Some considerations about the MiG-31 Foxhound and his variants, after the latest news of the March 2012 issue of Air International, and the book MiG-31 - Famous Russian Aircraft, by Yefim Gordon, Ian Allan – Midland 2005:

 

The MiG-31M Foxhound-B development ceased near 1997 (for the english version of the Wikipedia and other books or sites the MiG-31M is confused with other variant or variants of MiG-31, and erroneouly stated as “in service”, and equipped with in service K-37 missiles).

 

The MiG-31M Foxhound is a new airframe with six supports for big AAM in the underbelly, the other variants have only four supports.

 

The K-37/AA-X-13 Arrow development ceased also with the MiG-31M demise.

 

The MiG-31BM is in service in limited numbers from 2008 (some 20-24, and 60 more requested from 2012-2020), but the new K-37M variant of the K-37 developed for it will be in service only from 2014 or so.

 

 

 

The current entries of the MiG-31 in the DB are (with historical systems and weapons, not necessarily those of the DB):

 

Entry 10999 MiG-31 sans suffixe Foxhound-A (in service 1982), total production of all MiG-31 variants some 505, many later updated to MiG-31BS Foxhound-A: Zaslon/RP-31/S800 PESA radar, internal gun, IRST, RWR, All-weather capable.

 

4xR-33/AA-9 Amos (1981), underfuselage location.

 

and 2xR-40TD(1978)/R-40T(1972) in single pylons (the R-40TD/T controlling pod occupies the place of one underfuselage R-33), underwing location.

 

or 4xR-60M AA-8b Aphid (1982) in twin pylons, underwing location.

 

 

 

Entry 11000 MiG-31BM Foxhound(-A) (in service in limited numbers from 2008), some 20-24 converted 2008-2011, some 60 to be converted 2012-2020: Zaslon-AM/RP-31AM/S800AM PESA radar, internal gun, IRST, RWR, All-weather capable, IFR.

 

4xR-33/AA-9 Amos (1981)

or R-33S/AA-9b Amos (1993)

or 4xR-37M/AA-13 Arrow (2014?), underfuselage location.

 

and 4xR-77-1 Adder (2013?) in single pylons, underwing location.

 

or 4xR-73/AA-11 Archer variants in single pylons, underwing location.

 

or 2xR-77-1/AA-12 Adder (2013?) and 2xR-73/AA-11 Archer, underwing location.

 

 

 

 

Entry 10293 MiG-31M Foxhound-B (never in service, development discontinued near 1997), very changed airframe in detail and systems: Zaslon-M/RP-31M/S800M PESA radar, no internal gun, IRST, RWR, All-weather capable, IFR.

 

4xR-33/AA-9 Amos (1981)/ R-33S/AA-9b Amos (1993)/ or 6xR-37M/AA-13 Arrow (2014?), underfuselage location.

 

and 4xR-77/AA-12 Adder (1992) in single pylons, underwing location.

 

 

 

 

Other MiG-31 production and in service historical variants:

 

MiG-31 sans suffixe and with IFR Foxhound-A (in service 1990), total production some 45, adding in flight refuelling, many later updated to MiG-31B Foxhound-A: Zaslon/RP-31/S800 PESA radar, internal gun, IRST, RWR, All-weather capable, IFR.

 

4xR-33/AA-9 Amos (1981), underfuselage location.

 

and 2xR-40TD(1978)/R-40T(1972) in single pylons (the R-40TD/T controlling pod occupies the place of one underfuselage R-33), underwing location.

 

or 4xR-60M AA-8b Aphid (1982) in twin pylons, underwing location.

 

 

 

MiG-31B Foxhound-A (in service at least from 1991), adding R-33S and modified radar, many later probably updated to MiG-31BM Foxhound-A: Zaslon-A/RP-31A/S800A PESA radar, internal gun, IRST, RWR, All-weather capable, IFR.

 

4xR-33/AA-9 Amos (1981)

or R-33S/AA-9b Amos (1993), underfuselage location.

 

and 2xR-40TD(1978)/R-40T(1972) in single pylons (the R-40TD/T controlling pod occupies the place of one underfuselage R-33), underwing location.

 

or 4xR-60M AA-8b Aphid (1982) in twin pylons, underwing location.

 

 

 

 

MiG-31BS Foxhound-A (in service 1992?), previously in service MiG-31 sans suffixe updated to MiG-31B standard, but without in flight refuelling, adding R-33S and modified radar, many later probably updated to MiG-31BM Foxhound-A: Zaslon-A/RP-31A/S800A PESA radar, internal gun, IRST, RWR, All-weather capable

 

4xR-33/AA-9 Amos (1981)

or R-33S/AA-9b Amos (1993), underfuselage location.

 

and 2xR-40TD(1978)/R-40T(1972) in single pylons (the R-40TD/T controlling pod occupies the place of one underfuselage R-33), underwing location.

 

or 4xR-60M AA-8b Aphid (1982) in twin pylons, underwing location.

Some considerations about the MiG-31 Foxhound and his variants, after the latest news of the March 2012 issue of Air International, and the book MiG-31 - Famous Russian Aircraft, by Yefim Gordon, Ian Allan – Midland 2005:

 

Entry 11000 MiG-31BM Foxhound(-A) (in service in limited numbers from 2008), some 20-24 converted 2008-2011, some 60 to be converted 2012-2020: Zaslon-AM/RP-31AM/S800AM PESA radar, internal gun, IRST, RWR, All-weather capable, IFR.

 

 

A couple of things here. Since early 1974ish the VVS did away with many old designation systems and made a simpler in service designation system.

 

Fighter attack radars now begin with the letter N. The First Radar to get an N Designation was the Meych radar used on the Su-27 Flanker. However only a few MiG-23 radar systems that were still in production were re-designated. Non production radars (and other electronic devices) never got re-designated. Confusing? Yep

 

The Designation for the Zaslon family of Radars is N-007 or sometimes written N007. The the Zaslon-AM radar would be N-007AM Zaslon.

 

Secondly, while the BM is a "Major upgrade" to the Basic MiG-31BS, that does not mean they could not change the pylon locations on the fuselage. There is an admittedly small possibility that the two extra CL pylon hardpoints are added to the BM and all that needs to happen is the R-37M to enter production (It is in test firing stage and reportedly doing well.)

 

Lastly the MiG-31BM should already be in service with the R-77-1 RVV-AE(Russia) Missile.

 

Hope that helps

 

PS, there is also rumor of the MiG-31M attaining production status still but equipped with a new AESA radar with an antenna sized to that of the N-007M it was intended to carry. It would likely be designated MiG-31MS (Much like the Basic MiG-31B was named BS after the initial production batch and some minor re-designing.

 

Craig P