Aircraft MIG 29 technical specifications. Legendary aircraft

Appearing almost simultaneously with the Su-27, in the 1980s MiG-29 aircraft photo video At first he became one of the symbols of Soviet military power, and a little later - one of the main participants in the mass withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary, Czechoslovakia and united Germany. From the “ugly duckling” in the guise of “Product 9.12”, the aircraft managed, although in a very slow and indirect way, to grow into a full-fledged multi-purpose aircraft of the 4++ generation. It is appropriate to note MiG-29 the only one domestic fighter still in service North Atlantic Alliance a (NATO).

Supersonic fighter MiG-29 in the air. 1992

Mig 29 has grown from the “ugly duckling” to a full-fledged 4++ generation multi-role aircraft

If when creating the MiG-21, and then 23, one of the important priorities was maximum speed, then the design of a new generation of fighters, which began in the USSR as a response to, followed a completely different scenario. The main goals for the designers were high maneuverability, significantly more advanced equipment and a weapons control system. As part of this program, the P. O. Sukhoi Design Bureau created the aircraft, later known as the aircraft, and their colleagues from the A. I. Mikoyan Design Bureau created the future -29.

Mig-29UB of the Russian Air Force that has undergone major overhaul, further modernization, proprietary electronic warfare equipment - electronic warfare and passive interference emission units, Lipetsk

It was assumed that Sukhoi's aircraft, thanks to its enormous range and large number of missiles, would become the basis of air defense aviation, and in the Air Force it would serve as an escort fighter for Su-24 bombers, operating at a great distance from its airfields. However, for the Air Force to ensure air supremacy in the area of ​​the front line, such an aircraft was redundant, and they decided to supplement it with a smaller, lighter and cheaper aircraft, the development of which was entrusted to the MiG Design Bureau.

The creation of the new machine, designated “Project 9,” was led by A. A. Chumachenko and R. A. Belyakov (general designer). Since 1982, M. R. Waldenberg became the chief designer of the MiG-29.

Basic data of 4th generation fighters

comparative data with the French mirage

Frontline fighter MiG-29 28th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment

For the new aircraft, an integral layout with developed bulges in the wing root was chosen, as on the Su-27. However, instead of the revolutionary emulsion control system used on the aircraft, which made it possible to make the aircraft statically unstable and gain weight and size of the rudders, the traditional control system, well developed on previous MiG models, remained. Power point was designed specifically for this aircraft at the V. Ya. Klimov Design Bureau under the leadership of chief designer S.P. Izotov. The new 2-circuit turbojet engine with afterburner (TRDDF) RD-33 turned out to be lighter, more economical and significantly more powerful than its predecessors of the same class. The first flight of the Project 9.12 prototype took place on October 6, 1977 under the control of A.V. Fedotov. Testing and fine-tuning of 14 pre-production aircraft took almost six years, and only in 1984 the aircraft began to enter service with the Soviet Air Force.

Characteristics of 4++ generation fighters

US Air Force F-16C and Polish Air Force MiG-29 during the White Eagle exercise 2005, Poland, Krzesiny Air Base

WITHMiG-29 aircraft photo video , in the late 1980s, was undeniably superior to most NATO mass-produced fighters of the time. In terms of the number of countries in which the MiG-29 was in service, it significantly outperformed the Su-27 family of aircraft. Unlike the Su-27, the MiG-29 began to be widely exported soon after entering service with the Soviet Air Force. The first deliveries abroad went to the ATS countries (GDR, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria) and other allies of the USSR (India, Yugoslavia, Cuba, Iraq, Syria). During dramatic military and political changes, aircraft often ended up as part of the air forces of military blocs, which previously considered the MiG-29 as a dangerous adversary. The vehicles supplied by the GDR successfully served side by side with "" and "" for many years; Over time, Polish, Bulgarian and Slovak vehicles ended up in NATO. At the same time, there was a sale of surplus Soviet air forces that went to several countries. former USSR, and few deliveries of new aircraft. Peru, Algeria, Iran, Hungary, Malaysia, and Yemen joined the list of possessing countries.

MiG-29 demonstration flights of the Indian Air Force at MAKS 2011, India is one of the few buyer countries able to pay for their purchases

Retreat..., on at the moment There are just over 300 aircraft in operation in the Russian air force and navy, about a third are capable of taking off, the rest.... Since the beginning of the 90s, there has been no replenishment of aircraft, the modernization of single copies is not taken into account, read, the repair of old models . The replenishment of the flight fleet occurred after Algeria refused to purchase (used and counterfeit parts were installed on the machines), modified models with the abbreviation SMT, the Russian Air Force received about thirty new(!) vehicles(!) in 2008 and..... have become the most modern(!). Malaysia is one of the few countries capable of paying, but it has not yet shown any enthusiasm for purchases; it had 18 aircraft in operation; disruptions in the supply of spare parts led to the fact that some of the aircraft had to be used for spare parts; now no one is talking about purchases on their part. stutters. Since the late 90s, by and large serial production practically not carried out, let me remind you that the service life established by the manufacturer is 20 years and operating time is 2500 hours. So not everything is as rosy as it might seem at first glance.

A queue of dryers and flashes for repairs at 121 aircraft repair plant in Kubinka, 2014

Combat use MiG-29 aircraft photo video , we look in a separate article, and although our downed Mig lies in the photo below, we do not forget that it was he who had to remove the invisibility cap from an American aircraft made using stealth technology, F-117.

