A photo of a MiG-31 interceptor jet carrying a huge missile has sparked speculation that Russia has revived an old project involving an air-launched anti-satellite weapon system.
MiG-31 is a superfast Mach-3 fighter jet which recently acquired fame as the platform for the hypersonic Kinzhal missile. A new photo has emerged of a MiG-31 carrying an even bigger rocket during a flight in Zhukovsky, an air range near Moscow. Some believe the black projectile is a full-scale mock-up of a new missile, which may be used to deliver small payloads into orbit or rake down enemy satellites on short notice.
The photo was first published on jetphotos.com by user ShipSash and has been extensively reported on Saturday by The Drive. The defense news website reports that the MiG-31 with ID number ‘81 Blue’ slightly differs in design from the MiG-31BM, the standard upgraded variant of the jet. It appears to be one of two experimental aircraft of this design. Those may be the long-speculated “Izdelie 08” variant, meant as a platform for launching anti-satellite weapons.
Russian MiG-31 Foxhound has the ability to carry heavy loads to high altitudes and at mach 3. A launch platform not just for ballistic missiles meant to strike targets on the surface of the earth,but also for small suborbital or even orbital payloads https://t.co/3Wej9TxZwl— AUC3I (@AUC31) October 1, 2018
The Soviet Union did develop an air-launched direct ascent missile called 79M8 Kontakt, which was meant to be launched from a MiG-31D. Intended as a counterpart for the US ASM-135 anti-satellite missile, the Soviet system wrapped up in the 1990s with the collapse of the Soviet military. There were attempts to repurpose it as a system for space launches of small payloads, but it didn’t get far.
On September 14th, 2018, an image of a MiG-31 Foxhound interceptor jet carrying a large missile sparked speculation that Russia has developed an air-launched anti-satellite weapon system, according to The Drive.
The launch system was photographed at Zhukovsky Airport, one of four international airports in Moscow, by aviation photographer ShipSash.
Zhukovsky is an experimental military base for Russian aerial weaponry, equivalent to Edwards Air Force Base in the US.
The airport has the second largest publically accessible runway in the world, measuring nearly 18,000-foot long.
According to The Drive, the MiG-31 has been reconfigured by its original manufacturer to carry hypersonic missiles known as the Kinzhal, and or can carry an anti-satellite weapon or space launch system:
The MiG-31D has had verticle "winglets" installed on the wingtips to increase stability when an anti-satellite missile is secured underneath the airframe.
Mikoyan OKB's idea behind the Mig-31D was to fly as high and fast as possible to get the heavy anti-satellite missile in position to fire.
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