Then again, Georgia has for all intents and purposes lost its navy in 2008, so I’m not sure why they’d be in such a hurry.

Maybe for the modernisied base in Syria. 🙂

It really depends on what you want to believe. There are russian books with nice stories about avoiding NATO/USA partols, monitoring task groups or subs undetected and so on. Also there are incidents like K-324 or the collision with Kitty Hawk in 1984. But i doubt that any good information about your questions is available in open sources.
And welcome to the forum.

Here is more info about the book: http://www.amazon.com/Mikoyan-MiG-31-Famous-Russian-Aircraft/dp/1857802195
I was also amazed about the negative thoughts in the light of the Iranian kill score.

Yes. And thanks for the links.
BTW, I may have missed something, but the links specify F-14A, not D.

That will not change the fact that MiG-31(any version) will be faster to respond and with greater range. It is calculated that if intercept is needed at 300km, MiG-31 will arrive 1 minute 6 seconds ahead. That is ages in high-speed intercept. But any such comparison is pointless as the two planes were designed around different requirements.

I believe the F-14D is superior to the MiG-31 in most aspects, minus top end speed. It’s passive sensors are surely superior, which would be good for a surprise attack.

Really? Here is short quote from MiG-31/F-14 comparison. Sure F-14 have better fuel consumption….

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Pretty sure the baseline, home version of the R-33 is 160KM

This is for the R-33E(Energetic) version.

Doesnt BUK have a reputation of operating in jamming environment where in georgia BUK-M1 shot a Tu-22M3 Reco aircraft which even had jammers deployed ?

The seld-defence EW equipment of the TU cannot compare with what was used in the excercises. Mi-8SMV, Mi-8MTPI, Mi-8PPA, An-12PP and Su-24MP were all deployed at around 30 km from the missile batteries. And the targets were not easy either. Slow “SAMAN-M1” with 250m/s speed, RCS of 0.08m2 and fast RM 5V27 target with speed ~800m/s and RCS of 0.3m2. Now that is tough challenge for any SAM.

GOT IT! its actually another pic , but here is the bulgarian Mig-17 with outboard pylons

Nice find! I asked what is the story of the plane and got as answer that the plane was exchanged for Turkish CF-104 that is now in the museum in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The plane number and the lion were added by the Turks.

Little more about the Bulgarian MiG-17 modification:
“In 1968. Deputy Chief Engineer of Air Force Aviation Regiment Jordan Petrov obtain information about the equipment of Polish MiG-17 (and their licensing options LIM) with additional underwing pylon system for shooting NURS. The idea of increasing efficiency against land targets and the Bulgarian MiG-17 is very tempting. Colonel Petrov searched for advise lieutenant-colonel Dimitar Ivanov Atanasov, who at that time was chief engineer of Avio Repair Plant “Asparouh” Tolbuhin town (now the town of Dobrich). Lieutenant-colonel Dimitar Ivanov Atanassov has extensive experience in aircraft. In 1961 he develops and manages project that upgraded MiG-15 fighter in UTIMiG MT-15 (Modification Tolbuhin) and early seventies of the MiG-15bis in UTIMiG-15MT. Colonel Petrov and Lieutenant-colonel Atanasoff went to Poland to get acquainted with Polish modification of MiG-17. Aircraft is converted into Bidgoshkiya avioremonten plant as the pilon for UB-16 is mounted close to the body in front of the wing to the main landing gear hatch. Such a decision creates problems of balance of the airplane and is countered by using a solid mass in the tail of the plane. This significantly reduces the flight performance on the machine. P Mr. Atanasoff accepted otherwise. He developed his onw structure for hanging of bombs and blocks NURS which must be installed in the center of gravity – at the end of the wing outside the factory pilon, without prejudice to balance the airplane. For this to happen wing structure must be reinforced. Dimitar Atanasov make the necessary calculations – the wing is reinforced and new pylons may be as two UB-16 or two bombs of 250 kg. The prototype was developed and flight for three months. After further testing in a special program the airplane is allowed in regular operation and decided to retrofit standard. For two years in ARZ “Asparouh” under the guidance of Prof. Dimitar Atanasov Col. with additional pylons are equipped 36 MiG-17 aircraft, which proved very effective in shooting at ground targets.”