Downed Yugoslav Air Force MiG-29

The production of fighter aircraft was mastered at MAPO named after. Dementyev - a Moscow plant located on Khodynka, not far from the OKB. However, in its original form, the fighter did not quite suit the customer - primarily due to its short flight range, which is why the first MiG-29 earned the sarcastic nickname “a fighter for gaining air superiority over its airfield.” In addition, during mass production, some design elements were changed and improved - the design of the front landing gear, the replacement of some composite structural elements with metal ones, and the abandonment of aerodynamic ridges under the tail section.

MiG-29 Hungarian Air Force photo

An important direction in the development of the MiG-29 was the equipping of it with the Gardenia on-board electronic suppression complex, which was brought to working condition only in the early 1980s. The placement of this equipment required a noticeable volume, and the only solution was the appearance of an overhead mainsail - a streamlined compartment behind the cockpit. The fuel system was reconfigured, and the capacity of the internal tanks was slightly increased. In addition, a ventral conformal PTB was developed for the MiG-29, and it became possible to hang two more PTBs under the wing.

All these measures significantly reduced the severity of the range problem - now, during long-distance flights with three PTBs, the aircraft could cover almost 3000 km. Such aircraft were named “Product 9.13” (although the MiG-29 designation remained unchanged); their production began in 1986, and this version became the most widespread and formed the basis of front-line fighter aircraft by the early 1990s. It was supposed to become a mass fighter of the USSR Air Force and its allies in air traffic control, which required mass training and retraining of pilots. In parallel with the improvement of combat ones, the OKB created a 2-seat combat training modification of the MiG-29UB (“Product 9.51”).

A 2-seat combat training modification of the MiG-29UB

Deprived of a radar, the Spark had limited combat capabilities. The production of these aircraft was transferred to the aircraft plant in Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod), which produced only MiGs for almost the entire post-war period. Although non-specialists often cannot distinguish the MiG-29 from the Su-27, in reality the purpose and layout of these aircraft are different - only the number of fins and engines are the same.
GENERATIONS 4+
The main weapon of the MiG-29 was air-to-air missiles, and its main purpose was to fight enemy aircraft.

A MiG-29 of the 73rd Luftwaffe Fighter Squadron launches an R-27 missile. Laage Air Base, in 2003 the German Air Force had 13 aircraft, in 2004 they were transferred to the Polish Air Force

Although the fighter could strike ground targets, the range of weapons was extremely meager and included only conventional bombs and unguided missiles - high-precision weapons remained inaccessible to the MiG-29. While the Air Force had hundreds of excellent Su-17 and MiG-27 fighter-bombers in service, such specialization did not raise any questions. However, in the early 1990s, a massive reduction in the strength of the Air Force resulted in the complete elimination of this class of aircraft, and the solution to IBA tasks fell partly on the Su-25 attack aircraft, and partly on front-line fighters.
Modifications MiG-29 aircraft photo video
From this moment on, the main direction of development of the MiG-29 has been attempts to give it multifunctionality - both by modernizing the produced aircraft that are in service, and by developing new modifications. The latter direction led to the emergence of such projects as SM, SMT and the MiG-29M/-33/-35 family. As a result, it became a real multi-purpose aircraft, acquired an in-flight refueling system, and its performance characteristics were noticeably improved. One more a separate direction was the development of a ship modification of the MiG-29K, originally intended to equip. You can watch the video of the newest version of the aircraft MiG 29OVT taken from high resolution, it will be interesting.

• MiG-29M,/29ME,
• MiG-33 (product 9-1 5) The “product 9-15” aircraft represents the second generation in the MiG-29 family; it differs from earlier aircraft in many respects. The airframe design has changed radically, becoming primarily welded. The upper air intakes on the wing root flaps have been eliminated, and the number of underwing pylons has been increased to eight. The weight of the suspended weapons is 4500 kg. An analogue electro-remote control system and Zhuk radar were installed. The composition of the instrumentation equipment has been updated. Air-to-surface guided weapons are integrated into the SUV. A total of six prototypes of the Product 9-15 aircraft were built; the first flight was performed on April 25, 1986 by test pilot V.E. Menitsky.
• The MiG-29ME fighter is export option the MiG-29M aircraft, also known as the MiG-33.
• MiG-29SMT. The collapse of funding for the defense industry in the 1990s buried the hope of launching mass production of the MiG-29M aircraft. As a less expensive alternative to the eMke, the design bureau has developed a modification of the MiG-29SMT. The aircraft was intended to replace the MiG-27 and Su-17 fighter-bombers in service with the Russian Air Force. For the Russian Air Force it was planned to modernize the previously built 9-13, the program was curtailed. "9-18" and "9-19" are designed for export. The first modifications of the SMT were exported to Yemen (“9-18”, 2002) and Algeria (“9-19”, 2007), but the deal with Algeria turned into a scandal (counterfeit components, and used spare parts used in the new aircraft) - all aircraft were returned to Russia and entered service with the Russian Air Force.
• MiG-29UBT (products 9-52, 9-53)
• Two-seat trainer version of the MiG-29SMT.
• MiG-29KVP (izdeliye 9-1 8) variant of the MiG-29KVP was an upgraded prototype of the "product 9-12". The work was carried out as part of the program to create a ship-based fighter for aircraft carriers of Project 1 1345. A brake hook was installed, and the structure of the airframe and landing gear was strengthened. The test results were used in the development of the MiG-29K ship-based fighter.
• MiG-29K (product 9-41). The renaissance of the ship's fleet is associated with the modernization of the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier into a “normal” aircraft carrier for the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy has ordered 1b MiG-29K. The composition of the avionics has been completely updated. There are plans to purchase a ship modification for Russian naval aviation. The most noticeable external difference between the MiG-29K and the 29KVP is the wing of a larger span and larger area with folding consoles. The avionics are similar to those used on the MiG-29M. The aircraft is equipped with an in-flight refueling system. Two prototypes of the MiG-29K fighter were built.
• MiG-29UVT. Single-seat super-maneuverable fighter with two turbofan engines with a thrust vector deflectable in two planes. The fourth experimental MiG-29M was modified into a prototype in 2001. The MiG-29UVT is equipped with engines with controlled thrust vectoring.
• MiG-29M2 (MiG-35, products 9-61 and 9-67). Single-seat (“9-61”) and double-seat (“9-67”) are super-maneuverable multirole fighter-bombers. The MiG-35 belongs to the “4++” generation of fighters.
• MiG-29KUB (product 9-47). A two-seat version of the “product 9-41” with full combat capabilities, ordered by the Indian Navy.
• An improved version of the MiG-29BM was developed in Belarus, and modernized aircraft of the air forces of third countries received their own designations.

