulous interceptor!

[@fahadkelantan]

Interceptors defend. Russians invade.

[@halliwedge]

Cap. Vatnik cope.

[@mcal27]

@@halliwedge err it’s only coping if Russia was loosing… But crest’s statistically low IQ easily explains your mistake 😜

[@spinningsquare1325]

​@@halliwedgewhat, if I like the fw190 means I am a nazi?

[@adamrou12345]

An old Soviet jet shot down an even older Soviet jet. Ukraine didn't receive it's first western made jets until August of 2024.

[@justforever96]

Yeah, i have been waiting for this one. This plane always has a certain appeal to me, im not sure why.

[@bigsarge2085]

Fascinating!

[@md8590]

Great video! What a beautiful aircraft

[@CactusTwo]

Nueva vida al Mig-31 con la versión K. Una aeronave de temer.✌🇨🇱

[@ErwinLindemann40]

Thanks! Good Information and picture!

[@adwai1h653]

LET'S GOOOOOO

[@MohammedKarimzai]

Awesome 👏 fighter of the world 🌎 champ and a great fighter of all times.

[@thomashill8070]

Answer to the SR71 blackbird

[@fahadkelantan]

Blackbirds were never shot down Ivan

[@worldoftancraft]

​@@fahadkelantanDžon, no one needs to shoot down the carrier of the 1 tonne of photo film and the hardware

[@MultiVeeta]

​@@fahadkelantan didn't need to shoot a Blackbird down as they were too scared to fly over Russia after U2 was shot down.

[@jpatt1000]

0:45 The tip tanks with the downward pointing fins look wicked!!!

[@Ticklestein]

5:12 - Hijacking is seizure of control of a vehicle in transit. This was no such thing. The pilot was in control at all times. It’s just, he defected.

[@yystl]

Since the pilot did not own the jet, arguably he seized control of the vehicle in transit.

[@jamesmandahl444]

Bro he is Russian. Not everyone is us. There are more people than Americans. Of course he will see the defector in a negative light. Similar to ours and UK fighter pilots going to help China right now. Shameful.

[@dumdumbinks274]

@@yystl ..you can't seize control from yourself.

[@Ticklestein]

@@jamesmandahl444 I literally in my head switched the type airplane and nationality and even then, it’d be a defection. Theft. Yeah. But we call that defection if it’s a theft to facilitate the switching, or abandoning, of current allegiance.

[@toolbaggers]

He stole a jet to use to defect.

[@HunterX78]

awesome work!! greetings from MEXICO

[@awantrucks]

Superb aircraft ❤ mig always the best

[@michaelwu9450]

great aircraft.. shame MiG went out of business

[@kanestalin7246]

​@@michaelwu9450im pretty sure MIG is a part of the United Aircraft Corparation

[@phantomf4747]

Very interesting vid friend. New sub. Really enjoyed this one!

[@markorr7035]

I think the cannon is still applicable to intercept and force down other unarmed planes. For aggressive signalling. Everything everyone said about why this plane is obsolete turned out to be wrong. Its really one of the most powerful fighters on the planet today. Can the F-22 launch a nuclear weapon at hypersonic speed 2000 km away? Don't think so. With R-37 this plane is super deadly.

[@flightmaster999]

True, but the F-22 does not need to launch nuclear weapons. It's an air supremacy fighter that nothing can touch.

[@JohnnyWednesday]

@@flightmaster999 - Except rain

[@fahadkelantan]

Because loser in shitty Russia can't build a B21 stealth bomber. You pathetic "engineers".... Haha.

[@RedTail1-1]

​@@JohnnyWednesdayokay?.. are you making a literal joke?..

[@susanwilde81]

The 31 is an interceptor while the 22 is an air superiority fighter. Big difference between roles in combat. The 31 is not made for close in fighting or a stealth capable fighter but the 22 is not made for longrange kills either. Each can be considered superior in its role. Though the 31 would find it harder to find the 22 in a dogfight even if its missiles can be lauched from a longer range.

[@callumbush1]

Sick jet!

[@davidryall-flanders6353]

Great video 👍 thanks.

[@williamrutter3619]

king of the sky's.

[@Эндрю-ш8ю]

И главное весь парк этих самолетов прошел модернизацию до МиГ-31БМ или МиГ-31К.

[@จักษ์นาถะพินธุ]

The best fighter in the world MiG - 25/31 ( 1970 - 2024 ). The best bomber in the world B - 52 ( 1950s - 2024 ).

[@katalina1953]

EXCELLENT REPORTING

[@baomao7243]

Insta-thumbs up

[@TJ-USMC]

"Another Excellent Video !!!"

[@ilejovcevski79]

It's a bit sad how high performing machine's existence was limited by their strategic need alone. For the fans of aeronautical engineering at least. I'm sure most of use would have loved to see the limits of where high flying interceptors would go. Alas... or maybe for the better, the threat is gone and so is the need. As for the F-117, i don't really think it was developed as a reaction to the MiG-31. Both planes flew at almost the same time, and were developed practically concurrently. Stealth was more of a response to the high density SAM defenses, and the casualties and difficulties in penetrating them in the proxy-wars of the 60's. As such, the 31 was from the start a bit of a stillborn. It inherited a role for which there was not much need aside from the huge land borders of the USSR. And most foreign customers had no such borders, nor the need to commit to the expenses of fielding it.

[@fajareraim6136]

i remember first time i know MiG-31 is from Ace Combat 5, i love the way it looks...its big bulky, aggressive but i know it wasnt a good dogfighter....but i always loved these and before i even realize F-15 was the response for MiG-25/31 ...i always thought 31 is matched with F-15... although yes these MiG are not even close when compared to F-15 imagine strapped a big donky engine and a small cockpit to fly...... F-104 , MiG-31 were always have a spot in my heart

[@lewiov]

Soviet aircraft always seem to look amazing but may not always function the best. Regardless the MiG-31 is a time proven machine that should be respected by “Westerners” like me.

[@fahadkelantan]

It gets shot down regularly. Typical Russian propaganda.

[@Realitygetreal]

Love the 25 and 31 but VERY HAPPY I was not on the engine maintenance crew, read stories that they basically ate themselves on a VERY regular basis