Russian Air Force Appendix 1

The Current State of the Russian Air Force APPENDIX 1

MiG-29 FULCRUM (60, 81)

MiG-29 Fulcrum (28904 bytes)

The Mikoyan Design Bureau's specification of the MiG-29 Fulcrum was single-seat, supersonic all-weather fighter for air supremacy duties. Air target interception at BVR ranges and in ECM conditions were defined as its primary mission. The basic version has limited attack capacity, and the advanced versions have the added ability to use precision weapons against fixed and moving ground targets.

Mikoyan made 19 prototypes, with series numbers 9-01 - 9-11 and 9-12 - 9-19, of the basic fighter type, the product 09. They were given NATO reporting name Fulcrum A. The design work began in the end of the 1960s, when the Soviet General Staff launched a research project of an advanced tactical fighter "Perspektivni Frontovoi Istrebitel", i.e. PFI aircraft. It was supposed to be an answer to American FX, or, the F-15 fighter. In 1971 the goal was divided into two categories, the heavy TPFI program (tyazholi = heavy) and the light LPFI program (legki = light). The development of the MiG-29 matched the LPFI specifications and was given designation light frontline fighter project.

In 1972 was given an official operational requirement, according to which the new fighter was to replace the MiG-21 and MiG-23 in Frontal Aviation and Air Defense Force. It had to be capable of independent operations from temporary airfields, achieving air supremacy over a tactical combat zone and fulfilling limited escort and fire support roles.

Detail design began in 1974 and the first prototype flew on October 6, 1977 piloted by chief test pilot Alexander V. Fedotov in Zhukovsky. American satellites photographed it in November 1977 and it was given interim Western designation RAM-L (RAM = Ramenskoye, which is a population center near Zhukovsky). The second prototype made its first flight in June 1978. The second and the fourth prototype used as testbeds for power plants were lost through engine failures on June 15, 1978 and October 31, 1980. The third prototype was also the first double-seat version and it flew the first time on April 28, 1981.

Series production began in 1982 at Znamya Truda plant in Moscow. Operative service started in Kubinka in August 1983 and the deliveries to the Frontal Aviation began the following year after the state approval testing was completed. In 1986 were made the first MiG-29s for export. Test pilot Tohtar Aubakirov made on February 13, 1985 the first attack test with variant 9-14 with fire support avionics mounted on external pods. This prototype provided the basis for the MiG-29M prototype, which made its first flight on April 25, 1986.

Over 800 aircraft were delivered to the Soviet/Russian Air Force and approximately 500 aircraft have been manufactured for export. At the moment the aircraft is in operational service with air forces of 21 different countries. It is also the only Russian aircraft in NATO (Germany). By the mid-1980s 1,216 single-seat versions and 197 double-seat versions had been manufactured. Since 1990 Russia has been manufacturing MiG-29s for export only.

The MiG-29 design group was lead by Rostislav Belyakov with A. A. Tshumashenko, V.A. Lavrov and M.R. Waldenberg as assistants. In the twin-engine version, the designers have used lift-generating combination of fuselage and wing, its g-limit being 9 g. The version comprises pulse-doppler radar and six weapon pylons.

The first constructional improvement was made to prototype 9-13 by enlarging the dorsal fin and reducing the curvature of the upper fuselage. This gave more room for primary fuel tank and avionics. In the Soviet Union the type was given designation MiG-29S, but in practice there were very few changes as compared to the basic version. In production numbers the S-variant did not exceed 50 and from the user's point of view, it hardly differs from the basic version.

The development of the type continued, and at least the following versions are in service use:

FULCRUM A, MiG-29B, version 1, product 9-12

Land-based single-seat version. The first 110 made had rear fuselage fins, but they were removed in the next series and replaced by enlarged rudders and chaff/flare dispensers extending from vertical stabilizers to above the wings. The final series featured new nose wheel and pitot tube projection.

Internal fuel capacity 3,200 kg, auxiliary fuselage tank volume 1,184 kg. About 40 % of the aircraft have been modified to use two 1,130-kilo auxiliary wing tanks.

