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MiG-29 Fulcrum High-Performance Combat
Aircraft, Russia
The MiG-27K fighter bomber aircraft is
manufactured by RSK MiG and the Irkutsk
Aircraft Production Association Joint Stock
Company. The MiG-29, -30 and -33 are known by
the NATO code name Fulcrum. The MiG-29K is
the carrier-based version. There are in the
region of 600 MiG-29 variants in service with
the Russian Air Force.
16 new MiG-29Ks have been ordered by India to
equip the INS Vikramaditya (formerly the
Admiral Gorshkov) carrier bought from the
Russian Navy, for delivery between 2007 and
2009.
In August 2004, the Defence Ministry of Sudan
announced that they planned to acquire a
further 12 MiG-29 aircraft, converting
options under a contract for ten fighters
placed in 2002. Deliveries on the original
contract concluded in July 2004.
The mission of the MiG-29 is to destroy
hostile air targets within radar coverage
limits and also to destroy ground targets
using unguided weapons in visual flight
conditions. The aircraft's fixed-wing profile
with large wing leading edge root extensions
gives good manoeuvrability and control at
subsonic speed including manoeuvres at high
angles of attack. The maximum operational
g-loading is 9g.
A two-seater version, MiG-29M2, took its
maiden flight in 2001. A super-manouevrable
variant, MiG-29M OVT, with three-dimensional
thrust-vectoring engine nozzles was
successfully demonstrated at the Farnborough
International Airshow in July 2006. The
nozzle has three hydraulic actuators mounted
around the engine to deflect the thrust. The
aircraft is being offered to potential
customers as the MiG-35.
UPGRADE PROGRAMMES
The Russian Air Force has begun an upgrade
programme for 150 of its MiG-29 fighters,
which will be designated MiG-29SMT. The
upgrade comprises: increased range and
payload, new glass cockpit, digital
fly-by-wire control system, new avionics,
improved radar, KOLS Infrared Search and
Track (IRST) and an in-flight refuelling
probe. The radar will be the Phazotron
Zhuk-ME which is capable of tracking ten
targets to a maximum range of 245km.
12 MiG-29 of the Air Force of Yemen are being
upgraded to SMT standard. The first was
delivered in October 2004.
EADS (formerly DaimlerChrysler Aerospace) is
to upgrade 22 MiG-29 aircraft of the Polish
Air Force. Modifications are needed to adapt
the aircraft to NATO standards, prior to
Poland's entry into NATO. EADS has performed
similar modifications to the MiG-29s of the
former East German Air Force. EADS has joined
with RSK-MiG to offer modernisation packages
for the MiG-29 and has signed an agreement
with Romania for product support and
modernisation.
EADS, Aerostar of Romania and Elbit of Israel
have also launched an upgrade, MiG-29 Sniper,
which includes modernisation and maintenance
of the airframe and engines, and upgrades of
the avionics with new Elbit digital mission
computer and weapon systems, and installation
of a glass cockpit.
WEAPONS
The MiG-29 fighter is equipped with seven
external weapon hardpoints.
The aircraft can carry: up to two R-27
air-to-air medium-range missiles; six R-73
and R-60 air-to-air short range missiles;
four pods of S-5, S-8, S-24 unguided rockets;
air bombs weighing up to 3,000kg; and 30mm
built-in aircraft gun with 150 rounds of
ammunition.
The R-27 medium-range air-to-air missile is
supplied by the Vympel State Engineering
Design Bureau, based in Moscow. The R-27 is
available in two configurations: the R-27R,
which has a semi-active radar homing head and
inertial navigation control with a radio
link; and the R-27T missile, which is fitted
with an infrared homing head. The missile can
intercept targets with a speed of up to
3,500km/hour at altitudes from 0.02-27km, and
the maximum vertical separation between the
aircraft and the target is 10km.
The Vympel R-73 missile is an all-aspect,
short-range air-to-air missile known by the
NATO codename AA-11 Archer. The missile has
cooled infrared homing and can intercept
targets at altitudes between 0.02 and 20km,
target g-load to 12g, and with target speeds
to 2,500km/hour.
The Vympel R-60 (NATO codename AA-8 Aphid)
short-range air-to-air missile can engage
targets manoeuvring at an acceleration up to
12g. The R-60M has an expanded range of
target designation angles to +/- 20 degrees,
a heavier warhead and an upgraded infrared
homing head with photodetector cooling.
TARGETING
The aircraft is equipped with an information
and fire control radar system comprising: an
N-019 radar developed by Phazotron Research
and Production Company, Moscow; an infrared
search and track sensor; a laser rangefinder;
and a helmet-mounted target designator.
For longer-range air combat, the MiG-29 uses
radar guidance for the R-27 missile.
Thales TopSight-E Helmet-Mounted Sight and
Display (HMDS) is being fitted to aircraft
for the Indian Navy.
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