Why Russian MiG-31K Jets with Mach 10 Hypersonic Missiles Just Made Their First Ever Deployment to Syria

deployed MiG-31K Foxhound

The Russian Air Force has deployed MiG-31K Foxhound heavyweight combat jets to Khmeimim Airbase in Syria, its most active military facility outside the former USSR, following an expansion of the base’s runways in 2020. This follows the first ever deployment of Tu-22M supersonic bombers to the facility in May, with the longer runways being key to hosting such aircraft. Russian state media outlet RT referred to the MiG-31K as interceptors, and showed footage of them flying without their standard armament of Kh-47M2 hypersonic ballistic missiles – indicating that they may be deploying with air to air missiles as well such as the long range R-37.

Interceptor variants of the MiG-31, the MiG-31BM and MiG-31BSM, are considered the country’s most capable aircraft in terms of air to air capabilities fielded at squadron level strength. Syria was reported to have previously shown an interest in acquiring the aircraft, which are prized for their unrivalled speed and engagement range and the very high degree of situational awareness provided by their Zaslon-M radars. 

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