TYPES OF WEAPONS

The composition of the optical-electronic sighting navigation complex OEPrNK-29 (in addition to other systems) includes the OEPS-29 optical-electronic sighting system. It includes a combined optical-laser station KOLS and a helmet-mounted target designation system "Schel-ZUM". KOLS allows you to search for a target and launch missiles with an infrared seeker at it in stealth mode, with the radar turned off, which makes it difficult for the enemy to detect the target and makes the attack surprise.
Many air forces around the world have aerobatic demonstration teams, but most use light training combat aircraft. Only a few such teams fly full-fledged combat aircraft, and among them, the Russian Air Force stands out in that it operates two combat fighter teams at the same time - the well-known Vityazis use the Su-27, and the Swifts use the MiG-29. The Aerobatic Aerobatics Team (AGVT) “Swifts” was created on May 6, 1991.

The first color scheme for MiG-29 aircraft of the Swifts aerobatic team

Swifts from the MiG-29 aerobatic team in the parking lot

It included aircraft and pilots from the Aviation Equipment Display Center based at the Kubinka airfield near Moscow. By the way, this is where the first production MiG-29s ended up in 1983. The task of the Center was to demonstrate Soviet aircraft to foreign buyers, and the pilots knew how to squeeze “all the juice” out of the machines by showing them strengths, including aerobatics at low altitudes and speeds, maneuverability.

Takeoff Mig-29 aerobatic team Swifts photo MAKS 2011

The Swifts' first performance took place in 1991 in Sweden, and in subsequent years they took part in many air shows and shows. For the first 10 years, AGVP aircraft had a white-blue color scheme, and in 2003 it was replaced by the current white-red-blue color scheme. Currently, six aircraft “9.13” and “9.51” fly as part of the AGVP. Despite the complexity and danger of the work, not a single disaster occurred during the existence of the group. "Swifts" were participants in most Victory parades held in recent years. It is appropriate to remember that in 1996-2002, the Ukrainian Air Force had the Ukrainian Falcons aerobatic team, which, like the Swifts, flew the MiG-29.

MiG-29M2 cockpit fighter aircraft photo video

For emergency escape from the aircraft, the pilot has a K-36DM series 2 ejection seat, designed to rescue the pilot at altitudes from ground level to 25 km and in the speed range from 0 to 3000 km/h. To rescue the pilot high altitude The chair has an autonomous oxygen system. To ensure the pilot's survival during ejection in a deserted area, the seat is equipped with an emergency supply (food, drink and survival equipment) and a radio station.
Three-section deflectable tips are installed on the leading edge of the wing, which are released automatically when the angle of attack increases to 8.7 or synchronously with the release of the flaps. The wing has a leading edge sweep of 42°.

technical specifications moment 29 and brief description designs

In front of the keels there are BVP-30-26 decoy ejection units. Each contains 30 PPI-26 decoy thermal targets or cartridges with PPR-26 dipole reflectors.
The main air pressure receiver (APR) has profiled ridges installed on both sides, which act as vortex generators. A similar role is played by the root nodules of the wing. Due to the formation of vortices, which normalize the flow around the wing and control surfaces, it was possible to significantly delay the moment of flow stall, which significantly improved the flow, and, consequently, controllability at low speeds and high angles of attack.
The MiG-29, being a front-line fighter, was supposed to operate from airfields in the front-line zone. As the troops advanced, the fighters changed their base location, which included the use of poorly prepared structures as runways - sections of roads, partially damaged runways and taxiways.

range of weapons for the multi-role version of the Mig-29 fighter

In this case, the surface could be significantly clogged with stones, pieces of concrete or asphalt coating, which, if they got into the air intake, would be guaranteed to damage the engine. created for him reliable system, preventing any foreign objects from entering the air intake. On the ground, the inlet openings of the air intakes are blocked by special dampers, and air enters the engines through a system of slots with dampers on the upper surface of the root flaps.

Mig-29 aircraft detail

• TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MIG-29 (9.13)
• Type: 2-engine front-line fighter, crew, persons: 1
• Engines: 2 x Klimov RZZ turbofan engines with a thrust of 50 kN without afterburner, and 81.3 kN with afterburner each
• Dimensions, m: length: 17.32 wingspan: 11.36 height: 4.73
• Weight, kg: empty: 11,200 normal: 15,300 maximum: 18,480
• Specifications:
• maximum speed, km/h: 2450 (at altitude)
• ceiling, km: 18
• flight range, km: 1500 (combat); 2900 (distillation)
• Armament: up to 6 short-range (R-60 and R-73) and medium-range (R-27) air-to-air missiles or other combat load weighing up to 2180 kg on 6 hardpoints under the wing, built-in 30-mm GSh-30-1 cannon (150 rounds)

Double-circuit turbojet engine RD-33 (item 59) with afterburner. The engine is mounted at an angle to the vertical (nozzles 1.5° outward) and horizontal (nozzles 4° higher) axes of the aircraft. The engine is two-shaft, has an axial two-stage compressor consisting of a low-pressure 4-stage fan and an adjustable 9-stage high-pressure compressor, an annular combustion chamber, a two-stage turbine, an afterburner and an adjustable supersonic jet nozzle. For use on unequipped sites, engines can be started from an autonomous on-board starter-energy unit GTDE-117.
The horizontal tail (stabilizer) is all-moving, power driven by hydraulic cylinders. The front part of each stabilizer console and the power set forming the caisson are made of metal; The skin panels and rear edge use composite materials. The left and right halves of the stabilizer can rotate independently of each other, with such differential deflection the stabilizer plays the same role as the ailerons.

