Single-seat shipborne fighter for deployment on the Admiral of the Fleet type TAVKR Soviet Union Kuznetsov" is a modification of the multi-role front-line fighter MiG-29M (degree of unification 80-85%). Developed at the A.I. Mikoyan Moscow Metallurgical Plant under the direction of General designer R.A.Belyakova in 1984 (chief designer of the aircraft - M.R. Waldenberg).
The first version of the MiG-29K carrier-based fighter with ejection takeoff and landing on an aerofinisher was developed at the preliminary design level in 1978 and differed from the basic one in a reinforced landing gear, the introduction of a landing hook, additional anti-corrosion protection for the airframe, an increased fuel supply and modified navigation equipment. Design of the MiG-29K type 9-31 with a significantly modified design and fundamentally new system armament began in 1984
The first copy of the MiG-29K (No. 311, 9-31/1) was flown on June 23, 1988 by test pilot T.O. Aubakirov, on November 1, 1989, first landed the car on the deck of the TAVKR "Tbilisi", and then took off from the ship. In September 1990, the second copy of the MiG-29K (No. 312) arrived for testing.
In August 1991, the stage of State testing of the MiG-29K on a ship began, which was not completed due to the start of mass production of Su-27K naval fighters and the refusal to build new aircraft-carrying ships. Work on the MiG-29K in the early 90s. were suspended. A total of more than 420 flights were carried out on two prototypes of the MiG-29K, of which about 100 were on a ship. Currently, MiG-29K No. 312 is in flight condition. It was planned to be used to create a new version of the naval fighter.
Purpose
The MiG-29K is designed for air defense of an aircraft carrier formation in all weather conditions in the altitude range from 30 m to 27 km, destruction of anti-submarine defense aircraft and helicopters, transport-landing helicopters and radar patrol aircraft of the enemy, its ship groups, as well as to cover landings , escorting coastal aviation and conducting aerial reconnaissance.
Peculiarities
Structurally, the MiG-29K differed from the MiG-29M in a number of features.
Much attention was paid to protecting the aircraft from corrosion. Due to the increased loads during landing, the central tank, the power compartment of the hull with the main landing gear and brake hook, and the nose of the hull in the area of the front landing gear were significantly strengthened. In the tail section, instead of a parachute braking unit, there is a hook damping mechanism and a rescueable emergency recorder. A brake flap with an area of about 1 sq.m is installed on the upper surface of the MiG-29K hull. The area of the stabilizer, which has a characteristic “tooth” along the leading edge, has been increased. The wing span and area have been increased to 11.99 m and 43 sq.m. Accordingly, its mechanization has changed (double-slot flaps with an increased chord and ailerons hovering during landing have been installed).
To reduce the parking overall dimensions, the wing consoles of the MiG-29K are folded by hydraulic drives controlled from the cockpit. In the folded position, the wing span is 7.8 m.
The landing gear struts are longer, have increased shock absorber travel and are equipped with mooring and towing units by ship means, and for placement in the retracted position in the same volumes of the hull they have pull-up mechanisms. The controlled strut of the front landing gear rotates at an angle of up to 90 degrees. A three-color indicator is installed on its struts to inform the landing director about the position of the aircraft on the glide path and its landing speed. New pneumatics of higher pressure (20 kgf/cm2) were installed. The brake is located under the rear part of the hull between the engine nacelles and is equipped with an exhaust, lifting and damping system. To ensure visual control landing on the deck at night there is a hook illumination system.
On-board equipment complex includes the SN-K "Uzel" navigation system (for aircraft navigation over the sea, landing an aircraft on the deck of a ship and displaying an inertial navigation system in rough seas), inertial navigation system new generation (INS-84), satellite navigation system, radio system short-range navigation and landing, air signal systems and digital computer. Onboard navigation system equipment can interact with ship's beacons. The system is equipped with a noise-proof coded information transmission line and automated built-in control.
Power point The MiG-29K consists of two RD-33K bypass turbojet engines with an integrated digital control system. The engine thrust at maximum mode is 5500 kgf, at afterburner - 8800 kgf. The provided emergency mode of operation with a short-term thrust of 9400 kgf allows an aircraft with a mass of 17700 kg to take off from a ship with a take-off run of 105 m and a mass of 22,400 kg to take off with a take-off run of 195 m, as well as to perform a missed approach even after touching the deck during the take-off phase without being caught on arrester cable.
Multifunctional weapons control system serves for all-weather search, all-angle detection, identification and measurement of coordinates of single and group air targets in free space and against the background of the underlying surface in conditions of interference. The integrated use of sighting systems ensures a covert attack and the simultaneous use of several types of weapons. The weapons control system automatically detects and tracks up to 10 targets, and ensures the launch of guided missiles at four targets.
The pilot's cockpit houses a multifunctional control panel, expanding the range of air-to-surface missiles used. The SOI-29K three-screen information display system includes a head-up display (HCI) and two multifunctional indicators on cathode ray tubes.
