Mikoyan MiG-31K Foxhound-D – Blue 31, 764th Fighter Rgt, Russian AF & Kinzhal Missile

Hobby Master 1/72 scale HA9701: Mikoyan MiG-31K Foxhound-D Blue 31 of 764th Fighter Rgt, Russian Air Force, Bolshoye Savino Airport, Russia, 2015, with underslung KH-47M2 Kinzhal Missile. Production run of 1,500 models.

Length 12.5 inches Wingspan 7.25 inches

The MiG-31 (NATO : Foxhound) was developed as an interceptor but when Russia developed the Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missile they needed an aircraft that could carry the missile’s heavy weight so the MiG-31K was developed as an attack aircraft. The normal bomb and missile load of the MiG-31BM was replaced by an adaptation to carry the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (Dagger) that has a 2,000 km range. Ten of the MiG-31BMs have so far been converted. The 764th Fighter Aviation Regiment is the first front-line MiG-31K operator and is expected to have around 24 MiG-31K aircraft including 31 BLUE RF-92332.

The MiG-31 was developed in the 1970s and completed its maiden flight in September 1975. The MiG-31 set several world records by reaching an altitude of 37,650 meters (123,523 ft) in 1977 as well as setting a time-to-altitude record of 35,000 meters (114,829 ft) in 4 minutes 11.78 seconds. The MiG-25 Foxbat was the basis for the MiG-31 Foxhound but equipped with the latest digital avionics that allows it to operate in all weather conditions and the first Soviet aircraft to have look-down shoot-down capability.

The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (NATO reporting name Killjoy) is a Russian nuclear-capable hypersonic aero-ballistic air-to-surface missile. It has a claimed range of more than 2,000 km (1,200 mi), Mach 12 speed (4.1 km/s), and an ability to perform evasive maneuvers at every stage of its flight. It can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads and can be launched from Tu-22M3 bombers or MiG-31K interceptors. It has been deployed at airbases in Russias Southern Military District and Western Military District.

The Kinzhal entered service in December 2017 and is one of the six new Russian strategic weapons unveiled by Russian President Vladimir Putin on 1st March 2018.