MiG-41: Russia wants a Mach 4 fighter that fires lasers at missiles

What you need to know: Russia has announced plans to develop a highly advanced fighter jet, the MiG-41, to replace the MiG-31 Foxhound.

-Claimed to reach near-space altitudes and speeds in excess of Mach 4, the MiG-41 is designed with futuristic technologies including anti-missile lasers and directed electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons.

-Despite bold claims, skepticism surrounds Russia’s ability to meet its ambitious goals by the 2030s, given that much of the proposed technology is experimental and the MiG company has struggled to respond to existing requests for the MiG-35.

Mach 4 and space capabilities: the MiG-41 fighter plane explained

Russia plans to “push the boundaries of aeronautical engineering” with the development of its newest fighter, the MiG-41, which is a proposed replacement for the MiG-31 “Foxhound.” According to Russian sources, the MiG-41 will fly at altitudes that no other warplane can reach, not only to the highest points of the atmosphere, but also to the depths of space, if necessary.

The situation is improving, with Russian aviation sources whispering that the MiG-41 will be so superior to anything fielded by other countries that it will “introduce features that the aviation world has not yet seen.” not yet seen.”

If the Russians are to be believed, we have come a long way since the dark days when Mikoyan Aircraft Corporation (the manufacturer of the MiG), after the collapse of the Soviet Union, could not produce its fifth-grade fighter jet. generation, the supposed rival. to the American F-22A Raptor, the MiG-1.44.

Russian fantasies of sixth generation warplanes

Of course, it wasn’t just in the 1990s and early 2000s that MiG Corporation couldn’t deliver on its extravagant promises.

Even today, as the war in Ukraine rages – which Russia’s strongman Vladimir Putin has described as an existential struggle for Russia – the MiG company cannot meet Russian demand for its product MiG-35. And the MiG-35 is a relatively easy aircraft to build compared to the proposed MiG-41.

Yet in today’s disrupted world, it rarely pays to underestimate your rivals.

Whatever one’s view of Russia following its illegal invasion of Ukraine, the fact is that, generally speaking, Russia’s defense industrial base benefited greatly from the war. (while Western defense industrial bases, both in Europe and the United States, can barely meet peacetime demand, let alone wartime commitments).

In fact, it appears that the situation of the 1990s and 2000s may be slowly reversing, with the United States emerging as a declining power with reduced and decrepit industrial capacity, facing the Russians, reinvigorated by their war against Ukraine ( and, therefore, NATO).

Regardless, the proposed MiG-41 has some truly insane capabilities that almost require one to be skeptical until one actually sees the proposed warplane in action.

MiG-41″ The last starfighter… in Russia?

It is assumed that the MiG-41 is capable of going beyond Mach 4. Russian designers also want to equip the Warbird with an anti-missile laser. Along the same lines, Mikoyan aims to place first-of-its-kind Directed Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) weapons aboard the bird for use against rival fighters in aerial combat.

These weapons are non-kinetic and target a rival warplane’s electronics, knocking them out, turning that rival warplane into a falling brick.

The Russian military says its directed EMP weapons will be ready for testing by next year. Again, remain skeptical of these claims until verifiable evidence is published that these systems exist.

One reason for the MiG-41’s potential spaceflight capabilities is its unique pulse detonation engines. The Internet is full of conspiracy theories about secret U.S. military planes using this advanced and innovative engine system to cruise at incredible speeds and altitudes. But the US military has never confirmed that it has actually developed such capabilities.

The Russians, however, say their next major fighter jet will use this method of travel. Let’s just say the engine system is a work in progress.

Still, MiG Corporation insists that the test flight of this bird will take place next year.

After that, Russia says the MiG-41 will enter mass production and be deployed by the 2030s. Given that almost every aspect of this proposed warplane is experimental, it seems unlikely that the Russians will comply these ambitious deadlines, even if their defense industrial base is reinvigorated by the war in Ukraine.

After all, if MiG Corporation struggles to meet the growing demand for the conventional MiG-35, it will certainly struggle to build the MiG-41. This project could go the way of the aforementioned MiG-1.44.

Dream big, Russia

Even if the Russians manage to implement this program, the likelihood that they will meet the established deadlines is low.

What Mikoyan Corporation announced is not a next-generation warplane at all. He’s a starfighter; a work of fiction that would work well on the big screen. Although having this bird fly into hostile skies in any meaningful way by the end of this decade would be fantastic.

Still, it makes for great propaganda – and probably some really cool concept art.

Keep dreaming big, Moscow. Eventually you will go far.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tomzrRoSwSk

About the author:

Brandon J. Weicherta national security project of national interest analystis a former congressman and geopolitical analyst who contributes to The Washington Times, Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is due October 22 from Encounter Books. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

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