ArmamentThe MiG-29K is located on nine hardpoints: one between the engine air ducts and eight under the wing (including four under the folding parts of the consoles). Air-to-air guided missile weapons can include 2-4 R-27R (RE) and T (TE) missiles, up to 8 R-73 or RVV-AE missiles. It is possible to use general purpose air-to-surface missiles Kh-25ML and Kh-29L (T), 4 anti-ship missiles Kh-31A and Kh-35 with active radar seekers, Kh-31P and Kh-25MP anti-radar missiles, KAB-500Kr guided bombs with a television-correlation guidance system. Air bombs, KMG-U small cargo containers and unguided missiles can be used. The MiG-29K is equipped with a built-in 30-mm GSh-301 cannon with 100 rounds of ammunition.
In August 1996, after a four-year break, flight tests of the MiG-29K began again with a new set of equipment. The technical solutions developed on it were used on the deck version of the modernized MiG-29SMT fighter. MiG-29K aircraft participated in various aviation exhibitions.
Basic flight characteristics
|
Wingspan, m: | |
|
At the aircraft carrier's parking lot |
7.80 |
|
Full |
11.99 |
|
Length, m |
17.37 |
|
Height, m |
5.18 |
|
Wing area, m2 |
42.00 |
|
Weight, kg: | |
|
Empty plane |
12700 |
|
Normal takeoff |
17770 |
|
Maximum takeoff |
22400 |
|
Fuel capacity, kg: | |
|
Interior |
5670 |
|
Maximum with PTB |
9470 |
|
Engine type |
2 TRDDF RD-33I |
|
Thrust, kgf |
2x9400 |
|
Maximum speed, km/h: | |
|
On top |
2300 (M=2.17) |
|
Near the ground |
1400 |
|
Practical range, km: | |
|
At low altitude | |
|
1650 |
|
|
At high altitude with PTB |
3000 |
|
With one refueling |
5700 |
|
Maximum rate of climb, m/min |
18000 |
|
Practical ceiling, m |
17000 |
|
Run length, m |
110-195 |
|
Run length, m |
150-300 |
|
Operational overload | |
|
Crew, people | |
|
Possible weapons: |
30-mm gun GSh-301 (ammunition 150 rounds), combat load- 4500 kg on 9 suspension units: Medium-range "v-v" missiles R-27 and RVV-AE, short-range missiles R-73, anti-ship Kh-31A, anti-radar Kh-31P, "v-p" missiles Kh-25ML, Kh-29T, Kh-29L , NUR, KAB with laser and television guidance, free-falling bombs and aircraft mines |
Sources: 1. Directory "Military Aircraft of the World", ARMS-TASS, 2003; 2.
Details 08 December 2014The single-seat MiG-29K and the double-seat MiG-29KUB are multifunctional fighters of the “4++” generation, designed to solve air defense tasks for naval formations, gain air superiority, and engage surface and ground targets with guided precision weapons day and night in all weather conditions.
The MiG-29K/KUB ship-based fighters are the basic aircraft of a new unified family, which also includes the MiG-29M/M2 and MiG-35/MiG-35D fighters.
MiG-29K/KUB aircraft are based on aircraft-carrying ships with a displacement of 28,000 tons or more, equipped with a take-off ski-jump and a landing arresting device, as well as on ground airfields.
The main technical and technological innovations introduced on the MiG-29K/KUB fighters:
– an improved airframe with a share of composite materials of about 15%;
– folding wing with improved mechanization, providing improved takeoff and landing characteristics;
– digital integrated fly-by-wire aircraft control system with quadruple redundancy;
– significantly reduced visibility in the radar range;
– increased combat load placed on eight external hardpoints;
– increased capacity of the fuel system and the presence of an in-flight refueling system;
– the ability to provide refueling for other aircraft when equipped with a PAZ-1MK fuel refueling unit.
MiG-29K/KUB fighters, like other aircraft of the unified family, are distinguished by improved performance characteristics and increased reliability of units, systems and components. Compared to previously produced fighters, the flight life of the MiG-29K/KUB has been increased by more than 2 times, and the cost of a flight hour has been reduced by almost 2.5 times. MiG-29K/KUB fighters are operated without any major repairs airplane.
The power plant includes turbofan engines RD-33MK, having increased thrust, equipped with a smokeless combustion chamber and a new electronic system management with full responsibility (FADEC type). The engines have a modular design and are characterized by increased reliability and service life.
The MiG-29K/KUB avionics are built on the principle of open architecture based on the MIL-STD-1553B standard.
The fighter is equipped with a multifunctional multi-mode pulse-Doppler airborne radar station (BRLS) "Zhuk-ME", manufactured by the Phazotron-NIIR Corporation. The radar is equipped with a slot antenna array. Compared to the previous generation radar, Zhuk-ME has a larger range of viewing angles in azimuth, a doubled detection range, lighter weight and higher reliability. The Zhuk-ME radar provides tracking of up to 10 air targets and simultaneous firing of missiles at four of them.
