Summary
- MiG-41 is Russia’s new 6th-gen fighter, aiming to replace MiG-31 with hypersonic speeds of Mach 4-4.5.
- MiG-41 development is still at a conceptual stage, with conflicting opinions on its capabilities and potential deployment timeline.
- Russia’s inclination towards the MiG-41 program may be driven by a need to assert relevance in the military aviation sector.
While Russia may be finally (and timidly) using its Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets in Ukraine, the United States Air Force is well on its way to developing a sixth-generation fighter jet. Not to be outdone, Russia has announced it, too, is developing a sixth-generation fighter jet called the PAK DP or Mikoyan MiG-41 (although it currently lacks an official name). However, the MiG-41 tends to set the comments section of the internet aflame, with some claiming it will be the first and best 6th-generation fighter while others see it as little more than a Russian propaganda flight of fancy.
What is known about the MiG-41
PAK DP (ПАК ДП) is the short form of ‘Prospective Air Complex for Long-Range Interception.’ Russian reports claim it is a project to develop the next generation of stealth interceptor aircraft and heavy fighters. However, it is difficult to find good information about the Russian PAK DP program.
Vladislav Vinogradov | Shutterstock
It also said the aircraft is classified as 5++ and “potentially even 6th generation.” Russia needs a fast interceptor as it is such a vast country that airbases are often far away. The MiG-41 is intended to replace Russia’s aging fleet of MiG-31 Foxhound interceptors. The aircraft’s developers claim the MiG-41 will achieve speeds ranging from Mach 4 to 4.5 (over Mach 5 is hypersonic).
MiG-41 claimed capabilities |
|
---|---|
Speed: |
Mach 4-4.3 |
Weapons: |
Include anti-missile laser |
Altitude: |
near space |
First flight: |
TBA |
Status: |
likely conceptual development |
It should also be noted that Russia is currently bogged down in an intensive war with Ukraine, and this has forced Russia to mobilize its economy onto a war footing. It is plausible that Russia would prioritize developing weapon systems relevant to fighting the current war rather than extremely expensive futuristic programs like the MiG-41 to fight some far-distant war. After all, it has been over two years of war, and the Russian Air Force has still completely failed to establish air superiority over Ukraine beyond the front line.
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Wild claims about the MiG-41
The Russian-friendly news website, Bulgarianmilitary.com, ran an article in August 2023 that lavished the PAK DP or MiG-41 with high praise. The article stated it would be a “groundbreaking aircraft possessing truly space capabilities, is set to make maiden flight this year.” However, 2023 has passed, and there is no evidence that a prototype of the aircraft even exists. The article even claimed the aircraft would enter into service within 2-3 years.
Vladislav Vinogradov | Shutterstock
The Soviet Union once had an impressive military aviation sector. Since the fall of the USSR, Russia has inherited much of that industry and prior to the 2022 Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine, fighter jets remained a top military export. Russia is keen to convince the world it is still as relevant as the Soviet Union was before it.
If America and other countries announce they will build a sixth-gen fighter jet, it comes as little surprise Russia claims it can build one sooner, faster, and better. Almost in response to criticism over Russia’s Su-57, the state-run newspaper, TASS, reported in 2017 that Russia may upgrade the Su-57 to a 6th-gen fighter. The Su-57 is Russia’s most modern aircraft (claimed to be a 5th-gen fighter). However, some observers say it has more in common with a 4.5-gen fighter.
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Still on the drawing board
In April 2024, the National Interest reported Russian defense analyst Vasily Kashin at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics (HSE) as saying, “There are some discussions and initial research about development of a MiG-31 successor – but it is at the very early stages.” He also said “As I understand, the MiG-41 is a kind of a futuristic project which is still on the stage of conceptual design.” Kashin went on to say that, at best, it would be deployed by 2035-2040.
Echoing the criticism of the dramatically-hyped Su-74 ‘Checkmate,’ an unnamed defense industry source quoted by the National Interest suggested the seemingly laughable bragging is a ploy to get funding for the concept. He stated, “I think it’s still very much a paper project under the slogan ‘if we draw it, then maybe we’ll get money for it.‘”
Migflug.com takes a rather measured view of the project, saying, “Not very much is known because it is, just like all top modern military projects, very secret.” FMSO quotes a Russian source as saying the aircraft might be ready by 2050.
![Artboard 2russia](https://static1.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/artboard-2russia.png)
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Other 6th-gen fighter jet programs
Perhaps the sixth-generation fighter jet most advanced in its development cycle is the US Air Force NGAD (planned to be in service by 2030). Next could be the Tempest or Global Combat Air System (being jointly produced by the British, Italians, and Japanese) and the USA Navy’s F/AXXX Program.
Country: |
6th-Gen Fighter: |
Possible Introduction Date: |
---|---|---|
USA (Air Force): |
NGAD |
2030 |
UK, Japan, Italy: |
Tempest / Global Combat Air Programme |
2035 |
US (NAVY): |
F/A-XX Program |
2030s |
France/Germany/Spain: |
Future Combat Air System |
2040+ |
Russia: |
PAK DP / MiG-41 |
2035-2050 |
China: |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Photo: Mike Mareen | Shutterstock
China is known to be working on a sixth-generation fighter, but little is known. The French and Germans are also working to produce a sixth-generation fighter, but disagreements between the countries are delaying the program.