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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.
Tags : Mig-29 Russian fighter jet war aircraft military aviation F-22 A380 f-35 su-47 su-27 |