MiG-29K/KUB are equipped with a modern multi-channel optical-location station and a target designation system for passive homing heads of anti-radar missiles.
It is possible to install containers with infrared and laser sighting equipment on the aircraft to illuminate ground targets.
The open architecture of the avionics allows, at the customer’s request, to install new equipment and weapons of Russian and foreign production on the aircraft.
MiG-29K/KUB aircraft are equipped with a built-in automatic control and registration complex “Karat”, an on-board video recording system, a computerized system for entering a flight mission into the avionics complex, as well as an autonomous power generation system for ground checks of equipment without starting the main engines.
The weapons complex includes air-to-air and air-to-surface guided missiles, guided bombs, unguided missiles, aircraft bombs and a built-in 30-mm cannon. At the request of the customer, new models can be introduced into the weaponry aviation assets defeats.
The single and double versions have identical equipment and weapons, as well as a high degree of design unification.
A functionally complete set of technical training tools has been developed for the MiG-29K/KUB, including a comprehensive simulator with a mobility system.
The first flight of the MiG-29KUB fighter took place in January 2007.
MiG-29K/KUB are mass-produced by order of the Indian Navy and the Russian Defense Ministry.
Flight characteristics:
| MiG-29K | MiG-29KUB | |
| Aircraft length, m | 17,3 | 17,3 |
| Wingspan, m* | 11,99 | 11,99 |
| Aircraft height, m | 4,4 | 4,4 |
| Take-off weight, kg: | ||
| - normal | 18 550 | 18 650 |
| - maximum | 24 500 | 24 500 |
| Maximum flight speed, km/h: | ||
| - near the ground | 1400 | 1400 |
| - at high altitude | 2200 | 2100 |
| Practical ceiling, m | 17 500 | 17 500 |
| Maximum overload | 8 | 8 |
| Ferry range, km | ||
| - without PTB | 2000 | 1700 |
| - with 3 PTB | 3000 | 2700 |
| - with 3 PTB and one refueling | 5500 | 5500 |
| Engine type | RD-33MK | RD-33MK |
| Take-off thrust, kgf | 2x9000 | 2x9000 |
| Weapons: | ||
| Number of weapon attachment points | 8 | 8 |
| Guided air-to-air missiles: | ||
| - medium range | 6xRVV-AE | 6xRVV-AE |
| - short range | 8ХР-7ЗЭ | 8ХР-7ЗЭ |
| Guided air-to-surface missiles: | ||
| - anti-ship | 4xХ-31А, Х-35Э | 4xХ-31А, Х-35Э |
| - anti-radar | 4хХ-31П | 4хХ-31П |
| Adjustable bombs | 4xKAB-500Kr | 4xKAB-500Kr |
| Built-in 30mm cannon | GSh-301 | GSh-301 |
* in unfolded (flight) position
A special place in the MiG-29 family is occupied by a ship-based aircraft, intended to solve air defense tasks of ship formations, gain air superiority, and engage surface and ground targets with high-precision weapons at any time of the day and in the most unfavorable weather conditions. Government decree on the construction of heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Project 1145.5 was signed on May 7, 1982. With the same document, the Moscow Metallurgical Plant named after A.I. Mikoyan and P.O. Sukhoi was tasked with developing technical proposals for short takeoff and landing aircraft for deployment on the cruiser.
In the summer of 1982, an experimental complex “Nitka” was built in Crimea with a T-1 springboard 5 m high, 60 m long and 30 m wide (vanishing angle 8.5 degrees). To conduct flight research on it, in addition to the Su-27 (TYU-Z) aircraft, the seventh flight prototype of the MiG-29 (No. 918) was also involved.
The first takeoff from a ski-jump on a MiG-29 was carried out by OKB test pilot A.G. Fastovets August 21, 1982.
The first landings using the Svetlana-2 aerofinisher were performed in 1983 on MiG-27 No. 603 by LII test pilots A.V. Krugov and S.N. Tresvyatsky. In the summer of the same year, the MiG-29 No. 918 was also equipped with a brake hook.
The development of a carrier-based aircraft based on the MiG-29M began in accordance with a government decree signed on January 30, 1984. The main task, standing in front of the plane, was the defense of Navy ships from the air enemy in the near zone, and the secondary ones were the fight against surface ships with a displacement of up to 5000 tons and ensuring landings.
The deck-based MiG-29K differed from its land-based counterparts, in particular, in its folding wing consoles, reinforced landing gear, the absence of an upper air intake entrance and a brake hook in the rear of the hull. Since the car was noticeably heavier compared to its predecessor, and take-off from the deck of an aircraft carrier took place using a springboard, it was necessary to boost the engines by introducing an emergency thrust mode - 9400 kgf. In this case, its thrust-to-weight ratio, depending on the take-off weight, varied from 1.05 to 0.8. To increase safety in the event of a pilot ejecting from the deck of an aircraft carrier, on which, as is known, the “island” (superstructure for command personnel) is located, the flight path of the seat (K-36D-3.5) with the pilot passes to the left with an angle of 30 degrees to the vertical.