The transition from third-generation fighters to fourth is associated with the tragic events of the Vietnam War. In April 1966, the Soviet Union supplied North Vietnam with MiG-21 fighters, which collided with American F-4 Phantom IIs in the sky. It was these air battles that made it clear what the aircraft of the future would be like. Bitter experience of war At that time it was believed that maneuverable air combat was a thing of the past, and air cannons were even removed from aircraft. Why are they needed if the enemy can easily be destroyed with missiles tens of kilometers away? However, the war showed that reality always differs from theory. The F-4 had a better radar, but the MiG-21 was more maneuverable. And unexpectedly for the Americans, it was the latter that turned out to be decisive. From May to December 1966, they lost 47 aircraft versus 12 Vietnamese. The United States took this bitter experience into account and began developing the F-16 and F-15 fighters, and the Soviet Union, in turn, began developing the MiG-29 and Su-27. Older brother, younger brother The Su-27 and MiG-29 only seem similar in appearance, but in reality they are aircraft of different classes, and this is especially noticeable if you see the two aircraft side by side. The concept that the country's Air Force has an optimal ratio of 80% light fighters and 20% heavy fighters appeared back in the 1960s and was accepted everywhere. This is due to the fact that using an expensive and heavy machine that has excessive capabilities to perform certain tasks is not always profitable. That is why the USSR decided to create two aircraft at once.
The military wanted the fighter to have high speed and at the same time good maneuverability. The beginning of the design was preceded by a long and painful search for the external appearance. It was clear to everyone that the requirements imposed on the aircraft by the military could not be met with the existing aerodynamic designs. At the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI), dozens of models were blown through the pipes until they discovered an effect that the Americans had missed. It turned out that if you create a sharp influx on the fuselage, vortices begin to appear on the wing, which in turn create high air rarefaction and, as a result, lifting force. It must be emphasized that the aircraft does not have such a thing as a “fuselage”, it has a “body”: in creation lift The whole machine takes part. The secret of success The work on creating the machine was associated with great difficulties. The aircraft was smaller than the Su-27, and therefore the requirements for the size and weight of the equipment were higher. It took the designers three years to fit everything they needed inside the case. In addition, the RD-33 engines, which today are considered one of the most reliable, but then were at the fine-tuning stage and often failed, also caused problems. Including because of this, an experimental vehicle was later lost during testing. By 1976, assembly of the first prototype of the machine began. The photo below shows the first copy of the MiG-29 (9-12/1) (photo courtesy of RSK MiG).
An emergency also prevented the start of full-fledged testing. On September 6, 1976, a pilot of one of the Far Eastern air regiments, Viktor Belenko, flew a MiG-25P interceptor aircraft to Japan. The car was returned to the USSR, but the American military managed to get acquainted with its secret “stuffing”. It was urgently necessary to redo almost all the on-board equipment on several hundred MiG-25s. It was decided to modernize these aircraft, and a lot of the design bureau’s efforts were thrown at it. Nevertheless, on October 6, 1977, the first experimental MiG-29 took off under the control of test pilot Alexander Fedotov. Later, other pilots joined the tests, including Anatoly Kvochur.
The Bell over Farnborough The aircraft became a breakthrough in every sense for domestic aviation. This is no longer a separate fighter, but part of a huge system, so to speak, the “tip of the spear.” The machine works in conjunction with ground-based radars and other aircraft. The weapons control system was a new generation complex. The radar was capable of tracking several targets at once, with the selection of the most dangerous one taking place automatic mode. Other processes were also automated, which allowed the pilot to concentrate on controlling the fighter. In addition, the aircraft had an optical-quantum station, which, using a heat direction finder and a laser range finder, could detect targets in the visibility zone. Unlike the radar, this station did not produce radiation. The pilot received a helmet-mounted system that allowed him to direct the missile to the target by turning his head.
The MiG-29 was and remains the best aircraft for close combat, and this is due, among other things, to its outstanding maneuverability characteristics. The whole world learned that the MiG-29, like the Su-27, is capable of performing such figures as the “bell” and “cobra” at the Farnborough Air Show, where they were first presented soviet planes, in the early 1990s. For foreign specialists, the MiG-29 demonstration program was a real shock: not a single fighter in the world was able to perform many of the aerobatic maneuvers shown. The press stated that the MiG-29 “stole the exhibition.” It is interesting that even 40 years after its first flight, the aircraft remains popular, videos with it receive millions of views. So, two years ago a video was published called “vertical take-off of the MiG-29,” where the plane after takeoff flies vertically, like a rocket. Actually, this is not surprising: the thrust-to-weight ratio of a fighter with a normal take-off weight is 1.09 kgf per 1 kg of weight. Yugoslav massacre The aircraft was used in more than ten military conflicts, starting with the war in Afghanistan, but one of the most remarkable facts combat use remains the NATO operation in Yugoslavia. The NATO strike force consisted of 282 aircraft, later their number grew to 639. The reconnaissance and electronic countermeasures force at the beginning of the war consisted of 66 aircraft, then their number increased to 84. Direct command forces during the fighting grew from 20 to 29 aircraft. The logistics support force consisted of 62 aircraft, and at the end of the war was expanded to 252. The entire armada was opposed by 14 MiG-29s and 34 MiG-21s. The Yugoslavs had no chance, but...
According to official data from the alliance, during the 11 weeks of Operation Allied Force, combat losses amounted to two aircraft. According to the Ministry of Defense of Yugoslavia, the country's air force and air defense, 31 aircraft (including one F-117), six helicopters, 11 unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed aircraft and approximately 40 cruise missiles. The Yugoslav Air Force lost about 11 MiG-29 fighters. There is still no clarity in the world-famous story about the downed “stealth plane” F-117. By official version NATO, it was destroyed by the S-125 air defense system in the area of ​​the village of Budanovtsy, but there is a version that it could have been shot down by a MiG-29 pilot who visually detected the plane. There is no confirmation of this information, however, it is noteworthy that the F-117 pilot later said that the blow was completely unexpected for him (the warning systems did not work) and that he “does not remember how he tore the catapult ring.” Be that as it may, the Yugoslav MiGs without satellite navigation, powerful ground radars and AWACS aircraft were able to continue flying until the end of the coalition forces’ combat operation. And that says a lot. Dark times The collapse of the country and the subsequent crisis hit hard the entire Russian aviation industry and the MiG in particular. Unlike the Su-27, the MiG-29 was primarily an air superiority fighter. He could strike ground targets, but these tasks were considered secondary. At the same time on international market Multifunctional aircraft were in greater demand. The company's survival was helped by India's order for a carrier-based version of the MiG-29K. This machine made its first flight in 1988. The aircraft received an infrared target direction finder, new radar"Zhuk-ME", allowing it to detect targets at a distance of up to 200 km. In addition, the airframe has been improved, allowing it to carry up to 5.5 tons of combat load. In 2007, the first flight of the two-seat version of the MiG-29KUB fighter took place.
The MiG-29SMT is an attempt to transform the aircraft into a full-fledged multifunctional machine. Due to additional fuel tanks behind the cockpit and in the tail section, it was possible to increase the flight range by 3.5 times, and the combat load to 5,500 kg. In addition, almost the entire “internal filling” of the car has undergone a deep modernization. It also received upgraded RD-33 engines with deflectable thrust vectoring. In September, it became known about the transfer of this version of the MiG-29 to the Khmeimim airbase in Syria, from where it strikes terrorists.
Thirty-fifth At the MAKS-2017 air show, the focus was on the MiG-35 multirole fighter, presented a few months earlier. This is a deep modernization of the MiG-29K. The aircraft has a payload of 6,000 kg, reduced radar signature, increased reliability and survivability, service life, and service life of the aircraft and engines. The cost of a flight hour is reduced by 2.5 times in comparison with the MiG-29, the aircraft has, among other things, electronic warfare equipment and open avionics architecture.
Mig-35 is unpretentious in maintenance and can be used from unpaved strips. According to its characteristics, this is a 4++ generation aircraft that can conduct air combat and strike ground targets. The aircraft may be of interest to those countries that have relatively small territories and/or a small military budget. The Russian military department ordered thirty aircraft for the Russian Aerospace Forces. This means that the MiG-29 remains one of the strongest fighters of the 21st century and will be in service with Russia and other countries for many years to come.

