Ancient history

Secret MiG 701 program, the replacement that did not get to…

Project 7.01 of the Soviet MiG design bureau was for a "multi-role, long-range interceptor" that would replace the MiG-31 but also counter the planned US ATF (from which the F- 22). The designers of the office designed a really big fighter, much bigger than the MiG-31.

The aircraft would carry two engines in the rear, upper section, on either side of the vertical stabilizer. According to what has been known - and it is not much - the aircraft would have a length of 30 m, a span of 19 m, DELTA wings and canards in its front part. Takeoff weight was in the order of 65 tons, at least – other sources report a weight of over 70 tons. The sailing speed would reach 2,500 kph. and the radius of action would reach 11,000 km

However, the development of the program, which started in the 1980s, was extremely slow, and the program was finally abandoned in 1993. Some sources claim that the program was canceled in the mid-1980s in favor of the Su-27 fighter, but this does not appear to be the case. to be correct. The most likely reason for the cancellation of the Soviet "superfighter" was the high cost and lack of money in the collapsing Soviet Union.