The vehicle's armament, in addition to the cannon and unguided projectiles suspended on nine nodes, included R-73, K-27T and K-27R missiles, as well as Kh-31A/P and adjustable bombs.
The first flight of the MiG-29K (product "9-31", tail number 311) took place on July 23, 1988, and the second (no. 912) - in October 1990. In 1988, test pilot T.O. Aubakirov began flying the MiG-29LL flying laboratory on the Nitka ground simulator. Then pilots from the Air Force Research Institute V. Kondaurov and A. Lavrikov joined the tests.
A year and a half later, on November 1, 1989, test pilot of OKB T.O. Aubakirov on MiG-29 No. 311, following the Su-27K, made the first landing and an hour and a half later took off (takeoff 180 m) from the deck of the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov.
The operation of the MiG-29K (13 landings were made) from the deck of an aircraft-carrying cruiser had its own characteristics. Takeoff was carried out after a short run from a springboard, and landing was carried out using optical system(OSP) “Luna-3”, reminiscent of a traffic light, but unlike it with lights located horizontally.
Taking off from a springboard had its limitations on the speed of descent from it - no less than 160 km/h, due to the downward drawdown, and no more than 180 km/h - on compression of the front landing gear when the air pressure receiver (APR) located on the fairing The radar could have hit the hill.
Until the end of the summer of 1992, two copies of the MiG-29K made over 80 landings on the cruiser’s deck.
The MiG-29K passed the tests and was recommended for mass production, but circumstances were such that priority was given to the Su-27K aircraft, which was the first to land on the deck of the ship. After this, the aircraft entertained the public for some time at various air shows and was displayed in parking lots. For the same reason, it was not possible to implement the project for a two-seat trainer version of the MiG-29KU.
To improve the instructor's visibility on the MiG-29KU, the cockpits were designed to be separate (by analogy with the MiG-25PU/RU training machines), and the seat in the rear cockpit had to be installed higher than the front one. Therefore, it was necessary to change the contours of the nose and the design of the supporting body of the vehicle. However, due to the cessation of work on the MiG-29K detailed design no sparking was carried out.
It seemed that the two built vehicles were destined for the fate of museum exhibits, but suddenly an Indian order appeared on the horizon to convert the former aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Gorshkov into the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier with a ski-jump, designed for 24 aircraft. By the way, not only the MiG-29K took off from the springboard, but also an ordinary land fighter. True, these studies were carried out with the aim of reducing its takeoff run in the event of runway damage.
A comprehensive contract for the supply of multirole ship-based fighter aircraft to the Indian Navy was signed by RSK MiG on January 20, 2004. The contract provides for the supply of 12 single-seat MiG-29K and 4 double-seat MiG-29KUB, training of pilots and technical staff, supply of simulators, spare parts and organization of aircraft maintenance. The contract also provides for an option for another 30 vehicles with a delivery date until 2015.
Seven years after the cessation of MiG-29K flights from the aircraft-carrying cruiser, aircraft No. 311 and No. 312 were reactivated and used to work under the Indian program. N.N. was appointed chief designer of the updated machine. Buntina.
The tasks facing the carrier-based aircraft remain the same. Although the name of the aircraft (in the OKB it was designated product “9-41”) remained the same, it became completely different. First of all significant changes its avionics and radio equipment, including the PJ1C Zhuk-ME, were largely borrowed from the MiG-29SMT. The MiG-29K/KUB avionics are built on the principle of open architecture based on the MIL-STD-1553B standard. At the same time, some of the equipment used was made in India and France.
A digital fly-by-wire aircraft control system with quadruple redundancy is used.
At the same time, the airframe was improved, increasing the proportion of composite materials to 15%, and significantly reduced visibility in the radar range.
On the left side of the aircraft in front of the pilot's cabin, a module of the in-flight refueling system was preserved. At the same time, the aircraft, using a removable fuel refueling unit PAZ-1MK, can be used to refuel other MiG-29Ks in flight.
The power plant used was the RD-ZZMK engine, created on the basis of the RD-33 3rd series, but with maximum thrust increased to 5400 kgf, and in full afterburner- up to 9000 kgf. Thanks to the overhead tank and overflow tanks
the center section increased by more than 16% and the fuel supply increased. In addition, the volume of the ventral tank was increased to 2150 liters, and under the wing it is now possible to hang not two, but four PTBs.
And another innovation aimed at increasing reliability was a new box of aircraft components. Now, if one of the generators or hydraulic pumps fails, its functions will be performed by the other.
The weapons are exclusively Russian production. These are primarily air-to-air guided missiles RVV-AE and R-73E, anti-ship Kh-31A and anti-radar Kh-31P. The aircraft's arsenal also includes unguided missiles and aerial bombs, both ballistic and adjustable.
