The Mikoyan Design Bureau and the Sokol aircraft plant had to almost completely rebuild the high-altitude MiG-31 interceptor into the MiG-31K version specifically for the Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. The process was described by first-class test pilot and Hero of Russia Andrei Shishov.
According to him, the MiG-31 was originally built as a unique interceptor in terms of its characteristics, especially due to its high speed and flight ceiling. However, during the modernization, a great deal had to be changed.
First, the \"Kinzhal\" was created, as it was called, and then the aircraft was radically rebuilt: the control system, the equipment, the cockpit — everything. And the result was a modern MiG-31, which is an immense pleasure to fly. The very best!
Shishov clarified that the MiG-31K does everything in automatic mode. Quite literally, the pilot lets go of the controls and takes them only during landing for flare-out.
The Kinzhal systems entered regular combat duty with the Aerospace Forces in August 2022. Despite this, there is still no official information about the combat system. Exactly how many MiG-31K interceptors are in service has not been disclosed.
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