15 photos of the MiG-31, the Russian fighter jet that can fire the new Kinzhal hypersonic missile and has chased away SR-71 Blackbirds

Russian Ministry of Defense

The CEO of the Russian MiG corporation said in August that the MiG-41 "is not a mythical project" and that work on an experimental design for the fifth-generation interceptor will begin "in the immediate future."

In September 2017, the same MiG corporation chief executive, Ilya Tarasenko, also made some wild claims about the MiG-41, which will succeed the MiG-31, saying it would fly in space, reach speeds of 2,800 mph, carry lasers, and more.

Despite these statement and predictions, the MiG-41, if it's even made, would not be ready for deployment until between 2035 and 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 impossible, given the MiG-31's impressive capabilities.

In fact, the MiG-31 is the first jet to which Russia fitted its new Kh-47M2, or Kinzhal, air-launched hypersonic missile that Moscow claims can beat all US air defenses. 

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

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

See Also:

• Russia says its Su-57 stealth fighter will be armed with deadly hypersonic missiles that can defeat all US defenses

• The US AH-64 Apache and Russian Ka-52 are the world's most feared attack helicopters — here's how they match up

• 7 photos of the MiG-35, a highly maneuverable fighter jet that Russia hopes will keep the MiG corporation in business