All aircraft have hydro-mechanic control system and covered air intakes. The power plants are two RD-33 engines, which provide the thrust of 8,300 kp with afterburner. The maximum take-off weight is about 16,800 kg. The aircraft has a zero/zero ejection seat K-36DM/2-06.

The SUV (OEPrNK-29E2) weapon system features N-109 pulse-doppler radar S-29 TOPAZ or its export version N-019E Rubin; NATO 'SLOT BACK'. The newer N-019/3A ZHUK RLPK-29E coherent multi-mode radar is integrated to the aircraft for later installations. The KOLS laser - IR rangefinder/homing head and the helmet sight complement the fire control system. The three-axis IR rangefinder is mounted inside a transparent dome on top of the nose forward of the cockpit and it comprises the directional laser rangefinder.

The RLPK-29 radar system includes S-29 lookdown - shootdown radar and Ts100.02-02 digital processor. Detection range to fighter targets is approximately 70 km in encounter situations and about 35 km in pursuit. The detection range to bomber targets is estimated to be double that to fighters. The radar is able to track 10 targets simultaneously and to engage one defined as the most dangerous by the processor. The scan capability covers ± 67 degrees in azimuth and +60/-38 degrees in elevation. The MiG-29S is equipped with the N-019M TOPAZ radar with higher jamming resistance and bigger processor facilitating lock-on to two targets with the AA-12 missiles.

The OEPrNK-29 (optiko elektronni pritselno navigatsionni komplets) optical-electronic navigation and attack system features the OEPS-29 sight, SN-29 navigation system, Ts100.02-02 digital processor, SUO-29M2 weapon selection system as well as SYel-31E2 display system with the ILS-31 HUD. The OEPS-29 system entity includes the KOLS-29 IR finder/laser rangefinder. The IR finder's detection is 18 km in the rear sector with 3-meter resolution. The Stshel-3UM helmet sight can be used with the R-60 and R-73 missiles. The SN-29 system includes the ARK-19 radio compass, A037/06 radio altitude meter, A-611 marker receiver and A-323 instrument approach system. The E502-20/04 Turkus data link to ground radar stations has been connected to the R-862 radio, SO-69M IFF transponder and SRO-2 Parol IFF transponder via the SRZ-15 interrogator.

The ECM equipment include SPO-15 (L006-LM/101) Beryoza radar warning receiver and 20SP chaff/flare system, which has two BVP-30-26M (blok vybrosa pomeh) chaff/flare dispensers. Each contains 30 x 26 mm PPI-26 chaff or PPR-26 flare cartridges.

The Russian Air Force has about 350 MiG-29s equipped with the original radar.

FULCRUM B, MiG-29UB, version 2, product 9-03

Two-seat training version without radar. The fuselage has been lengthened by one meter; the internal fuel capacity is 3,175 kg. Auxiliary tank systems the same as in the one-seater.

The Russian Air Force has approximately 70 planes and about the same number has been manufacturer for export.

FULCRUM A, MiG-29SD, version 4, product 9-12S

Modification of the "fat-back" A version. Features improvements in avionics, new sight and added self-test modes to the radar.

Fuel volumes practically the same as in the basic model.

FULCRUM A, MiG-29S, version 5, product 9-12S

Small 76-liter addition to internal fuel capacity. Maximum fuel capacity with auxiliary tanks 8,196 liters. Maximum take-off weight 19,700 kg.

Reported maximum operation range 2,862 km.

Improved N-019M SLOT BACK radar facilitating simultaneous tracking of ten targets and engagement of two targets with the AVV-AE R-77 ADDER missile.

Four-section leading edge aileron converted to five-section version.

FULCRUM A/C, MiG-29SE, MiG-29M, version 6, product 9-12SE

Model intended for both the Russian Air Force and export. Improved N-019M/ME radar, which is able to track ten targets and engage two targets with the AA-12 missiles.

Malaysia purchased MiG-29SE version without the dorsal fin enlargement, i.e. as a "thin back" version.

