Former Indian Air Force test pilot Anil Chopra shared his impressions of flying the Russian MiG-31 interceptor. According to him, the aircraft combined immense speed, a powerful radar, and unusual stability in flight for such machines.
The tests took place at the Sokol aircraft plant in Nizhny Novgorod. Chopra became the first foreign pilot to take to the skies in a MiG-31BM with a Russian crew. The general recalled that even on the ground, the aircraft made an impression of a giant machine with huge air intakes and a massive nose section.
During the test flight, the crew climbed to an altitude of about 15 km and accelerated the fighter to a speed of Mach 2.7. It was the acceleration that impressed the Indian pilot the most.
During the side-flight training, the aircraft accelerated sharply, as if someone was pushing it from behind.
The general separately noted the capabilities of the Zaslon radar. During the flight, the crew detected a passenger aircraft at a distance of about 185 km, and then locked onto a low-flying MiG-21 from approximately 40 km.
Chopra concluded that Russian aircraft are often simpler in design than their Western counterparts, but compensate for this with powerful radars, high speed, and effective technical solutions.
It should be recalled that India eventually abandoned the purchase of MiG-31BMs, preferring Su-30MKI fighters.