Russia has neither the factories nor the specialists to produce MiG-31 long-range interceptor fighters "from scratch." Furthermore, the technical documentation for this aircraft is outdated and partially lost. This is according to military expert Boyko Nikolov in an article for The Bulgarian Military publication.
The last MiG-31 was produced in 1993. According to various sources, Russia has approximately 130–150 MiG-31s in storage. These interceptor fighters are used for modernization to the MiG-31K version, a carrier of the Kh-47 Kinzhal hypersonic missile.
The MiG-31, which first flew in 1975, was a marvel of Soviet engineering. It was developed to counter NATO bombers during the Cold War.
The aircraft appeared at a time when the Soviet military-industrial complex was at its peak. Factories were churning out airframes and engines for the MiG-31. However, the collapse of the Soviet Union destroyed everything: funding dried up, skilled workers left, and production lines were mothballed.
According to Nikolov, resuming MiG-31 production is an almost impossible task. Production of the D-30F6 engines ceased decades ago. Recreating the capacity would take many years and billions of rubles.
The MiG-31s in storage are a small reserve. Many of these aircraft are unsuitable for modification and are only good for spare parts.
Nikolov emphasized that the MiG-31K is very important for the Russian Aerospace Forces. There are only about 10 carriers of the Kinzhal aviation complex. The missile is capable of bypassing air defense systems and hitting targets inaccessible to other missiles.
Each MiG-31K is a precious gem in Russia's arsenal, rare and irreplaceable. When you hear its roar, you know that somewhere out there, a Kinzhal is ready to change the game.
It is worth mentioning that Russia is currently developing the MiG-41 sixth-generation interceptor fighter. It will replace the MiG-31.
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