[Alex Portman]

According to experts from the Chinese «Phoenix», recent exercises in Kamchatka, where MiG-31BM interceptors entered the stratosphere several times, have shown that Russia uses the most of the capabilities of proven combat platforms, adding new opportunities through modernization. And this, from an economic point of view, is much more effective than creating a new aircraft.

According to Chinese military expert Li Li, the aircraft knew how to fly in the stratosphere before, and modernization to the fighting machine level allowed it to detect targets earlier, to track them more efficiently and, if necessary, use modern long-range air-to-air missiles. It should be noted that Russia is achieving the optimum result using the military budget eight times smaller than the US does.

Analysts believe that the appearance of this type of weapon in Kamchatka is associated with the threat of military alliance of the US with Japan and South Korea. Thus, the flights of interceptors in the stratosphere are designed to show that Russia is ready to defend its interests in this region.