The reason is simple the MiG-31 was built to be a home-defense interceptor, and was neither exported nor used in combat. But Moscow maintains hundreds of the fighters in its inventory as parts of its multi-layered air defense network, and will continue to do so for years to come.
The Foxhound emerged as an attempt to improve on a somewhat disappointing predecessor, the MiG-25 Foxbat. The twin-engine Foxbat remains the fastest flying operational fighter, able to attain speeds over Mach 3 and fly up to 70 thousand feet in order to counter the U.S. XB-70 Valkyrie supersonic bomber, which did not end up entering production. The Foxbat enjoyed an inflated reputation in Western aviation circles until Soviet defector Victor Belenko flew one over to Japan in 1976, allowing the Pentagon to discover what the Soviets had long been aware of for all of its speed, the Foxbat was a bit of a dog when it came to maneuverability and could not maintain supersonic speeds at low altitude.
Russia s Secret MiG-41 Stealth Fighter: Super Weapon or a Lie?
The goal of the PAK DP program is to develop a replacement for the MiG-31, which entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1980, and later was upgraded as the MiG-31BM.
In the technology world, the term vaporware refers to a product that is not yet available and remains largely in the concept stage – it also often is something that fails to materialize and never makes it to market. Russia s fifth-generation plus or even sixth generation Mikoyan MiG-41 stealth interceptor, which is being developed under the PAK DP program, certainly seems to fall into the category of military vaporware.
The Phantom had more than its share of flaws, and detractors to point them out.
Here s What You Need to Remember: My theory is that the Phantom is beloved not just because it was successful, but because it wasn’t supposed to be. Of all mankind’s works of destruction, jet fighters tend to be the most aesthetically elegant, whether the compact grace of an F-16 or the slender symmetry of a French Mirage 5.
Beautiful it was not, nor graceful, nor aesthetic. The Phantom earned nicknames like “Rhino” and “Double Ugly.” It was said to be proof of an amazing aeronautical principle: that “a brick can fly if you stick a big enough engine on it.”