Fighter Aircraft
The MiG-27 FLOGGER, MiG-29 FULCRUM, and MiG-31 FOXHOUND were the most capable Soviet fighter aircraft during the 1970s and 1980s.
The MiG-27 FLOGGER, MiG-29 FULCRUM, and MiG-31 FOXHOUND were some of the most effective Soviet fighter aircraft built during the Cold War era. The Soviet Air Force began searching for a replacement of its MiG-21, MiG-23, and MiG-25 combat aircraft. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Soviet Air Force developed a new generation of multirole fighter and interceptor aircraft. These new combat aircraft have proliferated worldwide during the Cold War era.
MiG-27 FLOGGER
The Mikoyan MiG-27 FLOGGER is an advanced ground-attack fighter aircraft. It was designed to replace the MiG-21 and MiG-23 combat aircraft. The warplane became the primary fighter aircraft for the Union of Socialist Soviet Republic’s (USSR) tactical air forces. This combat aircraft is still flown by all former Warsaw Pact Air Forces, although it is being replaced by more modern and capable fighter aircraft. Many MiG-27 FLOGGER aircraft serve in an advance fighter role, and are configured for high performance with modest weapons load.
The MiG-27 FLOGGER was a more advanced version of the MiG-23 fighter aircraft. The aircraft was designed for dedicated ground-attack missions and it is optimized for operations over different battlefields. The most significant difference is the aircraft’s nose, which was designed to give the pilot an enhanced visual perspective of the ground during combat. This fighter aircraft entered service during the late 1970s. Its maximum speed is about 1,885 kilometers per hour; it reaches altitudes of 14,000 meters; its combat radius is 540 kilometers; it is armed with one 23 millimeter cannon and it has provision for up to 4,000 kilograms of weapons store.
MiG-29 FULCRUM
The Mikoyan MiG-29 FULCRUM is an advanced multirole fighter aircraft. During the mid 1980s, the MiG-29 fighters were first identified by Western aircraft analysts when a squadron from Kubinka Airbase visited Finland’s Kuopio-Rissala Airbase. Its maximum speed equals 2,443 kilometers per hour; it reaches altitudes of 17,000 meters; its range with fuel tanks equals 1,500 kilometers. It is armed with one 30 millimeter cannon carrying 150 rounds of firepower; it has eight external hard-points with provision for up to 4,500 kilograms.
MiG-31 FOXHOUND
The Mikoyan MiG-31 FOXHOUND was developed during the 1970s from the MiG-25 FOXBAT multirole fighter to counter the growing threat of low-flying cruise missiles and bombers. The FOXHOUND was a significant improvement over its older FOXBAT version because it was equipped with tandem seat cockpit, infrared (IR) tracking heat sensors, and a pulse-Doppler radar system which provide the fire-and-forget engagement capability. Its maximum speed equals 3,000 kilometers per hour; it can reach altitudes of 20,600 meters; its combat radius is 1,400 kilometers; it is armed with one 23 millimeter cannon, and it can carry provisions for missiles, ECM pods, or drop tanks.