Six MiG-31 fighter jets from Russia have landed in Damascus, in partial fulfillment of a protocol signed between Moscow and the Syrian regime in 2007.
Developed by the Soviet Air Force, the Mikoyan MiG-31 is a supersonic jet, and one of the fastest fighter planes in the world. The jets have a target range of approximately 200 kilometers.
The deal signed in 2007 between Russia and Syria features the sale of a total of 8 MiG-31 jets.
Russia is pushing for a broad international coalition in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) featuring Syria, Iraq , the Kurdistan Regional Government, as well as other nations in the region. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will host his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, on Monday.
The Mikoyan MiG-31 (NATO reporting name: Foxhound) is a supersonic interceptor aircraft developed for use by the Soviet Air Forces. The aircraft was designed by the Mikoyan design bureau as a replacement for the earlier MiG-25 “Foxbat”; the MiG-31 is based on, and shares design elements with the MiG-25.The MiG-31 has the distinction of being one of the fastest combat jets in the world.