The latest Mig 31 Variants should be feared.

Just finished reading Yefim Gordons Mig 31 book (famous russian series) and the 31 is pretty formidable.
I was surprised how ‘free’ from ground control it is, its data linking attributes are very powerful and being able to track 16 targets and engage 6 at once with missiles that have a 160 mile range would be enough to make me VERY nervous about facing it.
Is it a viable deterant to the Wests new 4.5 – 5th gen designs?

I know that it would lose WVR but in the BVR arena (for which it was designed) is seems to be pretty potent.