Russian build-up along the Ukrainian border continues.
According to the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, the Russian Federation is continuing to amass forces at the border, including radar stations and Mig-31 Foxhound combat planes, interceptors capable of a maximum speed of Mach 2.83.
RF continue to concentrate army units at the border, with radar stations and MiG-31 fighter jets
— NSDC of Ukraine (@NSDC_ua) 19 Novembre 2014
An unspecified amount of Mig-31s based at Perm have been deployed to Millerovo airfield, in the Rostov region, close to the border with Ukraine, a sign that Moscow may be preparing to actively control the airspace over Luhansk Oblast.
The MiG-31 is a two-seater derivative of the MiG-25 in service since 1983. Designed to face U.S. supersonic strategic bombers flying at low altitude (B-1B bomber), the MiG-31 has quite good low-level capabilities and features a radar with look-down-shoot-down capability. Equipped with a HUD (Head-Up Display), the Foxhound is older and less maneuverable than Mig-29 and Su-27, but it is still an amazing interceptor, with a top speed of Mach 2.83 and an operational range of 1,450 km.
Although the production of the Mig-31 ended in the early 1990s, the Foxhound interceptor is being upgraded to extend its operative life up to the 2028 – 2030, until a replacement will be available.
In the meanwhile, the Russian Air Force has plans to base the aircraft at Tiksi airfield, located on Russia’s Arctic Ocean coast.
According to Ukrainian Government, along with Migs and radars, Russian tanks have been reported crossing the border, whereas hundred pieces of military equipment have been deployed by the Russian Federation inside Ukraine.
Image credit: Dmitriy Pichugin/Wikipedia
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Have to say quite surprised that with 100,000 troops on the Russian border the US has not upped its surveillance assets in the area – the only news we get are from the Ukrainian government. NATO is being totally let down here. If they had satellites in the area we could know for sure what happened to MH17 and also these Russian invasion claims could be backed up by hard evidence either way.
Back to planes though – I heard the Mig 31 is limited to M2.83 because thats what speed the temp gets a little too high for the wings rather then the engines being all out of puff?
Yes but Nato can’t do anything without risking a war with Russians, and they are not going to risk it for Ukraine, it is a big question would Nato risk thermonuclear war even if Western Europe was invaded during Soviet Union.I guessthey would risk it only if US mainland was at stake
Hundreds of women have been found with bullets in their skulls, most of them have been raped. Prisoners falling into the hands of fascist junta forces are tortured, abused and murdered execution style after suffering beatings and starvation. There is a humanitarian crisis in Novorossiya. There is a moral and ethical crisis in US/Kiev.
Its no coincidence that the CIA (a terror organisation) is in Kiev, its no coincidence that the Rand corporation have documented the necessary steps to commit genocide in the eastern federations prior to the events.
Its no coincidence that Victoria Nuland indicated the US had invested $5 billion on a regime change in Ukraine, and its no coincidence that neo Nazi organisations were enlisted to action the ethnic cleansing.
Washington chose to spearhead Neo-Nazis into positions of authority. Under a “regime of indirect rule”, however, they take their orders on crucial military and foreign policy issues –including the deployment of troops directed against the Russian federation– from the the US State Department, the Pentagon and NATO
The 1st AESA radar combat plane in service?
PESA radar, not quite the same
Didn’t they gave it AESA radar later?
looks like a response to the NATO build up around Ukraine
Let us see some proof. And not some childish graphic put together by the state department. Ukraine has cried wolf too many times.