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MOSCOW (BNS): The Russian Air Force will receive 60 modernised MiG-31 Foxhound interceptor aircraft by 2020, the Defence Ministry said.

According to a news report by RIA Novosti, a defence contract was recently signed by the Russian defence ministry and United Aircraft Corporation.

"We are planning to upgrade the MiG-31 interceptors to the MiG-31BM version by 2020," Air Force spokesman Vladimir Drik was quoted as saying in the news report.

The new aircraft, called MiG-31BM, will feature upgraded avionics and digital datalinks, new multimode radar, color multi-function cockpit displays, a new, more powerful computer.

It will be able to carry new air-to-air and possibly air-to-surface missiles such as the AS-17 Krypton anti-radar missile, the report added.