“Russian MiG-31 Fighter Jet Crashes Due to Engine Fire: Expert Warns of Technical Condition of Russian Aviation”

On Wednesday, a Russian MiG-31 fighter jet crashed in the Russian Federation due to an engine fire.

Military policy analyst Aleksandr Kovalenko said that this is a clear example of the technical condition of Russian aviation and what the increased load on equipment leads to, which has exhausted all resources.

“MiG-31 fighters were produced from 1975 to 1994. That is, the youngest is 29 years old. After the cessation of fighter production, serial production of D-30F6 engines was gradually limited. Today, the Russian military-industrial complex can only maintain and repair the MiG-31 and its components. This is an old engine that has long exhausted its resources, regularly experiences a load that it simply cannot withstand due to complete wear and tear,» claims the expert.

The expert noted that in 2022, 4 MiG-31 accidents were officially confirmed in Russia. “Also, all 4 incidents are not directly related to the war in Ukraine. However, this is the record for MiG-31 losses in a year, if we do not forget that there may be unofficial losses that are not yet known. “It’s funny, but MiG-31s ​​have rarely participated in hostilities in the current war against Ukraine, but the Russian occupation forces continue to lose them,” added A. Kovalenko.