To train Navy pilots, a two-seat ship-based combat training aircraft MiG-29KUB (product “9-62”) was built. The MiG-29K/KUB is equipped with a modern multi-channel optical location station and a target designation system for passive homing heads of anti-radar missiles. It is possible to install containers with infrared and laser sighting equipment on the aircraft to illuminate ground targets. The open architecture of the avionics makes it possible to install new equipment and weapons of Russian and foreign production on the aircraft.
Flight tests of individual systems and components of the MiG-29K/KUB have been conducted since 2002. For this purpose, nine MiG-29 of various modifications are used, on which over 700 flights were carried out in 2002-2006. During the flight tests, the calculated flight performance data of the aircraft was confirmed. In particular, takeoff and landing characteristics have significantly improved, which is especially important for ship-based aircraft.
Flight tests of the pre-production MiG-29KUB began in January 2007. But only five months later, on June 25, the deputy general director- General designer of RSK "MiG" for flight work - Head of the Flight Test Center named after. A.V. Fedotova Hero of Russia P.N. Vlasov performed the first flight on it.
In terms of combat capabilities, flight and operational characteristics, the MiG-29K/KUB is significantly superior to its predecessor, which was tested on an aircraft-carrying cruiser in 1991. The flight life of the MiG-29K/KUB has been more than doubled, and the cost of a flight hour has been reduced by almost 2.5 times.
In September 2009, test pilots of RSK MiG M. Belyaev, P. Vlasov, N. Diordnitsa and Colonel O. Spichka (GLITs Air Force) tested the MiG-29K (prototype No. 941) and MiG-29KUB (one of the first serial ones - No. 672, painted in the customer’s colors) on the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union N.G. Kuznetsov" located in the Barents Sea.
The first landing on board the Admiral Kuznetsov was performed by P. Vlasov on a single-seat MiG-29K, and less than half an hour later the wheels of the MiG-29KUB, piloted by N. Diordnitsa and M. Belyaev, touched the deck of the aircraft-carrying cruiser.
In early December, the first batch of six MiG-29K/KUB arrived in India and on February 19, 2010, a ceremony took place at the Hansa Naval Base in the province of Goa. Until the delivery of the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier to India, the carrier-based fighters will be operated on land, in the newly created 303rd Air Squadron, called the Black Panthers.
Looks like the cars were made for Indians good impression, and they announced their intention to purchase another batch of 29 MiG-29Ks from Russia.
The successful modernization of the ship version of the MiG-29 and the creation of its two-seat version once again attracted the attention of the Russian Navy command to this machine, which is capable of ending the monopoly of the Su-33.
In January 2010, it was reported that the Russian Navy plans to purchase several MiG-29K ship-based fighters this year for deployment on the aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov. In total, 24 MiGs are expected to be acquired in the next three to four years, which will complement the current fleet of Su-33s, the service life of which expires in 2015, although it is planned to extend it until 2025.
In April, it was reported that the Russian Navy would buy 26 MiG-29K carrier-based fighters in 2010-2012, which would be based on the aircraft carrier Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov. According to the Navy's plans, two fighters will be purchased in 2010, and the rest will arrive in several batches in 2011 and 2012.
As for India, during the visit of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to this country in March 2010, a contract was signed for the purchase of 29 MiG-29K/KUB with the start of deliveries in 2012.
It all started in 1984, when at the MMZ. A.I. Mikoyan, under the leadership of General Designer R.A. Belyakov, began the design of the MiG-29K (ed. 9-31). For four years, intense work went on to design a new aircraft. The construction of two prototypes was carried out jointly by the experimental production of the Design Bureau and the serial plant “Znamya Truda” (MAPO named after P.V. Dementyev). On April 19, 1988, the first aircraft to receive the airborne “311” (i.e., the “9-31/1” aircraft) was transferred to the airfield, and after a ground check of all systems and equipment, on June 23, 1988, test pilot MMZ them. A.I. Mikoyan T.O. Aubakirov lifted her into the air.
Test flights of the MiG-29K at Nitka in September-October 1989 confirmed the compliance of the takeoff, landing and flight characteristics of the machine with the design ones and made it possible to begin studying the suitability of the MiG-29K for deployment on board the TAVKR. November 1, 1989, first V.G. Pugachev on the Su-27K (T10K-2), the future Su-33, and then T.O. Aubakirov on the MiG-29K “311” for the first time in domestic aviation and the Navy landed their vehicles on the deck of an aircraft-carrying cruiser. On the same day in the evening, Aubakirov on a MiG-29K made the first takeoff from the Tbilisi springboard (the future “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov”), Pugachev on a Su-27K left the ship the next day. Thus, parity was achieved between the two competing design bureaus - Sukhoi was the first to land, and the MiG was the first to take off.
As everyone knows, due to the collapse of the USSR, plans had to be moderated. In the end, priority was given to the Su-27K, which later received the name Su-33 and began to enter service. A total of 26 vehicles were built.
