Politics: 15 photos of the MiG-31, the Russian fighter jet that can chase away SR-71 Blackbirds

Take a look at what the MiG-31 can do.

The CEO of the Russia's Mikoyan aircraft company recently made some wild claims about the MiG-41 — the successor to the MiG-31 — saying it would fly in space, reach speeds of 2,800 mph, carry lasers, and more.

Despite such outlandish predictions, the MiG-41, if it's actually made, will not be ready for deployment until around 2035 to 2040, which means the MiG-31 will be Russia's main interceptor well into the 2030s.

And while these predictions are rather fanciful, they're not completely impossible, given the MiG-31s impressive capabilities.

Take a look at what the MiG-31 can do.

The MiG-31, which NATO calls Foxhound, made it's first flight in 1975 and was the MiG-25s successor.

Source: Globalsecurity.org.

As an interceptor, the Foxhound was not made for dog fights, but instead for defending Russia's borders from enemy bombers, able to swoop in quickly and hit targets before jetting out.

Source: Globalsecurity.org and The National Interest.

Unlike the MiG-25, it has a backseat for the Weapons Systems Officer to operate the Zaslon radar.

The Zaslon S-800 Passive Electronically Scanned Array radar was made to track low flying bombers, and originally had a range of 125 miles, which Russia has since upgraded multiple times.

Source: The National Interest.

The MiG-31 needs about 3,900 feet to take off.

Source: Globalsecurity.org.

It has two Tumanski R-15BD-300 turbojets, which can bring the Foxhound to nearly 34,000 feet in 8 minutes. Below is a shot of the engine's afterburners in action.

Source: Globalsecurity.org.

This is the MiG-31BM, the newest MiG-31 variant, which features a Zaslon-M radar with a range of nearly 200 miles, longer range air-to-air missiles, like the R-33S, and more.

Source: Globalsecurity.org.

The MiG-31 can reach 33,800 feet in 8 minutes, and even hit altitudes of 67,500 feet.

The second layer of the atmosphere, the stratosphere, starts at 59,000 feet.

Source: Globalsecurity.org.

It has a top speed of Mach 3, and can hit Mach 1.23 at low altitudes.

Source: The National Interest.

This is why it's been dubbed a "Mach 3 Monster" by The National Interest.

There have been multiple accounts of MiG-31 fighters chasing away SR-71s, the legendary high-altitude US spy plane.

A Russian pilot claimed he was able to lock his missiles onto an SR-71 during one incident, and 6 Foxhounds reportedly cornered a Blackbird in another.

Source: The National Interest and The Aviationist.

The Foxhound's main armament is the R-33 long-range missile, which is similar to the F-14s AIM-51 Phoenix missile, and it can lock onto 4 different targets at once.

It can hold 4 of the R-33 long-range missiles, and 2 R-40TD-1 medium range missiles and 4 R-60MK short range missiles. It also has a 9-A-768 23-mm gun.

Source: The National Interest and Globalsecurity.org.

The Mig-31DZ, a variant released in 1989, was the first MiG-31 able to refuel in midair.

Source: The National Interest.

The Foxhound needs about 2,600 feet to land.

Source: Globalsecurity.org.

Moscow currently has about 252 MiG-31s, and plans to make 100 MiG-31BMs and MiG-31BSMs by 2020.

Source: The National Interest.

And while Mikoyen has plans for a MiG-31 successor, the MiG-41, the Foxhound will continue flying until at least 2030.

Source: The National Interest.

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