Page 83 - Combat Aircraft (January 2020)

August 2018 have already been delivered The fi rst pre-series two-seater of
to the VKS, while four more are set to the ‘new’ MiG-35 family line for
follow by year-end. the VKS, dubbed the MiG-35UB,
taxiing in after a display fl ight at
Tarasenko told the Russian RIA Novosti Lukhovitsi in January 2017. UAC
news agency that a new order for an
undisclosed number of MiG-35s for the
VKS is expected soon. He hinted that
these aircraft are slated to replace the
aging rst-generation MiG-29s delivered
to the Russian military prior to 1990. This
follow-on contract is expected to cover
at least 14 more MiG-35s and they will be
delivered, according to Tarasenko, within
three years. In addition to the front-line
VKS units, the new-build MiG-35s will
be used to replace the rst-generation
MiG-29s operated by the Strizhy (Swifts)
air display team.
Within RAC MiG, the internal
designations of the two sub-versions of
the MiG-35 for the VKS are 9-41SR for
the MiG-35S single-seater, and 9-47SR
for the MiG-35UB two-seater. Both these
sub-versions share the same airframe
structure and even sport the same
canopy design, one employed for the
rst time in the MiG-29K/KUB derivative, Above left to right: between overhauls (TBO) has been KUB together with the NSTs-T helmet-
albeit now without folding wings The Phazotron- extended to 1,000 ight hours. mounted cueing system (HCMS).
and tailhook. Space occupied by the NIIR AESA radar The MiG-35 features a newly introduced
in its initial form,
second cockpit in the two-seat version known as the Conservative sophisticated self-protection suite,
is used to accommodate an additional Zhuk-AE, was mission avionics including the L-150 Pastel’ radar warning
400-liter fuel tank on the single-seater. installed on the The MiG-35S/UB built for the VKS receiver in addition to the OAR missile
fi rst MiG-35
Airframe service life is set at 6,000 hours prototype for the retained the MiG-29K’s Phazotron-NIIR approach warning system using six
or 40 years. Indian MMRCA Zhuk-M radar with a mechanically ultraviolet sensors for spherical coverage
The MiG-35 is powered by the same tender. Alexander scanned slotted-array antenna, the same and two laser warning sensors for the
Mladenov
engines as on the MiG-29K/KUB — as is used on the MiG-29KR/KUBR built OLO system placed in the wingtips. The
Klimov RD-33MK afterburning turbofans, A close view of for Russian Naval Aviation, in a sub- MSP-418K jammer pod is o ered for this
rated at 11,902lb (52.97kN) at military the Zhuk-AM version with enhanced performance. ‘Fulcrum’ derivative as well.
AESA radar in its
power and 19,836lb (88.3kN) at full latest version. Its weapons control system further During January 2017’s o cial
afterburner. The engine service life is Alexander comprises the OLS-UEM optronic system, presentation, the MiG-35 for the Russian
set at 4,000 ight hours while the time Mladenov also ‘borrowed’ from the MiG-29KR/ military had the T220 targeting pod,

This anonymous-looking MiG-35UB
two-seater is believed to be among
the initial production aircraft for the
VKS. Alexander Mladenov

www.Key.Aero // January 2020 83

21/11/2019 20:53
80-87 MiG-29 pt2 C.indd 83
80-87 MiG-29 pt2 C.indd 83 21/11/2019 20:53