MiG-29K aircraft have repeatedly participated in various aviation exhibitions. In February 1992, the second copy of the fighter (“312”) was demonstrated to the heads and representatives of the defense departments of the CIS countries at the Machulishchi airfield in Belarus, in 1992, 1993 and 1995. - in the static exposition of the air show in Zhukovsky near Moscow. The vehicle did not fly for four years: the last before mothballing, the 106th flight on the MiG-29K “312” took place on August 28, 1992. However, in the summer of 1996, the 312th was again prepared for test flights and arrived in September of the same year to Gelendzhik, where the first international hydroaviation exhibition in Russia was held. The MiG-29K "311" was shown in August 1997 at the MAKS-97 air show.
In the future, board “311” still served. For some time it stood in a hangar in Zhukovsky (photos below were taken in the winter of 2006/2007).
The number of anchors indicates the number of landings on deck.
Cabin. At that time it was modern :)
His brother “312” was also there.
Later, board 311 was used as a mock-up on the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya.
Although the MiG-29K project could not count on a government order since the early 1990s, the design bureau proactively promoted it at its own expense.
The program received a second life after the Russian Aircraft Corporation (RSC) MiG signed a contract on January 20, 2004 for the supply of ship-based multirole fighters to the Indian Navy. It provided for the supply of 12 single-seat MiG-29K and 4 double-seat MiG-29KUB aircraft, as well as training of pilots and technical personnel of the customer, supply of simulators, spare parts and organization of aircraft maintenance. There is also an option for another 30 aircraft with a delivery date of up to 2015. In 2005, in accordance with this option, a contract for the supply of weapons for the MiG-29K/KUB was signed.
Representatives of the Ministry of Defense and the Indian Navy took an active part in determining the appearance of the MiG-29KUB. For a number of positions they set requirements that exceeded the world level.
Flight tests of individual systems and components of the MiG-29K/KUB have been carried out since 2002. For this purpose, 8 MiG-29 aircraft of various modifications were used, on which in 2002-2006. about 700 flights were performed.
The single-seat MiG-29K is a ship-based multi-role fighter designed to solve air defense tasks for ship formations, gain air superiority, and destroy surface and ground targets with high-precision and conventional control, day and night in all weather conditions.
Its combat training version MiG-29KUB is designed for:
Training and acquisition (improvement) of piloting and aircraft navigation skills;
Practicing elements of combat use;
Solutions to all combat missions identical to the MiG-29K.
When creating the airframe, power plant and on-board equipment of the MiG-29KUB, the most modern technologies. The share of composite materials in the airframe reached 15%. The aircraft is equipped with new RD-33MK engines with increased thrust and service life.
The MiG-29K/KUB avionics (avionics) are built on the principle of open architecture, which facilitates the modernization of the aircraft and the expansion of its arsenal. In accordance with the Customer's wishes, the MiG-29KUB avionics was made international. In addition to Russian ones, Indian, French and Israeli companies are participating in its creation.
The MiG-29KUB is equipped with modern multifunctional pulse-Doppler radar stations"Zhuk-ME" and the latest optical-electronic systems.
Distinctive feature aircraft has a high level of unification. Despite the modification (single or double), the aircraft have the same airframe. In a single-seat aircraft, a fuel tank is located in the co-pilot's seat. This made it possible to reduce costs of both production and operation.
The first prototype of the MiG-29KUB carrier-based fighter made its first flight on January 20, 2007 from the LII airfield. M.M.Gromova (Zhukovsky). The plane was lifted into the air by a crew consisting of Mikhail Belyaev and Pavel Vlasov.
On March 18, 2008, the serial MiG-29KUB saw the sky. The aircraft performed traditional taxiing and jogging at the airfield of the RSK MiG flight test complex in Lukhovitsy near Moscow, and then made a flight lasting 42 minutes in the modes tested on the prototype aircraft. During the flight, all flight characteristics of the serial MiG-29KUB were confirmed.
But a carrier-based fighter must undoubtedly fly from the deck. :)
At the very end of September 2009, the Russian Aircraft Corporation "MiG" successfully conducted flight tests of the new multi-role ship-based fighters MiG-29K/KUB, produced by order of the Indian Navy, on the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov". The first landing on the deck of the Admiral Kuznetsov TAVKR located in the Barents Sea was performed on September 28 on an experimental MiG-29K aircraft with tail number 941 by the head of the flight service of RSK MiG, Honored Test Pilot of the Russian Federation, Hero of Russia Pavel Vlasov.
He was followed by RSK MiG test pilots Nikolai Diorditsa and Mikhail Belyaev on a serial MiG-29KUB twin, already painted in the customer’s colors.
In just two days, several deck landings and takeoffs of both aircraft were made, which practically confirmed the possibility of safe operation of the new fighters on aircraft-carrying ships. It is noteworthy that the MiG-29K/KUB flights on the Kuznetsov were carried out literally on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the first ship landings of domestic fourth-generation supersonic fighters and became a kind of return of the MiGs to the deck.