Improved air-conditioning control, new active jamming device connected to the radar warning receiver, stores pylons in tandem for increased bomb load, improved control system with curve velocity retainer and augmented rudder efficiency as well as option to use new Western transponder.

Versatile attack weapon arsenal with precision weapons has been integrated to the MiG-29MS:

9A-4071K (GS-301) 30 mm gun, 150 rounds

APU-470, APU-73-1D and APU-68-85E launch equipment

B-8M1 rocket cassettes

S-8 (80 mm) and S-24B (240 mm) rockets

250 kg and 500 kg bombs; maximum bomb load 2,000 kg

H-29T TV guided attack missiles, range 30 km

KAB-500Kr TV guided 500 kg bomb

H-31P radar homing missile, range 100 km

H-31A anti-shipping missile, range 50 km

Cruise missile, range 200 km

FULCRUM C, MiG-29S, version 8/9

Model equipped with the NO-019M radar. The internal fuel capacity has been increased by 240 liters and external load by 4,000 kg. Less than 50 aircraft have been manufactured for the Russian Air Force.

FULCRUM A, MiG-29TVK, version 10

Aircraft carrier version, which features arrester hook, reinforced landing gear and flight refueling probe, but fixed wing structure.

FULCRUM D, MiG-29K, version 11

Aircraft carrier version, which has been developed from the A model by adding folding outboard wing panels and arrester hook, reinforcing the landing gear, raising the leading edge enlargements in the wings, enlarging the dorsal fin and widening the diving rudders. Two aircraft were assembled for suitability tests on the aircraft carrier Kuznetsov. They were equipped with new RD-33K engines, new N-010 radar, improved IRST and TV systems, ESM wing tip antennas and eight stores pylons. Internal fuel capacity was increased to 6,419 liters and the flight refueling probe was made retractable. The airbrakes were transformed to a single-plate system placed outside the fuselage. The maximum take-off weight was 19,700 kg and external load 4,000 kg.

FULCRUM E, MiG-39M/ME, versions 12, 13 and 13S

Extensively redesigned version with four-channel fly-by-wire control system, cockpit configuration aiming at HOTAS standards and N0-10 Zhuk radar, which facilitates engagement of 4 targets simultaneously with R-77 (AA-12 missiles). The internal fuel capacity is 4,980 kg at the maximum take-off weight of 21,000 kg.

The first prototype flew in 1989, but the program was finished after six aircraft had been made. In 1995 the Russian Air Force committed itself to making evaluation flights with the type. The MiG-29M has also been displayed with the designation MiG-33. In versions 9-13 and 9-13S the Gardenia-1 active jammer has been installed on the fuselage.

The additional versions built are 14, 15 and 16. One is a testbed for optical cable testing, one is a prototype of twin-axle thrust vectoring and one is STOL development version for short take-off and landing runs. Installation options have been reserved for retractable and fixed flight refueling probes and weapon modifications. The MiG-35 designation has been given to the vectoring jet flow prototype and it is direct continuation for the MiG-33 and MiG-29M. The aircraft's Zhuk-PH radar has capability to track 24 targets and engage 8 targets simultaneously. The MiG-35 could represent the FULCRUM F generation.

MiG-29SMT is an upgraded modification version of the basic fighter. Its max range has been increased from 1 500 km to 2 200 km (internal fuel) and from 2 900 km to 3 500 km (auxiliary tanks). Sea level range has been increased from 700 km to 990 km (internal fuel) and from 1 350 km to 1 650 km (auxiliary tanks). The radar is N019MP instead of N019 and there are 7 hardpoints (basic version has 6).

The weapon load has been increased from 2 000 kg to 4 000 kg. When the basic version has R-27 and R-73 air-to-air missiles and non air-to-ground missiles, the SMT version has R-27, R-73 and R-77 air-to-air missiles and Kh-31, Kh-31M and Kh-29T air-to-ground missiles.

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Russian Air Force, Appendix 1

MiG-29 FULCRUM (60, 81)