Russian MiG-31 interceptor fighters, during modernization at the Nizhny Novgorod-based "Sokol" plant of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), have received new onboard systems, thanks to which they will become even more effective in air combat. Military expert Evgeny Damantsev revealed the advantages of the updated aircraft.
According to him, the main stage of modernization was the integration of the RP-31MA "Zaslon-AM" weapon control system with the 8BM radar based on a passive phased antenna array, featuring a new, more high-performance Baget-55-06 onboard computing system instead of the Argon-15A.
Now the target detection range with an effective reflecting surface (ERS) of 3 m² is 320 km, automatic tracking – 280 km. Simultaneously, 24 targets are tracked, of which 6 are simultaneously engaged with missiles (in the previous version – 10 and 4, respectively).
Targets with an ERS of 0.7 m² and speeds up to 1000 m/s, such as 227-mm GMLRS projectiles of HIMARS systems, can be detected at a distance of 135 km. R-37M air-to-air missiles with an effective interception range of maneuvering targets up to 230 km have been integrated.
Earlier, www1.ru reported that the Russian TOS-1A "Solntsepek" flamethrower received dome protection against enemy FPV drones.
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