I really don't see why a Foxhound would do much for Syria.  The MiG-31 is designed as a long-range interceptor, to guard Russia's very long borders against an American bomber stream or cruise missile attack.  Israel and Syria are so close together that by the time the Foxhounds get in the air, they may find themselves under Tomahawk attack or launching into a skyful of F-15s.  While the MiG-31 is a superb interceptor, possibly even the best in the world right now, it's no dogfighter.  A F-15 will eat it up.  The mini-AWACS thing I can buy, but why not just buy some A-50s from Russia?  And this is assuming the Russians haven't sold a downgraded MiG-31 to the Syrians--because you never know when some disgruntled Syrian pilot might decide to defect.

 

IMHO, this means one of two things:

 

1) The report is bullshit. 

2) The Syrians bought them because they look kewl, not because they'll be any more effective against the Israelis (given the generally low quality of Syrian pilots), and Bashir Assad is also trying to overcompensate.  He's got to have something he can use as prestige.  The latest Russian hardware is a good place to start, and the Russians have no problem proving to the Syrians PT Barnum's old adage about fools and their money.

 

As for ASAT - I suspect the Chinese DF-21 ASAT mod would be far better suited for a sale than the unproven MiG-31 ASAT which never went beyond the suggestion stage.  The PRC would not mind selling Syria the system and would - no doubt - give them a good price.

There's a third possibility. A reason for purchasing such a limited number of high-altitude interceptors might be for ASAT work with a yet-undisclosed Russian weapon. The MiG-31 would be the best and most efficient ASAT "first stage" out there, and I think the Syrians are pretty convinced by now that they can't hide anything from Israeli space assets, and that they'd better do something about it if they want to go forward with their evil plans.

An ASAT shot is not that simple! Even the F-15 with an Orbital Science Happy Birthday present would find it tough to hit a mid range orbit bird.

 

Herald

 Any sale of ASAT weaponry would be a major international incident, second only to the sale of a nuclear warhead.  It is unlikely that either Russia or China would risk it.

And, Herald, welcome back. Sysop had a bad day on that idiotic and endless Rafale thread. Which makes me think: what if our new, horribly right-wing, bloated government achieves sufficient rogue status for the US to pull the F-35 proposal, and for the French to find us Ghaddafi-cute enough to offer the Rafale instead?

 

With the MiG-35 in Syria in the North, and, obviously, the EF-2000 in Jihad Central-Saudyia to the South, there's no doubt the IDF/AF needs to rethink its long-neglected (for lack of credible threats) A2A doctrine. Lagging a generation behind in platforms is certainly not going to cut it. What do you think?

And, Herald, welcome back. Sysop had a bad day on that idiotic and endless Rafale thread. Which makes me think: what if our new, horribly right-wing, bloated government achieves sufficient rogue status for the US to pull the F-35 proposal, and for the French to find us Ghaddafi-cute enough to offer the Rafale instead?

 

With the MiG-35 in Syria in the North, and, obviously, the EF-2000 in Jihad Central-Saudyia to the South, there's no doubt the IDF/AF needs to rethink its long-neglected (for lack of credible threats) A2A doctrine. Lagging a generation behind in platforms is certainly not going to cut it. What do you think?