Overview of Mikoyan MiG-29 Fighter Jet

Overview of Mikoyan MiG-29 Fighter Jet – MiG-29 is a supersonic light fighter belonging to the 4th generation, created at Mikoyan Design Bureau in the mid-’70s. The plane is designed for close combat, can carry up to 4 tons of load, and cover bombers during the attack. The combat vehicle has excellent maneuverability and modern onboard equipment to detect enemy targets.

Overview of Mikoyan MiG-29 Fighter Jet

MilitaryEzyInfo.com – Military aviation equipment in the USSR was created in parallel with new developments in NATO. The Soviet Union, looking back on the achievements of the U.S., Germany, and France in the military aviation industry, was trying to keep up. The bureaus of Sukhoi, Mikoyan, Gurevich, and Yakovlev were constantly working on creating aircraft capable of surpassing NATO’s equipment.

The design of the MiG-29 began as early as 1969. The USSR Air Force needed a long-range fighter with an extended range, excellent maneuverability, speed above 2M. The aircraft had to lift heavy weapons into the sky. The new aircraft was supposed to be used on short runways. The PFI project was quite expensive. It was decided to produce light and heavy aircraft separately. MiG-29 belonged to the class of light aircraft. It was designed by Mikoyan Design Bureau in 1974.

The first flight of the fighter took place in 1977. The serial production was started in 1982. The production was delayed due to the fact that the first aircraft had many defects and two machines crashed during the test. MiGs were produced at the Moscow Aviation Plant “Znamya Truda”. In 1983, the machines were sent to the airbase “Kubinka” for service. After successful testing of MiG-29 in the Gromov LII aircraft were sent to the First Fighter Aviation Regiment near Ivano-Frankivsk.

This development had many modifications. Some models were delivered for export. In addition, a deck and training MiG-29 was created. The aircraft were produced at Dementiev MAPO and at the aviation plant in Nizhny Novgorod. Nowadays improvement and production of fighters are carried out in the Moscow region at MiG RSK in Lukhovitsy. Since 1982 1600 fighters have been manufactured. The Russian Air Force fleet consists of about 270 MiG-29 aircraft.

Overview of Mikoyan MiG-29: Strengths and Weaknesses

MiG-29 can reach a speed of up to 2450 km/h and climb to a height of 18 km in the sky. The plane has two motors but can take off only one. It can take off by launching the second motor directly on the flight.

Performing the figure of aerobatics “bell”, the plane takes off sharply vertically upwards, and then freezes and falls quickly down, while the fighter for a while disappears from the radar field. The pilots can perform other aerobatics figures on MiG-29 as well: “pyramid”, “hammer”, “cross”, “arrow”, “star”.

The aircraft has innovations in the fuselage, due to which its aerodynamic characteristics have improved in comparison with earlier models. The hull was made of aluminum and lithium alloys, and riveted joints were replaced by welded seams. The weight of the machine became less.

The casing is made of materials that absorb radio waves. The airplane is less visible on radars. MiG designers designed the wings sharper, which improved the quality of aircraft control even at high speeds.

The aircraft is equipped with rockets, bombs, and a cannon. The aircraft can accompany heavy bombers and cover them from enemy fighters. The Light MiG is capable of flying for reconnaissance purposes. The fighter arms are designed to intercept air targets, counter enemy reconnaissance assets, and destroy enemy aircraft.

Another development that provides MiG-29 pilots with a clear advantage in combat is considered a monocular sight. The pilot can catch the target and fire the R-73 missile even if the nose of the aircraft is pointed in the other direction.

The planes of this version can be on the front line and provide the army with the offensive. MiGs can take off from unprepared runways. Aircraft have closing lower air intakes and reinforced landing gear.

MiG-29 can take off quickly. Its climbing speed is 330 m/s. The machine passes bends with small radii, maneuvers perfectly in the horizontal and vertical planes. In 1988, a new model capable of taking off and landing on an aircraft carrier was released. The aircraft could fold its wings for more compact placement on board the ship. MiG can take off almost vertically (with very short take-off time) but is not able to take off from underwater.

The first aviation regiment, which began to develop the MiG-29, was the air group “Strizhi”. The pilots on 6 planes in 1986 visited the Finnish airbase Rissala. It was then that this Soviet fighter was first demonstrated to the foreign community. In 1988 at the International Exhibition in Farnborough, where this aircraft was shown, experts were struck by the fact that the aircraft has 15% lower fuel consumption than its NATO counterparts. For the international presentation, the Soviet machines came up with an interesting design. The airplane was painted blue and red and the word “cut” was written on the nose. Since then, the MiG-29 was called a haircut.

