Lybian MiG-25s flying again

Satellite imagery of Misrata and Mitiga airbase confirm that Libya Dawn has recently gotten at least one MiG-25 operational, or is in the progress of making it operational. Libya Dawn is working on restoring one of Libya's Foxbats. This news comes just as it has been confirmed that the Libyan Air Force is now working on making at least one Mirage F.1AD fighter-bomber operational.
Libya Dawn, fighting for Libya's unrecognised parliament currently residing in the capital of Tripoli, is in terms of personnel and equipment the second-strongest force currently fighting in Libya. The most powerful force remains the Libyan National Army (LNA), fighting for Libya's internationally recognsed government residing in Tobruk.
Libya Dawn is in control of a vast amount of land in Libya, including Libya's capital Tripoli and large cities like Misrata and parts of Benghazi. It also controls Tripoli International Airport and strategically important airbases such as Mitiga, Misrata and al-Jufra, the last of these housing a large part of Libya's now decommissioned MiG-25 fleet and all of Libya's decommissioned Tu-22 bombers. Thanks to the aircraft and equipment found on these airbases, Libya Dawn succeeded in establishing their very own air force consisting of at least two Soko G-2 Galebs, one J-21 Jastreb, a couple of L-39s and two MiG-23MLDs in addition to several Il-76s, SF-260s and a small number of helicopters. Libya Dawn is currently also working on bringing one MiG-23UB and two Soko G-2 Galebs operational at Mitiga, with more airframes likely to follow.
One of the MiG-23MLDs operating out of Misrata was shot down by an Igla-S fired from a Strelets launcher while bombing the airstrip of al-Zintan on the 23th of March 2015, with its pilot KIA.
spioenkop

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Suggests Resuming MiG-31 Interceptor Aircraft Production

The production of MiG-31 interceptor aircraft should resume, as they could prove effective for another 15 years, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Friday.
“The aircraft had no rivals. That was the opinion of the Military-Industrial Commission, the Defense Ministry, the industry on the whole and even the State Duma, which used to hold special hearings on the subject of the interceptor. The production should be revived, as the jet is being upgraded. This fighter will certainly be effective for another 15 years, with its various modifications that are up to today’s military requirements,” Rogozin said.
The deputy prime minister went on to say that he believed the aircraft had big export potential and expected high demand for the MiG-31.
The MiG-31 is a long-range supersonic interceptor aircraft based on the MiG-25. The MiG-31 went into production in 1979, with some 500 delivered. In 1994, production of the jets was curtailed.
ria.ru

Syria's MiG-25s fly again

Video footage coming out of Syria has revealed that some of the country's MiG-25 'Foxbat' aircraft are operational.

The Syrian Arab Air Force acquired an unknown number of MiG-25s from the late 1970s in four variants: MiG-25P and MiG-25PD interceptors, MiG-25RB reconnaissance bombers, and MiG-25PU trainers.
The SAAF was believed to have retired its MiG-25s by 2011. This impression was bolstered by satellite imagery showing numerous MiG-25s left in the open at Tiyas Air Base (also known as T4) rather than stored in hardened aircraft shelters.
Satellite imagery of the base taken on 3 November 2013 shows 28 MiG-25s, the majority of which are on parking areas around the runway, but 12 have been towed into the desert, suggesting they are derelict. Imagery taken on 1 January suggests none of the 28 aircraft were moved over the following two months.
Nevertheless, a video released by an insurgent group on 8 August 2012 suggested some MiG-25s might be operational at the Tadmur (Palmyra) Air Base, which is 60 km to the east of Tiyas. The video showed two seemingly active MiG-25PD/PDS interceptors and one MiG-25PU trainer on the tarmac at a base the group identified as Tadmur. No MiG-25RB reconnaissance aircraft were sighted.
This assertion was confirmed by the two videos released in March, both of which showed a lone MiG-25 flying over Uqayribat, a town 60 km north of Tiyas Air Base and a little further from Tadmur.
While it is unclear which MiG-25 variant can be seen in the footage, the group that released one of the videos claimed the aircraft being viewed had just returned from a bombing mission, meaning it would have to be a MiG-25RB, which has a limited - albeit inaccurate - ground-attack capability.
It now seems the SAAF never formally phased out its MiG-25s, with most of them simply being set aside as scarce fuel was needed elsewhere. As its Su-22, Su-24 and MiG-23 fleets are worn down by their frequent usage and sporadic hits by insurgent air defences, the SAAF has increasingly started to use aircraft less suited for the air-to-ground role, such as its MiG-23MF/ML, MiG-29 and now even MiG-25RB aircraft.
It is also plausible the MiG-25 will return to the skies in order to protect SAAF ground-attack aircraft flying close to the Turkish border in the wake of the shooting down of a Syrian MiG-23 by a Turkish F-16. MiG-25PD/PDS interceptors armed with R-40RD semi-active radar homing and R-40TD infrared homing missiles might cause the Turkish Air Force to think twice before engaging Syrian planes again.
janes

Azerbaijan to modernize MiG-25 foxbats included in Air Forces’s inventory

Azerbaijan will modernize Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 (NATO codename Foxbat) military aircrafts included in the inventory of the Air Force in the Aircraft Repair Plant of Azerbaijan.
Aircraft Repair Plant of Azerbaijan has implemented several modernization projects of MiG-25 foxbats so far. The Plant’s last project was related with the modernization of MiG-25 foxbats of Algeria Air Forces.
Azerbaijani Air Forces’s inventory includes 10 modified items of MiG-25 foxbats, 6 of MiG-25PD and 4 of MiG-25RB.
Azerbaijan purchased 8 items of MiG-25 foxbats from Kazakhstan in 1993.
apa.az

Russian Air Force Readies for Massive Drills

More than 70 aircraft and some 1,000 troops will be deployed in a series of tactical drills in preparation for a large-scale exercise next week in northwest Russia, military officials said on Tuesday.
Preparations for the exercise, codenamed Ladoga-2013, have begun in the Republic of Karelia, and the Leningrad, Smolensk and Tver regions with tactical drills by fighters, bombers and army aviation.
Aviation to be used includes MiG-31 Foxhound and Su-27 Flanker fighters, MiG-25RB Foxbat interceptors, Su-24M Fencer attack aircraft, Su24MR reconnaissance aircraft and Mi-8 Hip multirole helicopters and Mi-24 Hind attack helicopters.
Ladoga-2013 will start next week over Lake Ladoga in Karelia, which borders Finland, the Western Military District operation command said.

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