• Data change date: 12/22/2015

Frontline fighter MiG-29

MODIFICATIONS.
MiG-29 - the original single-seat front-line fighter;

MiG-29K - multi-role carrier-based fighter-bomber;

The MiG-29KVP is an intermediate version, built to practice take-off from a springboard and landing on an arresting aid. It can be used as a combat aircraft, as well as a training aircraft for naval aviation pilots at ground airfields. Its only difference from a conventional land-based aircraft is its reinforced structure;

MiG-29M - an improved front-line fighter with a fly-by-wire control system and improved equipment;

MiG-29ME - export MiG-29M;

MiG-29S is an improved front-line fighter;

The MiG-29SM inherited from the MiG-29SE (aircraft similar to this modification were delivered to Malaysia) all the innovations: an increased bomb load (up to 4 tons), in-flight refueling, missiles with an RVV-AE active radar homing head, increasing the chance of winning in ranged combat 6-7 times. Already these two modifications in basic parameters are not inferior to or superior to the Eurofighter being developed - a next-generation fighter.;

MiG-29SMT is a new export modification of the MiG-29M. Unified (i.e. will subsequently be installed on all Russian fighters) cabin with 3 MFDs, 900 kg lighter due to imported element base. New radar (with automatic terrain mapping). Additional tanks. Bomb load (up to 4 tons) and range (up to 3500 km) increased;

The MiG-29SE is an advanced front-line fighter equipped with an in-flight refueling system. Export modification.;

MiG-29UB is a two-seat combat trainer version. Created in 1981;

MiG-29UBT. Double modification for performing special strike missions. First flight 08/10/98;

The MiG-29 with rotary engine nozzles is an experimental aircraft for testing the thrust vector deflection system, which may find application on the next generation multi-role fighter, developed since 1988 on the basis of the MiG-29. The construction of the fifth-generation fighter was completed back in 1991, but it has not yet been able to take off due to a lack of funds to fine-tune the engines;

MiG-33 - MiG-29M;

MiG-35 - deep modernization of the MiG-29M (MiG-33).

DIMENSIONS. Wing span 11.36 m; aircraft length (with PVD boom) 17.32 m; aircraft height 4.73 m; wing area 38.0 m2; minimum frontal EPR 2 m2.

NUMBER OF SEATS Crew: 1 person (MiG-29UB and MiG-29UBT have two).

