Inna Andalitskaya14:50, 22.08.24

The expert noted that due to the specificity of Russian MIGs, the enemy loses an air combat unit about once a year due to spontaneous engine combustion.

As a result of strikes on the Russian airfield “Savasleyka” from 25 to 50% of the enemy’s MiGs could be destroyed. Such figures were announced by the editor-in-chief of Defence Express Oleg Katkov on the air of Radio NV .

He recalled that in an interview with an American publication, the head of the GUR, Kirill Budanov, had already officially announced the destruction of a MiG-31 aircraft during the August 16 strike on Savasleyka.

“As for the number of damaged aircraft, Ukrainian publications, citing their own sources, cited quite serious figures. Because, perhaps, we are talking about up to six MiG-31s ​​being damaged. This is a very serious figure, because, according to optimistic estimates, there are approximately 24 MiG-31Ks in the Russian Federation. And if one is destroyed, that’s already super, and 6 are damaged, then we are talking about 25% of such machines. And considering that, according to a more realistic estimate, there are 12 of them, that is, one squadron, then this is already 50%. And these are very, very serious losses,” Katkov commented.

He noted that he had raised all the threat warnings that had been issued by the Air Force recently, and from this it was clear that there had been no takeoffs from Savasleyka or MiG-31K threats for a very long time.

“That is, somewhere, perhaps, something somehow coincided. Let’s hope that it is not a question of the planes being hit and they can be repaired in the short term. That is, the result is amazing, if we are really talking about a completely destroyed MiG-31K, about the possibility of hitting another 6 aircraft. Then it is an astronomical success,” Katkov said.

He noted that the MiG-31 is no longer produced by the Russian Federation, meaning that any loss of this aircraft is irreversible.

Russians are losing MiGs even outside combat conditions

The expert explained that this was due to the technical features of the aircraft.

“The machine is very specific, old. It has specific fuel – only for it. A fairly common problem-disease that has not been cured in the MiG-31 is their engines, which regularly burn out. Right in flight. And for understanding, practicing landing with one working engine, and the other burning – this is a standard exercise that pilots begin to learn immediately upon mastering this aircraft. About once a year in the current conditions in the Russian Federation they lose a MiG-31 – not 31K, but others they have – interceptors. And they lose one a year due to an engine fire. That is, the engine starts to burn and the machine does not make it to the airfield,” the expert explained.

Regarding the MiG-31K, he noted that this was a conversion specifically for the Kinzhal carrier and after the appropriate adaptation to the missiles, the Latak can no longer perform any other tasks.

“According to the available information, during the work on the 31K, most likely due to the issue of the payload capacity of this machine, part of the onboard radar equipment is removed, including the radar station, and even the pylons and mounts for them are removed in order to lighten the machine so that it can lift and accelerate the Kinzhal. The return journey after converting the MiG aircraft into the 31K is almost impossible,” Katkov said.

Strikes on Savasleyka airbase

On August 21, sources informed UNIAN that as a result of the attack on the Savasleyka military airfield in the Nizhny Novgorod region of the Russian Federation on August 16, three enemy aircraft were destroyed and another five were damaged . The operation was carried out by the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine.

The strike on the Savasleyka airfield was carried out using kamikaze drones. Sources noted that as a result of the attack, “a MIG-31K aircraft, two Il-76 aircraft were destroyed and about five aircraft, presumably MIG-31Ks, were damaged.”

An attack on the airfield was also carried out on August 13, as a result of which a fuel depot was hit and a MIG-31K/I aircraft was damaged. According to space intelligence, at the time of the attack on August 13, there were 11 MIG-31K/I aircraft, an Il-76 aircraft, five Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters at the aforementioned airfield.

(c)UNIAN 2024