Page 84 - Combat Aircraft (January 2020)

FIGHTER FOCUS // MIG-29 ‘FULCRUM’

The two pre-series MiG-35s on
a test fl ight. The lead aircraft
is armed with four KAB-500Kr
guided bombs using the TV
guidance method. UAC

accommodated between the engine
nacelles in addition to four external
tanks under the wings.
Below left to right:
The latest MiG-35 According to RAC MiG sources, non-
demonstrator speci ed measures were taken to reduce
unveiled by the aircraft’s infrared and radar signature,
RAC MiG has
redesigned fi ns thanks to the use of special coatings.
supplied by the Moscow-based NIIP The list of air-to-surface munitions with square
company, with the same sensor out t includes Kh-29 missiles in two versions tips, apparently Still targeting export
as the nose-mounted OLS-UEM. It is (equipped with TV and laser guidance for better The MiG-29M/M2 is a land-based export
controllability.
intended to be used for target detection systems respectively, as the Kh-29T and This derivative derivative of the new-generation
and identi cation as well as for the Kh-29L), in addition to the all-new Kh-38 is also set ‘Fulcrum’, likewise based on the airframe
designation of laser-guided munitions. missile with several guidance systems, to get new, and systems of the shipborne MiG-29K/
increased-area
The cockpit layout is described as the Kh-35U and Kh-31A anti-ship missiles wings for better KUB, with the tailhook and folding
being very similar to that of the MiG-29K, and the Kh-31P/PD high-speed anti-radar aerodynamic wings deleted. It has an export-standard
dominated by an IKSh-1M monochrome missile. It is capable of using satellite, performance. avionics out t and weapons, and
Alexander
head-up display (HUD) and three laser and TV-guided bombs of the KAB Mladenov was o ered for the rst time in the
MFI-10-7 color liquid crystal displays. series and the Grom family of new- late 2000s.
The MiG-35’s armament is carried on generation guided glide munitions. One of the two Initially, its marketing e ort turned
pre-series
eight hardpoints and includes the entire Maximum warload weight is set at MiG-35s, the out to be fruitless as the only customer
arsenal of modern Russian-made air-to- 13,224lb (6,000kg), with the four inner single-seater found was Syria, which placed an
air and air-to-surface guided munitions. hardpoints made ‘wet’ for carrying shows its air- order for 12. These aircraft, however,
to-air weaponry
The air-to-air missiles are represented 1,150-liter external tanks, in addition to a of two RVV-SD have never been delivered due to the
by the RVV-SD (R-77-1) for beyond 2,200-liter tank accommodated between and four RVV-MD country’s civil war. In the event, only
visual range (BVR) engagements and the engine nacelles. The MiG-35 has missiles together two examples from the ill-fated Syrian
with the T220
the RVV-MD (R-74M) for within visual an in- ight refueling probe and can be targeting pod order were built in 2011 — a single-
range (WVR) combat, in addition to deployed as a ‘buddy-buddy’ tanker under the seater designated MiG-29M (wearing
the traditional 30mm GSh-301 single- for refueling other tactical combat starboard engine the serial ‘747’) and a two-seater called
nacelle. Alexander
barrel gun. aircraft, the PAZ-MK refueling pod being Mladenov the MiG-29M2 (serial ‘741’). These saw

84 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero

21/11/2019 20:53
80-87 MiG-29 pt2 C.indd 84 21/11/2019 20:53
80-87 MiG-29 pt2 C.indd 84