MiG-29 Fighter Jet Specification

Flight and technical parameters:

crew: 1-2 people;
length and height: 17.32 and 4.73 m;
wingspan: 11.36 m;
empty weight: 10.9 tons;
max. take-off weight: 18.4 tons;
fuel reserve: 4 300 l (inside) and 1 500 l (PTB);
climbing height: 18 km;
maximum speed: 2,415 km/h;
flight speed at the ground surface: 1 500 km/h;
full refueling range: 2 000 km (3 200 km with three suspended top tanks);
climbing speed: 330 m/s;
landing speed: 260 km/h;
combat radius: 710 km;
Boeing load: 3,000 kg;
motor: 2 (TR DD F RD 33).

Design Features

The aircraft is designed according to the integrated aerodynamic scheme. It has two-kilobyte plumage and a low wing. The glider is made of steel, aluminum, and titanium alloys, composite materials. The angle of wing sweep – 42 degrees along the front edge. On the wing are deflected socks, slit flaps, and semi-opening ailerons. The chassis – three-point. The front post has 2 wheels. Main – one wheel each.

Battle weapons

Battle load: 3,000 kg at 6 or 8 suspension points;
GS 30 1 cannon with 150 rounds;
Air-to-air” UR: R 27, R 73, R 60;
“air-to-ground”: FAB 250, FAB 500;
cassette KMGU 2;
NUR blocks 57 mm, 130 mm, 240 mm;
atomic bomb RN 40.

Engine

The aircraft has two turbojet engines RD 33. They are equipped with low-pressure compressors with 4 stages. And the high pressure is created by a 9-stage compressor. RD 33 develops a thrust of 81.42 knots. This indicator of thrust could not exceed any foreign analogs.

Fuel consumption per engine at maximum – 0.77 kg/kGs*h. Engine weight is 980 kg. The engine is smokeless, with liquid injection at landing. The fuel system consists of 5 fuselage and 2 wing top tanks. Their total capacity is 4 300 liters.

RADAR

The aircraft is equipped with SAU-451, AU system, SOS-3M, equipment for limiting signals. The armament is controlled by SAU-29, including the BCVM Ts100 and the RLPK-29 (“Sapphire-29”).

MiG is equipped with navigation system СН-29, OEPrNK-29 complex. On the windshield, there is an indication system with a photocontrol device. The fighter has “Biryuza” switchgear, PPI-26 false target ejection mechanism, radio interference station, SPO-15LM “Biryuza”.

Cabin

Cabin lantern – drop-shaped. The visor has no bindings, it is able to provide good visibility in flight, during landing and take-off. The cabin is spacious, equipped with a catapult chair K-36DM. The pilot can leave the aircraft car even at the minimum height. The dashboard is similar to that of the Su-27.

Overview of MiG-29 Designed Modifications:

MiG-29: single-seater aircraft;
MiG-29 K: deck fighter and bomber;
MiG-29 K: is an intermediate model for training pilots to take off from the deck of an aircraft carrier;
9-41: ship fighter;
MiG-33: MiG-29M;
MiG-29M/HVT: the experimental model with deflected thrust vector;
MiG-29UPG: the advanced model for Indian Air Force;
9-13: next serial version, in service since 1986, additionally has Gardenia radar, BVP-30-26M, larger fuel reserve, combat load of 3200 kg;
MiG-29SMT: an upgraded export version created in 1994;
MiG-29UBT: 2-place, production since 1998;
9-12: serial model, in service since 1983, the weight of the booster load is 2 tons;
MiG-29AS: improved, for export to Slovakia with a new BREO;
MiG-29SM: improved version, has new bombs “V-P”;
9-31: ship-based, developed in 2004 for Indian aircraft carrier Vikramaditya;
MiG-29M: with improved equipment, has V-P;
MiG-29MU1: Ukrainian improved model with improved navigation;
MiG-29UB: 2-seat combat trainer aircraft, the place for the designer was placed by reducing the radar, in operation since 1985;
9-12B: export version for other states, which were not members of the ATC, changed the control of the ATC, the ammunition included R-27R1 and R-27T1;
MiG-29M2: 2-place, with longer range and load;
MiG-29N: designed for export;
MiG 29KUB: export, deck;
MiG-29BM: Belarusian upgraded model with updated radars;
MiG 29S: 3-series model, with RVV-AE and modern SU, combat weight 4 000 kg;
9-12A: an export model for Warsaw Pact states, with modified radars-29, with R-27R1 and R-27T1 ammo;
MiG-29 Sniper: an improved Romanian modification.

Series Production and Export

MiG-29 is operated not only in Russia but also in other countries of the world. Gradually, the old models are taken out of service. They are replaced by new versions – MiG-29SMT and others. Algeria has purchased 24 aircraft, but then returned them back. Bangladesh in 1999 bought 8 airplanes. In Belarus, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, and other former Soviet republics, MiGs remained after the collapse of the Union.

Egypt ordered 46 airplanes. Malaysia has already received 18 machines. Sudan has received more than 12 planes. Syria has received 62 MiGa. Iran: 36, India: about 80 airplanes. In total 800 fighter planes were delivered for export to 30 countries. The cost of one MiG in the world market – 22 million dollars.