“THE MiG-31 FOXHOUND INTERCEPTOR CAN SHOOT DOWN SATELLITES” ZVEZDA TV SAYS

By Dario Leone
Feb 20 2017

The MiG-31 can shot down satellites

MiG-31 anti-satellite aircraft

According to Zvezda TV the video in this post shows how the MiG-31 (NATO reporting name Foxhound) interceptor shoots down satellites.

Even though most probably this footage is nothing more than a “MiG-31 propaganda video,” in the early 1980s, the Soviet Union had developed two MiG-31D Foxhounds as a launch platform for a potential anti-satellite version of the R-77 Vympel (NATO reporting name AA-12 Adder) air-to-air missile. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, this project was put on hold due to reduced defense expenditures. However, in Aug. 2009, the Russian Air and Space Force (RuASF) had announced the resumption of the program.

Moreover in 2010 several reports indicated that Russia was “developing a fundamentally new weapon that can destroy potential targets in space,” in the form of the Sokol Eshelon an airborne laser anti-satellite system based on a Beriev A-60 aircraft.

Furthermore in 2015 Russia successfully tested a direct ascent anti-satellite missile, known as Nudol, which in May 2016 was launched for the second time from the Plesetsk cosmodrome test launch facility, located 500 miles north of Moscow.The MiG-31 (NATO reporting name: Foxhound) was developed during 1970s by the Mikoyan design bureau as supersonic interceptor aircraft and was aimed to replace the earlier MiG-25 “Foxbat.” In fact the MiG-31 is based on, and shares design elements with the MiG-25.

The MiG-31 has the distinction of being one of the fastest combat jets in the world and continues to be operated by the RuASF.

Youtube video

Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

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