i'm tending to think its a far more simple issue.

ie, the syrians  had to wear it on the chin when the israelis smacked their nuke site with impunity.  I'm guessing what they're hoping is that if there is a next time, and if they can detect them, they think that at least they can get some interceptors up in time.

that doesn't address the fact that as the israelis managed to enter their airspace, violate their pride, destroy their facilities etc...  they they (syrians) have probably got two chances of getting a response off and get a result.

it's a dignity recovery purchase, and in real terms a WOFTAM

I find it somewhat amazing that I was missed.  Maybe I do have a positive impact?

 

But anyway the topic is the MiG 31. Even if the report is spurious, what can Iran do with five to eight MiG 31s?

 

Let's speculate.  Iran operated the F-14 Tomcat. The MiG 31M is somewhat similar in operational concept and electronic fit. Now what do I need to reverse engineer such an aircraft? I woul;d want electroniics that could be within my tech reach with either a supplier or native resources. Russian tech, which I never sneer at, is just about within reach of a nation that can build 1980 era computers.

 

Its a wild idea, biut Syria to Iran to PRCs is possible.

 

Herald

 

 

 

 

   

Sentinel,

Let me ask you a follow up question. Do you think it makes a difference if you are a  pilot in transit ~200km off the cost of Syria and the Syrian CAP consist of 2 Mig-23/29 or  a single Mig-31? The difference is you may not be in any danger from the smaller Migs. But the Mig-31 can if so ordered chase you down and make the attempt to kill you.

-DA 

More than you know Herald.  Welcome back.

Welcome back, Herald.

 

This seems to almost be a desperation purchase since I can't imagine they would have much of an impact.  If memory serves, the MiG-25 was originally designed to chase down the XB-70 Valkrie supersonic bomber.  The XB-70 didn't make into full scale production, but the Russkies continued on with the MiG-25.  The MiG-25, with Mach 3 speed, became the USSR's answer to the SR-71, and in the early 1970's it was flying high speed/high altitude spy missions over Israel that were invulnerable to Israeli (or American, for that matter) F-4 Phantoms.  The MiG-25 concerned American military planners so much that they pushed hard for a high tech replacement for the F-4, which turned out to be the F-15 Eagle.  When a Russian pilot defected to Japan in 1976 with an interceptor version of the MiG-25, military analysts found out that the MiG-25 was nearly as advanced as they had originally thought, that it was not really designed to be flown at Mach 3 for any length of time, and probably wasn't a very impressive fighter at low speed. 

 

The MiG-31 is a development of the MiG-25, but with reduced air performance and better electronics.  It could still fly at Mach 2+ speed, but the focus now was to make it a better interceptor and ECM aircraft.  It makes sense that the Syrians may be using it as an ECM aircraft or a makeshift AWACS platform, but as one poster already stated, a lot of work and additional purchases would be necessary to make it usable in this role.  I would have to imagine that there are better aircraft out there, such as the IL-76, that would do this job much better.  The Syrians got seriously embarassed by the IAF a few years ago when the Israelis destroyed a Syrian nuclear facility with seemingly no response from the Syrian Air Force.  Maybe Assad thinks that the MiG-31s will give him more of an edge if the Israelis strike again, but I'm afraid he is only fooling himself. 

Herald made a good point comparing Iranian F-14 employment during Iran-Iraq wars. Their AIM-54 missiles were useless, but they some how made good use of AWG-9. We can only expect that Syrian AF would use MIG-31 much the same way as Iranians did, plus R-37 or R-33 missiles they have will be functional.

 

That would put some pressure on IDF/AF since the mere presence of MIG-31 in the air will complicate their operation. Operations such as the one they carried out in 2006 may be jeopardized by MIG-31 with R-37.

this could be out of date, but the Syrians already had Mig25's which never managed to do anything against tyhe Israelis a few years back:

7 Squadron

MiG-25PD/PU/RB

so, nominally 4 squadrons of Mig25's didn't get to defend airspace even effectively.  that would indicate that they couldn't detect early enough (or at all).

so unless they've had a quantum leap in airspace management - those Mig31's would need to be virtually on constant CAP to see anything - and then they'd have to be in the right spots anyway.

"pride queens" methinks.... 

link ">

1 Squadron		MiG-25PD/PU/RB
5 Squadron		MiG-25PD/PU/RB