ENGINES. 2xTRDDF RD-33, NPO im. V.Ya. Klimova.
The MiG-29 fighter is equipped with two Tumansky turbojet engines using afterburning fuel. The engine is smokeless with water injection during landing, like other Tumansky engines.

Traction:
- non-afterburning 2 x 5100 kGs,
- afterburner 2 x 8300 kgf;
fuel consumption per engine:
- at maximum 0.77 kg/kgs∙h (21.8 mg/N∙s),
- afterburner 2.10 kg/kgf∙h (59.48 mg/N∙s);
bypass ratio 0.4;
degree of pressure increase 20;
maximum diameter 1000 mm;
engine weight 980 kg;
power plant weight 1217 kg.

MASSES AND LOADS. Empty weight 10900 kg; maximum take-off weight 18480 kg; normal weight 15240 kg; combat load 3000 kg; maximum fuel reserve in internal tanks is 4200 l.

FLIGHT DATA. Maximum flight speed: at high altitude 2450 km/h (M=2.3), near the ground 1300 km/h; maximum rate of climb at the ground 330 m/sec; acceleration time from 600 to 1100 km/h 13.5 s, from 1100 to 1300 km/h 8.7 s; takeoff speed 220 km/h; take-off run length - without afterburner 600-700 m, with afterburner 260 m; approach speed 260 km/h, landing speed 235 km/h, run length (with braking parachute) 600 m; practical ceiling 17000 m; ferry range - without PTB 1500 km, with one PTB 2100 km, with three PTB 2900 km; maximum turning speed 23.5 ╟/sec; operational overload + 9 units.

DESIGN FEATURES. The wing is equipped with fully opening slats, effective flaps and semi-opening ailerons.

The MiG-29's cockpit is surprisingly spacious and is covered by a large canopy, providing a larger field of view than Western fighters. The instrument panel is almost identical to that of the Su-27, which makes it easier for pilots to switch from one machine to another.

A unique feature of the MiG-29 is the ability to take off with a combat load on one engine with the second engine switched on already in the air, which saves valuable time when taking off on alert.

WEAPONS. The MiG-29 is a universal fighter capable of both delivering bombing strikes and gaining air superiority. Armament includes a single-barreled GSh-301 cannon (30 mm, 150 rounds of ammunition, rate of fire 1500 rounds/min) in the left wing root. The wing has six (eight on the MiG-29K) cargo suspension points. All MiG-29 suspensions can carry bombs or other air-to-ground weapons. To combat air targets, six underwing units of the MiG-29 can be equipped with: six R-60M close-range missiles or R-73 short-range missiles with an infrared seeker; four close-range missiles and two medium-range missiles R-27RE with radar or R-27TE with IR guidance system. It is planned to install a new medium-range missile defense R-77. Installation of old R-23 missile launchers is possible. For operations against ground targets, the aircraft can carry bombs, NAR units with calibers of 57 mm, 80 mm, 122 mm and 240 mm, and a unified small cargo container KMGU-2. It is possible to use air-to-surface missiles of the X-25M class with passive radar, semi-active laser or ship guidance, X-29 (MiG-29K) with TV or laser guidance, supersonic anti-ship missile Kh-31A (MiG-29K), subsonic anti-ship missile Kh-35.

PROGRAM STATUS. In serial production. 1st flight of the prototype - 1977; Adopted into service - 1982. It is believed that the first Soviet MiG-29 squadron was formed during 1984. By January 1986 MiG-29s were delivered to many air forces of the USSR.
At the beginning of 1999, the MiG-29SMT fighter received a certificate from the Russian Air Force, which makes it possible to begin work on the conversion of the MiG-29 in combat units of the Russian Air Force, to carry it out on aircraft of foreign customers, and to begin mass production.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. NATO designation "Fulcrum".
The MiG-29 is one of the best fourth-generation jet fighters in its class.
The MiG-29 was created to gain air superiority in the combat zone and at short distances from the front and is designed to combat enemy aircraft, cover troops and rear facilities from air strikes, counter enemy air reconnaissance day and night, in simple and difficult weather conditions . In addition to destroying air targets at medium and short distances, including against the ground, it can also hit moving and stationary ground and sea targets. The MiG-29 surpasses its own in many respects foreign analogues(F-16, F/A-18, Mirage 2000). High thrust-to-weight ratio and excellent aerodynamics provide accelerated acceleration, high rate of climb, small turning radii, high angular turning speeds, and the ability to maneuver for a long time with high overloads. The aircraft can effectively conduct active maneuver combat using a cannon, all-aspect missile combat at short and medium distances, and intercept attack and reconnaissance aircraft, including low-flying ones against the background of the ground. The MiG-29 is built for the long term. Having first taken flight about 20 years ago, it remains the world's best fighter in its class to this day. Moreover, its latest modification, the MiG-29SM, first shown at the Paris Air Show in 1995, is already a fully multifunctional fighter equipped with high-precision air-to-ground weapons. striking power increased three times compared to previous modifications.

DEVELOPER. OKB im. A.I. Mikoyan.

Monitoring:

30.01.2017

Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, press release: Today at Voronezh region tactical flight exercises began with the squadron...

25.11.2016

Forbes: In Moscow, at the age of 90, aircraft designer Ivan Mikoyan died, becoming one...

MiG-29- single-seat twin-engine all-weather front-line fighter, made according to the integral layout diagram with a swept wing with developed root nodules with a blunt edge, and a two-fin vertical tail. The supporting fuselage creates about 40% of the lift. RD-33 engines are installed in spaced nacelles located in the rear fuselage.

Design:

The aircraft is made mainly of aluminum, and to a lesser extent - of titanium, steel, carbon-based composite materials and honeycomb cores.

