Mikoyan MiG-29M
Encyclopedia
The Mikoyan
MiG-29M ' onMouseout='HidePop("9349")' href="/topics/NATO_reporting_name">NATO reporting name
"Fulcrum-E") is a mature development of the MiG-29M/M2 and MiG-29K/KUB technology. Formerly known as the "MiG-33
", it was developed from the Mikoyan MiG-29
(NATO: "Fulcrum") fighter jet during mid-1980s. The MiG-29M is sometimes called the Super Fulcrum.
. Six of these models were built before 1990. They were constantly upgraded with various components and one received experimental vector thrust engines which eventually became the MiG-29OVT. The model was again renamed as MiG-29M. The MiG-29M/M2 now belongs to the "new unified family" instead of the "MiG-29 fighters family" which comprise the older variants.
RAC MiG engineers have continually upgraded the model for better performance, seeking a possible sale of the aircraft. The innovations focused on aerodynamics improvements, fly-by-wire technology, stealth features, increased fuel capacity and in-flight refueling solutions, more weight load, and well established open architecture for application of foreign equipment. Together with the MiG-29K/KUB and MiG-35, the MiG-29M/M2 also took advantage of new technologies, such as the new enhanced thrust smokeless engines. New reliability measures resulted in a decrease of flight hour cost and the capability of on-condition maintenance. These new technologies gave the aircraft contemporary features and true multi-role capability.
Features
The MiG-29M/M2 aircraft is a revision of the basic MiG-29. It achieved a more robust multi-role capability with enhanced use of air-to-air
and air-to-ground high-precision weapon
s. It also featured considerably increased combat range owing to an increase in its internal fuel
capacity. Along with a better pilot
-to-aircraft interface in the cockpit, a digital three-channel fourfold redundant fly-by-wire system, improved navigation, radio communications, electronic countermeasures, monitoring and recording systems, and optronic and reconnaissance pods, have improved overall aircraft performance considerably.
Airframe evolutions
A few changes took place during the aircraft's development. The redesigned airframe was constructed from a lightweight aluminum-lithium alloy to increase thrust-to-weight ratio
. Air intake
s' geometry was revised, the upper intake louver
s removed to make way for more fuel in the LERXs, mesh screens introduced to prevent foreign object damage
(FOD) and enlarged inlet
dimensions for higher airflow. The back of the aircraft featured an enlarged spine for more fuel capacity and a dorsal air brake. Radome and canopy were redesigned to give space for avionic upgrades. Aerodynamics were also revised. The wings increased span and aileron, while the tail fins revised trailing edges.
Powerplant
The RD-33MK, the latest revision of the RD-33, has 7% more power in comparison to the baseline model due to the usage of modern materials on the cooled blades, it provide a thrust of 9,000 kgf. In response to long time criticism, the new engines are smokeless and contain improvements that reduce its infrared visibility. Thrust vectoring nozzles are now offered upon customer’s request.
Range and fuel system
The aircraft is built with an in-flight-refueling (IFR) probe and is able to carry three fuel drop tanks. The redesigned airframe also significantly increased internal fuel capacity in the dorsal spine and LERXs fuel tanks. These give the aircraft of single seat an operation range of 2,000 km with internal fuel, 3,200 km with three fuel drop tanks, and 6,000 km with three drop tanks and in-flight-refueling.
Cockpit
The cockpit has been redesigned to incorporate contemporary features. While some analogue instruments have been retained, two monochrome liquid crystal (LCD) multi-function display
s (MFD) have been introduced and new weapon controls have been incorporated in a HOTAS
concept. Other new features include the Zhuk-ME radar, an infra-red search and track (IRST) system and a helmet-mounted target designation system (early
HMD
).
Sensors
Main upgrades consists the Zhuk-ME pulse-Doppler airbone radar, along with revised IRST systems, helmet-mounted target designation system and electronic countermeasures. New radar capable of detecting air targets at ranges up to 120 km, track-while-scan of ten targets and attack of four targets at a time. In scanning surface targets, the radar detection range of destroyer-type targets is 250 km and that of missile launcher-type targets is 150 km. Hence beyond visual range (BVR) engage is greatly enhanced.
Armament
The aircraft can carry the RVV-AE (R-77), R-27ER1, R-27ET1, R-27R1, R-27T1, R-73E air-to-air missiles, the Kh-29T, Kh-29L, Kh-31A, Kh-31P, Kh-35E air-to-surface missiles, the KAB-500KR (OD), KAB-500L guided bombs, as well as rockets and free-fall bombs. The aircraft retains the GSh-301 built-in gun.
Advanced single-seat multi-role variant, with a redesigned airframe, mechanical flight controls replaced by a fly-by-wire
system and powered by enhanced RD-33 ser.3M engines. NATO reporting code is 'Fulcrum-E'.
MiG-29UBM (Product 9.61)
Two-seat training variant of the MiG-29M. Never built. Effectively continued under the designation 'MiG-29M2'.
MiG-29SMT (Product 9.17)
In 1998 a decision was made by the Defense Ministry to launch a quantity-modernization program of the MiG-29 fighters. Extensive modernization was planned only for the aircraft produced through the previous decade. The modernization program started in September 1998 by the Kubinka military aircraft-repair plant and the MAPO MiG. The first batch of 10 to 15 MiG-29SMTs was delivered before the end of the year. In 1999, a total of 20 to 30 MiG-29 fighters were modernized into the MiG-29SMT configuration. Starting from the year 2000, the program's annual modernization rate was expected to reach 40 MiG-29SMTs. The overall plan provides for modernization of 150 MiG-29s to the MiG-29SMT status, 120 more to the MiG-29UBT status and the acquisition of 30 MIG-35s, with the remainder of the older MiG-29s to be withdrawn from service.
