Russia had little need, and even less resources for new interceptors in the 90s and the 2000s. But on the verge of 2010s, the situation started changing, and the country turned towards investing large money into its defense industry once again.

In April 2013 there was a prominent hearing in the State Duma, the lower chamber of the Russian parliament. It was solely dedicated to the question of the MiG-31.

According to the information presented, over 30% of Russian airspace was no longer controlled by the countrys Air Force. Areas that needed coverage were mostly in the Far East, and with the rising tensions in the Arctic – in the north. Long-range interceptors are a perfect fit for those gaps, but of roughly 500 MiG-31s manufactured, less than 120 were operational.

With a bit of investment, this number could be raised to 300, and titanium airframes of existing MiGs showed no signs of ageing. Furthermore, all the facilities to resume manufacturing of Foxhounds were still in place.

So, there were three possible solutions to the “30% hole in the airspace” problem: to start making new MiGs in the old mold, to modernize existing ones, or to come up with something completely new. Victor Bondarev, Commander-in-chief of the Air Force, strongly defended the third option. But it was rejected in favour of the first two. 

Since then, the fleet of MiG-31s was refurbished, expanded, and brought to the level prepared back in the 80s: with R-37s and anti-satellite rockets. Nevertheless, despite the rejection of Bondarev’s idea, there are all assumptions to consider this hearing as the beginning of the story of the MiG-41. Not only was it the first time the question of a new Russian heavy interceptor was raised in public, but it also kick-started the search of previously abandoned ideas within Russia’s infosphere. ..

俄羅斯國家技術集團（Rostec）宣布，第五代超高速戰鬥機MiG-41研發計畫正式啟動表示，MiG-41計畫在2025年前後推出原型機，然後花5年的時間完善，在2030年左右量產，銜接已服役超過40年的MiG-31。

戰機世界(FighterJetsWorld)報導，Rostec表示：「下一代攔截機的開發工作正式啟動，計畫名叫 PAK DP，編號為MiG-41。」.....

倫敦的航空技術分析師道（Douglas Barrie）直接懷疑俄羅斯是否有能力在2025年完成原型機開發,以俄羅斯的財政對於國防預算吃緊的狀況下是否落實執行,令人懷疑,至於美國及NATO.截至目前為止,沒有任何評論,但是指出俄羅斯近年來紙上談兵比較活躍,例如還要建造新型核子動力航空母艦等等與美國對抗.

俄羅斯RSK MiG公司日前表示Mikoyan設計局將持續研發新型MiG-41攔截機為PAK-DP長程攔截機計畫研發機種,並說明具備匿蹤技術,飛行速度在4.0~4.3馬赫

以及1,500公里作戰半徑,可配備R-37長程空對空飛彈和現有空對空武器,以及搭載新型多功能長程攔截飛彈系統(MPKR DP)為高超音速飛彈並搭載多枚飛彈,以增

加攔截高超音速武器機會或者可能配備反飛彈雷射武器系等,計畫將在2025年後進行首次飛行測試作業,

Russia’s Confirms The Development Of Next-Generation Long-range Interceptor To Replace An Aging Fleet Of MiG-31 Fighter Jets.

Russia’s main state-owned industrial conglomerate Rostec has confirmed the development of a next-generation long-range interceptor to replace an aging fleet of MiG-31 fighter jets.

According to a press release by Rostec, the new interceptor already entered the development stage and called the MiG-41.

“Development of the next-generation of interceptor aircraft has already begun,” the company said. “The project of the Perspective Long-Range Aviation Complex (PAK DP) under the codename “MiG-41″ is at the stage of the development stage.”

 The Sci-Fi MiG-41 designed by Yartsev in 2010 was used where possible, and as the artist admitted to AeroTime, his inbox got flooded with requests to make more renders and blueprints. But the MiG-21-inspired plane was clearly not a heavy fighter, and images were way too dramatic to be official visualizations of a real military project.

The “into space” remark could be interpreted as a possibility of anti-satellite armament, a capability already present in the MiG-31. Notably, the name “MiG-41” was never mentioned by any military official or a person connected to MiG. It was used only by journalists, politicians like Tarnaev, and experts like Kovchiur.

The “into space” remark could be interpreted as a possibility of anti-satellite armament, a capability already present in the MiG-31. Notably, the name “MiG-41” was never mentioned by any military official or a person connected to MiG. It was used only by journalists, politicians like Tarnaev, and experts like Kovchiur.