A total of about 500 MiG-31s were built by the factory at Gorky up to the fall of the USSR. There were a number of minor and proposed Foxhound modifications and variants:
One early MiG-31 was used for test duties at the Zhukovsky flight center, and given the designation of “MiG-31LL”, the “LL” standing for the Russian acronym of “flying laboratory”.
Two specialized MiG-31s were built in 1987 as carriers for an antisatellite (ASAT) missile, in imitation of a contemporary US ASAT program that used a McDonnell Douglas F-15. These two Foxhounds featured triangular “webbed feet” wing endplate fins, like those fitted to some MiG-25 prototypes, in this case intended to provide improved flight stability at high altitudes for missile launches. A single large missile was to be carried under the fuselage, and a special upward-looking radar and associated intercept fire-control system was to be fitted to production machines. The cannon was deleted.
The effort was suspended in the early 1990s and so far few details have been released. These aircraft were given the designation of “MiG-31D”, which is also confusingly sometimes applied to initial production MiG-31s with refueling probes, as well as to a bewildering range of other Foxhound variants, both real and imaginary.
The MiG-31D was resurrected in the late 1990s as the “MiG-31A” proposal, with the aircraft being used to launch a small satellite payload of up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds) into orbit, instead of an ASAT interceptor.
The MiG OKB showed off a multirole fighter variant of the MiG-31B at the Paris Air Show in 1995. This machine was designated the “MiG-31F”, with “F” standing for “Frontovy (Front / Tactical)”, and was fitted with air-to-surface weapons for the strike or particularly the SEAD role. It is unclear that this particular aircraft had avionics systems to support such weapons. It may have been a more or less conventional MiG-31B that had been “jazzed up” with them for show purposes to run the idea up a flagpole and see if anyone saluted. Nobody did.
The MiG OKB proposed a “MiG-31E” interceptor for the export market, which was essentially a MiG-31B with downgraded avionics. One or two prototypes were built. The MiG organization has come up with improved proposals for export machines, but there have been no export sales of the Foxhound.
In the mid-1980s, the MiG OKB began work on an improved interceptor variant, the “MiG-31M”, which was primarily designed as a carrier for the R-37 AAM, an improved follow-on to the R-33 with an astounding range of 300 kilometers (186 miles). Seven MiG-31M prototypes were built, with the first flying in late 1985.
An improved Zaslon-M radar was fitted, along with a new IRST with a laser rangefinder. A new “fat” spine was fitted to the aircraft to accommodate improved avionics and increase fuel storage. At least one prototype featured wingtip pods with vertical fins for electronic systems. Large LERXes were fitted to improve high angle of attack handling; the tailfins and ventral fins were reconfigured to a degree; and an improved inflight refueling probe was designed, to be fitted to the right side of the nose of the aircraft.
Six R-39s could be carried under the fuselage in recesses, arranged as three rows of two missiles. All six could be launched in salvo and seek different targets. Four R-77 AAMs can be also carried on underwing pylons. The cannon was deleted.
The cockpit was redesigned, with the front seater getting a new single-piece windscreen, and the windows for the back-seater reduced to a small panel on either side to allow him to focus his attention on his displays. Back seat flight controls were deleted.
The MiG-31M did not enter production since the Russian state lacked the money to buy many new aircraft, and so in 1997 the MiG organization began work on multirole upgrade to existing MiG-31s, designated “MiG-31BM”.
A MiG-31BM prototype was demonstrated publicly in 1999. It features an updated Zaslon radar close to Zaslon-M standards; a satellite navigation receiver; and significantly upgraded cockpit arrangements, with the back-seater provided with three large flat-panel displays. It is unclear if the cockpit arrangements were inherited from the MiG-31M or, as would seem likely given technological advances since the 1980s, use more advanced systems. The MiG-31M can carry six R-33S or R-37 AAMs, as well as underwing stores such as smaller AAMs, ARMs, or iron bombs.
Although the status of the MiG-31BM upgrade program is unclear, the Russian Air Force (which absorbed the disbanded PVO after the fall of the USSR) wants to keep their Foxhounds in service until at least 2010, and would certainly like to ensure that they remain effective.
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