Russian Ministry of Defense signed contract for upgrading 50 MiG-31 aircraft

Russian Aviaton » Monday December 8, 2014 09:53 MSK



Russian Ministry of Defense signed contract with United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) for upgrading 50 MiG-31 aircraft, Lenta.ru reports with reference to the ministry.

Under this contract 50 upgraded MiG-31BM jets will be delivered to the armed forces by the end of 2018. The value of this contract exceeds 30 billion rubles.

«These are state-of-the-art aircraft able to destroy air targets at long distances; these vehicles will strengthen the combat potential of our air forces,» Deputy Minister of Defense, Yuri Borisov, said.

This is the second contract for upgrading MiG-31 jets signed by the Russian Ministry of Defense and aimed at expansion of capabilities of the national air forces. The first contract with Sokol Company was signed in 2011. Under the agreement over 50 MiG-31BM aircraft should be delivered to the armed forces by 2019. The latest contract was signed thanks to upgrade of the enterprise’s production capacities, including reconstruction of assembly and machining workshops as well as flight test facilities.

According to some sources, the Ministry of Defense plans to upgrade 120 – 150 MiG-31 jets. It is expected that some of them will be based in Arctic regions.

http://www.ruaviation.com/news/2014/12/8/2797/