MiG-31Ks for 712th GvIAP at Kansk

The Russian 712th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (GvIAP) at Kansk is to receive MiG-31Ks, with the parent 21st Mixed Aviation Division comprising two regiments of MiG-31s and one of Su-34s, the MiG-31 regiments based at Kansk and Perm, while the Su-34 regiment is at Shagol. The MiG-31Ks will be armed with the new Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (dagger) hypersonic missile, primarily tasked with covering the airspace of southern and southeast Russia. In related news, photos have been released of a Russian Aerospace Forces MiG-31BM carrying a mock-up of a new anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon. The aircraft is understood to have been developed under the Mikoyan OKB’s izdeliye (article) 06 programme, calling for an anti-satellite weapon or space launch system. The new missile has folding rear fins and is probably a two-stage system with a powered kill vehicle for anti-satellite missions.