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Russia Mikoyan (MiG)
MiG-31
Twin-engine, twin-seat supersonic interceptor designed for high-speed, high-altitude air defense against bombers and cruise missiles, among the fastest fighters in service. Modernized MiG-31BM/K variants also serve as launch platforms for the Kinzhal hypersonic missile.
In service since 1981 · 2 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
3,000
km/h
3,000
km range
20,600
m ceiling
9,000
kg payload
0.85
T/W
Pricing: Out of production; no reliable public unit-cost figure
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Russian state channel
Rosoboronexport monopoly; Western sanctions exposure and payment/logistics risk for many buyers.
Channel: Rosoboronexport (state)
Fielded & proven
Limited · 2 operators
In service since 1981. Status: active · ~519 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the MiG-31 can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 3,000 km/h |
|---|---|
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 2.83 Mach |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 3,000 km |
| Combat radius Distance an aircraft can fly, complete its mission and return without refueling. Roughly a third of ferry range. | 720 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 20,600 m |
| Thrust-to-weight Engine thrust divided by loaded weight. Above 1.0 the aircraft can accelerate going straight up. On a standalone engine record, this is the engine's own thrust divided by its dry weight, the standard figure of merit for jet engines. | 0.85 |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 23 mm GSh-6-23 rotary cannon |
|---|---|
| Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts. | 6 |
| Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie. | 9,000 kg |
Protection
Armor, countermeasures and survivability.
| Countermeasures Self-protection: chaff, flares, DIRCM, towed decoys, smoke dischargers, jammers. | chaff, flares, internal EW suite |
|---|
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 22.69 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 13.46 m |
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 6.15 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 21,820 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 41,000 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 2 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | 2x Soloviev D-30F6 afterburning turbofans |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 2 |
| Thrust Total engine thrust (with afterburner where applicable). | 152 kN |
| Fuel capacity Internal fuel volume. | 17,330 L |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turbofan |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Radar Primary radar. AESA (active electronically scanned array) is the current state of the art. | Zaslon or Zaslon-M passive electronically scanned array |
|---|---|
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | 8TK infrared search and track |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 519 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 2 |
Specifications compiled from public Mikoyan (MiG) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
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KF-21 Boramae Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31? +
The Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31 has a maximum speed of 3,000 km/h.
What is the range of the Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31? +
The Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31 has a maximum range of 3,000 km.
What is the weapons payload of the Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31? +
The Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31 can carry up to 9,000 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31 weigh? +
The Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31 has a combat weight of 41,000 kg.
How many crew does the Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31 require? +
The Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31 requires a crew of 2.
What is the main armament of the Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31? +
The Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31's primary weapon is the 23 mm GSh-6-23 rotary cannon.
What engine does the Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31 use? +
The Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31 is powered by the 2x Soloviev D-30F6 afterburning turbofans.
What is the Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31 used for? +
The Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31 is a fighter aircraft typically used for air superiority, deep strike, isr.
How many countries operate the Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31? +
The Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31 is operated by 2 countries.
How much does the Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31 cost? +
Mikoyan (MiG) MiG-31: Out of production; no reliable public unit-cost figure. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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Related coverage
MiG-31 in the news
News conflict · Aug 16, 2026
Ukraine's Flamingo Missiles Hit Russia's Kinzhal-Carrier Base
A Ukrainian Flamingo cruise-missile strike hit the Savasleyka airbase housing MiG-31K Kinzhal carriers and Samara's Progress rocket plant, Zelensky says.
Article guide · Jul 27, 2026
What Service Ceiling Means on a Fighter Jet Spec Sheet
Service ceiling spans 7,000-20,600m across 57 fighters in our database, but 72% share an identical published figure with a completely different jet.