A radar is installed in the forward part of the semi-monocoque fuselage and there is a pressurized pilot's cabin in which the K-36DM ejection seat is installed. The lantern consists of two segments - a fixed visor and a movable segment that opens upwards and backwards. Behind the cabin there is an avionics compartment. The central part of the fuselage is occupied by the main fuel tanks. Tank No. 3 is integrated into a power structure made of titanium, to which the wing planes, engine frames and main landing gear are attached. The engines are attached to frame No. 7 of the middle part of the fuselage.

The tail unit, engine afterburners, aerodynamic brakes and a braking parachute container are attached to the rear section of the fuselage.

The two wing planes are attached to the fuselage at five points. The power set of the plane includes three main spars, two auxiliary front spars, one auxiliary rear spar, stringers and ribs. Pylons are attached to the main spars, rub under the plane. The wing plane mechanization consists of a three-section slat, landing flaps and ailerons.

The tail unit includes two fins with rudders (early series aircraft had ventral false wings installed) and a differentially controlled all-moving stabilizer.

Engines:
The MiG-29 aircraft is equipped with two RD-33 bypass turbojet engines with afterburners and adjustable nozzles. A design feature of the MiG-29 is the engine air intakes. During taxiing, takeoff and landing modes, air is supplied to the engines through the so-called “upper inlets”, slotted air intakes located on the upper surfaces of the bulges; The main air intakes are closed with flaps. In theory, this design solution reduces the likelihood of damage to engines by foreign objects. At a speed of about 200 km/h, the slot air intakes close and the main ones open. On landing, the process occurs in reverse order. The main air intakes are scoop type, adjustable, optimized for flight at high transonic and transonic speeds.

Chassis:

tricycle, with nose support, completely retractable into the fuselage. The bow prop is two-wheeled, the main ones are single-wheeled.

Control system:

Traditional, mechanical with classic controls (RUS, throttles, pedals). All control surfaces are deflected by hydraulic actuators. The SAU-451-03 autopilot is included in the control system loop. The autopilot dampens aircraft vibrations relative to all three axes and maintains a given altitude and flight path. The cockpit instrumentation is made using traditional dial instruments.

avionics:

The onboard equipment includes a short-range navigation radio system, an air signals subsystem, a radio altimeter, a radio compass, transceiver radio stations, a “friend or foe” system, an electromagnetic radiation warning receiver, etc.

The SUV-29 weapons control system includes the RLPK-29E radar system as part of the N-091EA Rubin Doppler radar, the OEPrNK-29E (S-31) optoelectronic sighting and navigation system as part of the OEPS-23S (KOLS) system with an IR sensor and laser rangefinder, helmet-mounted sight NTS-29, indicator on the background of the windshield, on-board digital computer S-100.02-02 and a number of other devices.

The RLPK-29E system allows you to simultaneously track up to ten air targets and ensure guidance of the R-27R missile launcher with a semi-active homing head on one of them. The OEPrNK-29E optolocation system operates in the infrared range of the spectrum and generates data necessary for the use of guided missiles with thermal homing heads and firing from a cannon. The IR system, laser rangefinder and radar can operate either as a single complex or independently of each other.

On later modifications of the MiG-29, the composition of the avionics was significantly changed.

Weapons:

The built-in armament consists of one 30-mm GSh-301 cannon with 150 rounds of ammunition installed in the root cannon of the left wing console. The range of air-to-air suspended guided weapons includes medium-range air-to-air missiles R-27RD, short-range air-to-air missiles R-73, R-60, R-60M. The missiles are suspended on six underwing pylons. Suspension of missiles of the R-27 family is possible only on pylons No. 3 and No. 2. The R-60 and R-73 missiles are suspended symmetrically. MiG-29 mass modifications are capable of using only unguided air-to-surface weapons with a total mass of up to 3200 kg.

On October 6, 1977, a prototype of the MiG-29 aircraft made its first flight. The MiG-29 is a Soviet/Russian light front-line fighter of the 4th generation, developed by specialists from the MiG Design Bureau. According to the official website of RSK MiG, in total more than 1,600 fighters of this type were produced, which are in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces and 25 other countries around the world. The aircraft has been in mass production since 1982; today, our country produces improved modifications of this combat vehicle, which are still in demand on the global arms market.

The MiG-29 light fighter became the second 4th generation combat aircraft, which was developed by the designers of the A. I. Mikoyan Design Bureau, while the first Soviet 4th generation combat aircraft was the MiG-31 interceptor fighter, work on which began in the late 1960s. Work on the MiG-29 light front-line fighter began at the A.I. Mikoyan Design Bureau in 1970. The new machine was supposed to take over the baton from the main fighter of the USSR Air Force from the MiG-21 and MiG-23. In addition, the designers were given the task of surpassing the latest American fighters F-15 and F-16 in flight performance characteristics at that time. The main features of the new fighter are: the use of an integral aerodynamic configuration, in which the fuselage of the aircraft is load-bearing and creates up to 40 percent of the total lift force; a promising power plant consisting of two RD-33 bypass turbojet engines; new guided weapons; modern system weapons control.

As part of the work to create the MiG-29 fighter, an interdepartmental program was specially organized to ensure the reliability of combat systems and complexes. As a result of its work, high reliability indicators were achieved, which exceeded the requirements of customers and the world level achieved by that time. Also, when creating a new light front-line fighter, the Mikoyan Design Bureau created a special system of stands, including for half-life modeling. This decision made it possible to significantly reduce testing time and improve the quality of aviation equipment.

