Putin's "super Fighter Jet" Hovered On Paper

Why can't the MiG-41 take off?

Russia's ambitious program to build the advanced MiG-41 interceptor (PAK DP), which was supposed to reach speeds of more than Mach 4, has effectively come to a pause due to the war against Ukraine and economic sanctions, writes 19FortyFive.

The world continues to develop sixth-generation fighters. The United States is working on the NGAD program, which is developing Boeing's new F-47 fighter. Similar projects are also being developed by China and European states.

In response, Russia offered to create a new long-range MiG-41 interceptor to replace the Soviet MiG-31.

A plane with "space" characteristics

The preliminary concept was to give the new Russian fighter aircraft extraordinary performance:

speed of more than Mach 4;

ability to fly at altitudes close to space;

use of hypersonic air-to-air missiles;

ability to intercept stealth aircraft and even satellites;

the integration of experimental directed energy weapons was also envisioned.

War and sanctions stopped the ambitions

But, according to experts, the resources of the Russian defense industry are now focused on the production of more necessary equipment - artillery, missiles and drones for war.

Because of this, the development of a complex and expensive aircraft is actually "frozen in time."

Even modern programs are stalled

Analysts note that Russia has so far failed to establish large-scale production of its fifth-generation Su-57 fighter.

Therefore, the likelihood that the country will soon be able to create an even more sophisticated interceptor with a speed of more than Mach 4 is estimated as very low.

Moscow is relying on old aircraft

In place of this, the Russian military continues to modernize its existing MiG-31 interceptors. These aircraft are already used as carriers of hypersonic missiles and remain a key platform for Russia's air defense.

Experts believe that upgrading existing equipment is a much more realistic strategy for Moscow than building a brand new sixth-generation aircraft.

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