After the new aircraft showed its full viability, training of Indian flight and technical personnel began. The most difficult element of which, undoubtedly, was practicing in-flight refueling.
At the end of 2009, the first fighter jets flew to India. Indian pilots highly appreciated the flight qualities of the machines.
Thanks to this, in connection with the construction of new aircraft carriers, India ordered 29 more aircraft worth $1.2 billion, in addition to the 2004 contract for 16 aircraft. As of August 2011, India has received 11 MiG-29Ks from the first contract for 16 aircraft
But there were also sad moments. On June 23, 2011, a MiG-29KUB fighter crashed during a test flight in the Astrakhan region. Pilots Oleg Spichka and Alexander Kruzhalin died. The flight mission was so complex, almost at the limit of the aircraft’s capabilities, that only the best could complete it... - such aces as Oleg Spichka and Alexander Kruzhalin...
The commission found that the plane was not destroyed and was in good working order until the moment of the collision. The pilots acted according to the flight mission and did everything to get out of the most difficult situation.
But despite heavy losses, the program is growing. More recently (http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/12906/) it became known that at the beginning of February 2012 the Russian Ministry of Defense will conclude a contract with RSK MiG for 28 carrier-based MiG-29K/KUB fighters with a delivery date until 2020 year.
As a result, we can confidently say that the MiG-29K/KUB program has taken place! The new carrier-based fighter will be a worthy replacement for the Su-33 and, perhaps, will find new foreign customers.
At the end of 2015, the Russian Aircraft Corporation (RSC) MiG completed government order for the supply of 24 MiG-29K/KUB aircraft naval aviation Navy(Navy). In 2016, MiG plans to complete a large contract for the supply of similar aircraft. Navy(Navy) of India. It is expected that promising Indian and Russian aircraft carriers will also be equipped with the MiG-29K/KUB.
Until now, there was only one formation in domestic naval aviation carrier-based aviation- 279th separate naval fighter aviation regiment of the Northern Fleet. It is armed with carrier-based Su-33 aircraft, as well as Su-25UTG trainers. This particular regiment is the air wing of the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov.
From May to August 2015, the flagship of the Russian Navy, the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, underwent repairs at a plant in Roslyakovo, Murmansk region. In October, the ship began scheduled combat training tasks in the Barents Sea.
Heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser of the Russian Navy "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov"
In September-October 2016, the Admiral Kuznetsov will enter the Mediterranean Sea, where it will lead a permanent group of ships of the Russian Navy. The cruiser will carry on board a mixed air group of carrier-based aircraft Su-33, Su-25UTG and MiG-29K. In the months remaining before the start of the voyage, the aircraft crews will hone their skills in taking off and landing on the deck of an aircraft carrier at ground-based test training complexes in Saki and Yeysk.
Shipborne MiG
The single-seat MiG-29K and the double-seat MiG-29KUB are multifunctional fighters of the 4++ generation, designed to solve not only air defense tasks of ship formations, like carrier-based fighters previously developed in Russia, but also to gain air superiority, destroy surface and ground targets with controlled precision weapons day and night in all weather conditions.
The MiG-29K/KUB ship-based fighters are the basic aircraft of a new unified family, which also includes the MiG-29M/M2 and MiG-35/MiG-35D fighters.
The initial customer for the MiG-29K/KUB was the Indian Navy. Based on the results of the competition, they selected Russian “decks” to man the air wing of the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya, as well as the promising Indian-built aircraft carrier Vikrant.
On January 20, 2004, India signed a $730 million contract for the development and supply of 16 carrier-based fighters (12 MiG-29K and 4 MiG-29KUB). This agreement was successfully implemented in 2011. But even before this, on March 12, 2010, the parties signed a second contract worth $1.2 billion for the supply of another 29 MiG-29K by the end of 2016. The second operator of the aircraft was the Russian Navy: in February 2012, a contract was signed for the supply of 20 MiG-29K and 4 MiG-29KUB naval aviation to the Russian Navy by the end of 2015.
Model of the aircraft carrier Project 23000 "Storm" First public demonstration of the updated for Russian fleet The MiG-29K took place in June 2015 in Kubinka at the Army-2015 forum. At the same forum, a model of the promising Russian aircraft carrier “Storm” was shown.
According to the Nevsky Design Bureau, which developed the project, “the Storm air group will consist of carrier-based MiG-29K fighters, as well as PAK FA T-50 and long-range radar detection aircraft.”
Pilots about MiG‑29K/KUB
The pilots who tested the MiG-29K/KUB highly appreciated its characteristics. They prefer to talk about the MiG-29K/KUB not as a variant of the MiG-29, but as a completely new aircraft.
“A modern multifunctional aircraft with qualitatively new combat capabilities has been created,” says the honored test pilot Russian Federation, Hero of the Russian Federation, General Director of the Flight Research Institute named after. M. M. Gromova Pavel Vlasov. - The payload has increased. The range of weapons has expanded. This, of course, led to an increase in mass.