According to the official website of RSK MiG, the development of the light front-line fighter MiG-29 and its modifications from 1972 to 1982 was carried out under the leadership of Deputy General Designer A. A. Chumachenko, in 1982 M. R. Waldenberg was appointed chief designer of the aircraft, Since 1993, the topic has been headed by V.V. Novikov. Currently, the modernization of the MiG-29 aircraft is carried out under the leadership of chief designer A. B. Slobodsky, and the development of new modifications of the fighter is under the leadership of N. N. Buntin and I. G. Kristinov.

Construction of the first prototype of the MiG-29 fighter ( tail number 901) ended in August 1977. After carrying out the necessary ground tests, jogging and taxiing, by October the plane was ready for its first flight. On Thursday, October 6, 1977, the chief pilot of the A. I. Mikoyan Moscow Metallurgical Plant, A. V. Fedotov, took the plane into the sky for the first time. OKB pilots also took part in the flight tests of the new combat vehicle: P. M. Ostapenko, B. A. Orlov, A. G. Fastovets, V. E. Menitsky, V. V. Ryndin.

After completing a large-scale flight test program in 1982, the new aircraft was put into serial production at MAPO (today - Industrial complex No. 2 RSK "MiG") and in 1987 was officially adopted by the Air Force Soviet Union. Since 1986, MiG-29 fighters have been widely exported. India received the first aircraft already in 1986, and the following year it was followed by Yugoslavia and Iraq, and subsequently the geography of deliveries of the fighter only increased.

The aircraft made its international debut in 1988. The aircraft was presented at the Farnborough Air Show in the UK, which in itself was an unprecedented decision. Before this, Soviet military equipment had never taken part in such air shows. The appearance of the MiG-29 fighter at the Farnborough Air Show became a real sensation, and the aircraft itself became the main star of the show. The spectators and aviation specialists were especially impressed by the aerobatics figure “Bell”. This element was included in the flight program in order to provide potential customers as much information as possible about the new aircraft. In particular, it was clearly demonstrated that the MiG-29 maintains controllability along the trajectory at zero and even negative flight speeds, its orientation in space does not affect the stability and controllability of the vehicle, and the power plant operates stably and reliably throughout the entire speed range.

The light front-line fighter MiG-29 was made according to normal aerodynamic design, the aircraft has an integral airframe layout. The fighter's airframe consists of a profiled supporting body (fuselage) developed in scope and length, which is smoothly articulated through the influx zone with a trapezoidal wing, an all-moving differentially deflectable stabilizer and a vertical two-fin tail. The power plant is represented by two bypass turbojet engines, which were placed in isolated engine nacelles at the rear of the aircraft body. The main air intakes of turbojet engines are located under the center section, additional ones are located on the upper surface of the aircraft wing swells. The MiG-29 chassis is tricycle and retractable.

Approximately 40 percent of an aircraft's lift in flight is provided by its body, 60 percent by the wing. At angles of attack of more than 17 degrees, the role of the body and wing surges in creating lift increases. Glider Feature light fighter was the presence in its design of large-sized stampings, as well as pressed panels, their use made it possible to reduce the number of loaded joints. The main structural materials of the aircraft airframe are aluminum alloys and high-strength steels. Titanium was used in a number of critical components and parts of the fighter (in the tail section of the hull, in the wing spars, etc.). The share of composite materials in the total mass of the MiG-29 fighter structure was about 7 percent. To facilitate inspection and maintenance, as well as repair of the aircraft during operation, a convenient approach was provided to structural elements and equipment units.

High thrust-to-weight ratio, rational aerodynamic layout, reliable automated system controls provided the MiG-29 light front-line fighter with excellent maneuverability characteristics that are still inherent in the aircraft today. In the design of the fighter there was a place for the widespread use of composite materials. In the main version, the aircraft's armament consisted of a 30-mm GSh-301 automatic cannon, two R-27 medium-range guided missiles with radar or thermal homing heads and four R-73 highly maneuverable close-range missiles. For the first time in the world, an integrated weapons control system was used on the MiG-29 fighter based on the KOLS quantum optical-location station (a combination of a survey-tracking heat direction finder with a laser rangefinder), an N019 pulse-Doppler radar and a helmet-mounted target designation system under the designation "Schel-3UM". The operation of all of the above systems, united into a single complex for the first time in the world, was controlled by on-board electronic computers.

Despite the fact that 40 years have passed since the first flight of the prototype MiG-29 fighter, the combat vehicle is still in demand on the world market military equipment, this is confirmed by existing orders for this fighter. Thus, in 2016, Russia closed a contract to supply the Indian Navy with 29 MiG-29K/Kube ship-based fighters. These aircraft, belonging to the “4+” generation, are designed to solve air defense tasks for naval formations, gain air superiority, as well as destroy ground and surface targets with modern high-precision aircraft. Aircraft can be used equally effectively in all weather conditions, day and night.

Also in 2017, Russia began executing a contract to supply MiG-29M/M2 fighter jets to Egypt. In total, this North African country will receive about 50 aircraft of this type. Most likely, we are talking about the supply of 46 MiG-29M fighters and 6-8 MiG-29M2 twins for combat training of Egyptian pilots. Information about this contract first appeared in the Russian media in May 2015, when experts estimated the cost of the contract for the supply of about 50 fighter aircraft with weapons at approximately two billion dollars. This order became the largest for MiG-29 aircraft in all post-Soviet times.

The MiG-29M/M2 can be called the latest development of the platform of the legendary MiG-29 fighter. The main differences of the new machine are new radio-electronic equipment, improved engines with controlled thrust vectoring, and increased flight range. This version of the fighter was developed in Russia in the 2000s using solutions that arose during the work on creating a carrier-based version of the MiG-29K/KUB fighter (product 9-41/47).

Sources of information:
http://www.migavia.ru
http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fighter/mig29.html
https://lenta.ru/news/2017/04/26/mig29
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