The MiG-41, Russia's advanced long-range interceptor aircraft system, could enter service by 2030. This was announced by Major General Vladimir Popov, a distinguished pilot of the Russian Air Force and former commander of Long-Range Aviation, in a media commentary on October 7, 2025.

The MiG-41 is being developed to replace the MiG-31BM interceptor, which entered service in 1981. According to its developers, the new aircraft is expected to be one of the fastest in the world, reaching speeds of up to Mach 4,3 (approximately 5300 km/h). To achieve this, it will be equipped with a unique supersonic turbo-ramjet engine, capable of operating in afterburning turbojet mode at subsonic speeds and in ramjet mode at speeds above Mach 1,6–1,7. Similar powerplants, such as the J58-P4, were used on the American SR-71A Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft.

The MiG-41's design incorporates stealth technology, making it less vulnerable to enemy radar detection. The possibility of developing an unmanned version of the aircraft is also being discussed, in line with global trends in the development of fifth- and sixth-generation aircraft. Particular attention is being paid to the onboard radar system. Traditional passive phased array (PPAA) technology is considered obsolete, so the new radar for the MiG-41 could be based on the Belka radar developed for the Su-57. This active phased array (APAA) radar system provides increased jamming immunity and target detection range.

However, experts express skepticism regarding the project's timeline. The current operational and strategic environment, economic constraints, and the lack of full-scale testing of prototypes, such as the lightweight single-engine fifth-generation fighter Su-75, cast doubt on the possibility of completing development by 2030. "Given current realities, the MiG-41 project will likely be completed, but not before 2035," the experts note.