However, a set of new solutions, such as Kruger flaps, a new flap design, and a modern remote control system, made it possible to neutralize negative factors and significantly improve piloting conditions for the pilot.” According to Vlasov, they have improved performance characteristics airplane. The “pilot-plane” interface has been improved, making it more user-friendly. Significantly expanded information support crew. Improvements in the accuracy of navigation equipment have provided new capabilities, such as approaches to landing using satellite systems. New solutions made work easier at the flight testing stage and ensured their smoothness.
“On landing, the compact MiG-29K with a digital fly-by-wire control system behaves more dynamically than the Su-33 with an analogue one,” says Nikolai Diorditsa, Honored Test Pilot of the Russian Federation, Hero of the Russian Federation, test pilot of RSK MiG. - And on takeoff too, due to better thrust-to-weight ratio. On the MiG-29K/KUB it is easier to maintain the direction of the take-off run; the aircraft leaves the ski-jump with sufficient controllability margins.”
Indian version
Today, the Indian Navy has the largest fleet of ship-borne MiGs. According to Sergei Korotkov, General Director of RSK MiG, six MiG-29K carrier-based fighters will be delivered to India in 2016. Thus, the 2010 contract will be completed.
By this time, India will have 45 MiG-29K/KUB. They will be consolidated into three squadrons, two of which will be deployed on the aircraft carriers Vikramaditya and Vikrant, and the third will be used for training pilots on land. The first of these units, the 303rd Black Panthers Squadron, was formed in May 2013 at the Indian Naval Air Base Hansa (Goa). The squadron is armed with 12 MiG-29K and 4 MiG-29KUB (all delivered under the first contract of 2004). It is included in the air group of the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya, part of the Western Fleet of India. This ship, built by Russia on the basis of the aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov, has a total displacement of 45.5 thousand tons and is capable of carrying up to 24 MiG-29K class aircraft.
According to the official statement of the Indian Navy, as of March 2015, “the MiG-29K squadron had flown more than 2,500 hours and successfully tested the entire range of aircraft weapons, including air-to-surface and air-to-air guided missiles, bombs, unguided rockets and cannon." Planes took off and landed both at a ground airfield and on an aircraft carrier. The report also states that “the aircraft undergoing testing also participated in important exercises of the Indian Navy and Air Force.”
In the summer of 2015, the formation of the second MiG squadron began on the eastern coast of Hindustan, at the Dega base (Andhra Pradesh state). However, the ship for this squadron is late: according to official reports, the aircraft carrier Vikrant (also known as “Project 71”), being built by India, will enter service no earlier than December 2018. It will have a slightly smaller total displacement than Vikramaditya - 40 thousand tons, but is also designed to accommodate up to 24 MiG-29K class aircraft.
The Indian Navy plans to deploy another MiG-29K squadron at the Kadamba base (Karnataka). Apparently, it will serve to train pilots. At the same time, in June 2015, the MiG-29K simulator supplied by RSK MiG was put into operation at the Institute of Aviation Technology of the Indian Navy in Kochi (Kerala). “The simulator allows for training of flight and technical personnel, demonstrating the operation of all aircraft systems and associated maintenance"- said the head of the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy, Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba.
To ensure the operation of MiGs, a maintenance center is being created in India. “The premises have been built, we are bringing there the equipment promised under the offset contract, which was concluded at the MAKS 2013 salon. Indian specialists are being trained and will soon service center Direct repairs of blocks and assemblies will begin,” said the head of the MiG corporation, Sergei Korotkov.
In addition, to expand the capabilities of the aircraft, tests are being carried out and new equipment is being created. At the beginning of 2015, as the Indian press reported, at the request of the Indian Navy, landing of the MiG-29K on the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov with one of the two engines running was carried out. “The MiG-29K/KUB is a wonderful aircraft, very equipped powerful engines, - The Hindu newspaper quotes an unnamed Indian military man. “To allay the fears of our pilots, we asked RSK MiG to confirm the possibility of landing the MiG-29K on one engine.”
At the MAKS-2015 air show, the PAZ-MK suspended refueling unit for the MiG-29K/KUB, created by order of the Indian Navy, was demonstrated for the first time. Taking into account the restrictions on the take-off weight of the aircraft, dictated by the length of the aircraft carrier's runway, the PAZ-MK unit will make it possible to refuel the MiG-29K already in the air, thereby expanding its range.
Assuming both carriers are fully loaded, India will need at least 48 carrier-based fighters and at least one squadron for land-based training. “Whether an air group will be formed for the Project 71 aircraft carrier from among the contracted and delivered equipment or whether there will be additional requests - this issue is within the competence of the Indian side,” said Deputy General Director of Rosoboronexport Igor Sevastyanov.
Following Vikrant, India plans to commission new aircraft carrier Vishal with a total displacement of 65 thousand tons and with nuclear power plant. There is no decision on the air wing for it yet.
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