“In the Arctic Region we are deploying both reconnaissance equipment designed to detect enemy aircraft and fighter aircraft, including MiG-31 jets,” Makarov said.

He noted that MiG-31 jets would be protecting our ports, transport routes and hubs as well as ships throughout the whole Arctic Region. “In particular, these MiG aircraft will be protecting ships travelling along Northern Sea Route in case of a military conflict,” General Makarov added.

The two-seat supersonic MiG-31 fighter interceptor is the fourth-generation Russian combat aircraft. It is fitted with long-range air-to-air missiles able to intercept and destroy cruise missiles at extremely low altitudes. At present air defense forces of Russia operate over 250 MiG-31 fighter-interceptors.

Over 130 upgraded MiG-31BM aircraft will also join the fleet of Russian armed forces (24 vehicles have already been delivered to the customer), Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia Yuri Borisov told TASS during his visit to Sokol aviation plant (Nizhny Novgorod).

“We are expecting deliveries of more than 130 upgraded MiG-31 jets. The upgraded great aircraft offering an extremely high performance,” Borisov said. According to him, about 12 or 13 jets of the type will be upgraded annually.

The first contract for upgrading MiG-31 jets was signed in 2011. Under the agreement over 50 upgraded jets of the type must be delivered to Russian air forces until 2019. In autumn 2014 another contract for delivery of more than 50 MiG-31BM aircraft was signed. These vehicles should be delivered to the armed forces by late 2018.

Borisov also said that the defense industry is implementing a program, for phasing out imports on schedule. According to him, his visit to Sokol plant once again confirmed this point. “Almost all the Russian enterprises are working on development and production of products, which were delivered from Ukraine before. It is a vast nomenclature. We had a schedule for 186 products, but now I’m talking about hundreds of different components,” Borisov noted.

Deputy Minister of Defense said that service life of MiG-31BM aircraft is around 40-45 years and it may be extended to 50 years. “The aircraft gets new lease on life. It is clear that after the upgrade its service life will be 40-45 years and it’s only the beginning. I am sure that the possibility of extending its service life to 50 years will be considered,” Borisov said.

Borisov also noted that Russian air forces would take delivery of 30 MiG-35 fighters in the network of State Arms Program for the period until 2020. “30 jets of the type are included in the State Arms Program,” Borisov said adding that the first two jets of the type will be delivered under a contract for research and development work. Upon completion of this work a contract for deliveries of production fighters of the type will be signed, the Deputy Minister noted.