An upgrade package of the first-generation MiG-29s (9.12 to 9.13) containing many enhancements intended for the MiG-29M. Additional fuel tanks in a further enlarged spine provide a maximum flight range of 2,100 km (on internal fuel). The cockpit has an enhanced HOTAS design, two 152 × 203 mm (6 × 8 inch) colour liquid crystal MFDs and two smaller monochrome LCDs. The upgraded Zhuk-ME radar provides similar features to the MiG-29M. The power plant are upgraded RD-33 ser.3 engines with afterburning thrust rated the same at 8,300 kgf (81.4 kN) each. The weapons load was increased to 4,500 kg on six underwing and one ventral hardpoints, with similar weapon choices as for the MiG-29M variant. The upgraded aircraft has also a painted path for non-Russian origin avionics and weapons.
MiG-29UBT (Product 9.51T)
SMT standard upgrade for the MiG-29UB. Namely users, Algeria and Yemen.
MiG-29M2 / MiG-29MRCA
Two-seat version of MiG-29M. Identical characteristics to MiG-29M, with a slightly reduced ferry range of 1,800 km. RAC MiG presented in various air shows, to name a few, Fifth China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (CIAAE 2004), AERO INDIA 2005, MAKS 2005. It was once given designation MiG-29MRCA for marketing purpose and has evolved into the MiG-35
.
Mikoyan
Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG , or RSK MiG, is a Russian joint stock company. Formerly Mikoyan-and-Gurevich Design Bureau , then simply Mikoyan, it is a military aircraft design bureau, primarily designing fighter aircraft...
MiG-29M ' onMouseout='HidePop("9349")' href="/topics/NATO_reporting_name">NATO reporting name
NATO reporting name
NATO reporting names are classified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
"Fulcrum-E") is a mature development of the MiG-29M/M2 and MiG-29K/KUB technology. Formerly known as the "MiG-33
Mikoyan MiG-33
The designation MiG-33 has been associated with two different Mikoyan fighter designs. It was first employed for a single-engined, lightweight strike fighter similar in capabilities to the then-General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon...
", it was developed from the Mikoyan MiG-29
Mikoyan MiG-29
The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a fourth-generation jet fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union for an air superiority role. Developed in the 1970s by the Mikoyan design bureau, it entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1983, and remains in use by the Russian Air Force as well as in many other...
(NATO: "Fulcrum") fighter jet during mid-1980s. The MiG-29M is sometimes called the Super Fulcrum.
Development
In the mid-1980s, a development of the original MiG-29 was proposed to meet the Soviet western front line requirement. It was required to be a multi-role fighter for the front line defensive air force to gain offensive strike ability. This development resulted in a single seat and a double seat variant. The proposal was then grounded as a result of shift in military strategy. The model was named "MiG-33" and later received the MiG-29ME designation for export market in the mid-1990s. A twin seat model of the standard, commonly known as the MiG-29MRCA, was the MAPO-MiG's primary contender for many international fighter aircraft bids, later evolved into the Mikoyan MiG-35Mikoyan MiG-35
The Mikoyan MiG-35 is a further development of the MiG-29M/M2 and MiG-29K/KUB technology. It is classified as a 4++ generation jet fighter by Mikoyan. The first prototype was a modification of the aircraft that previously served as MiG-29M2 model demonstrator. 10 prototypes have been built so far...
. Six of these models were built before 1990. They were constantly upgraded with various components and one received experimental vector thrust engines which eventually became the MiG-29OVT. The model was again renamed as MiG-29M. The MiG-29M/M2 now belongs to the "new unified family" instead of the "MiG-29 fighters family" which comprise the older variants.
Design
Facts based onFeatures
The MiG-29M/M2 aircraft is a revision of the basic MiG-29. It achieved a more robust multi-role capability with enhanced use of air-to-air
Air-to-air missile
An air-to-air missile is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fuelled but sometimes liquid fuelled...
and air-to-ground high-precision weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s. It also featured considerably increased combat range owing to an increase in its internal fuel
Fuel
Fuel is any material that stores energy that can later be extracted to perform mechanical work in a controlled manner. Most fuels used by humans undergo combustion, a redox reaction in which a combustible substance releases energy after it ignites and reacts with the oxygen in the air...
capacity. Along with a better pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
-to-aircraft interface in the cockpit, a digital three-channel fourfold redundant fly-by-wire system, improved navigation, radio communications, electronic countermeasures, monitoring and recording systems, and optronic and reconnaissance pods, have improved overall aircraft performance considerably.
Airframe evolutions
A few changes took place during the aircraft's development. The redesigned airframe was constructed from a lightweight aluminum-lithium alloy to increase thrust-to-weight ratio
Thrust-to-weight ratio
Thrust-to-weight ratio is a ratio of thrust to weight of a rocket, jet engine, propeller engine, or a vehicle propelled by such an engine. It is a dimensionless quantity and is an indicator of the performance of the engine or vehicle....
. Air intake
Intake
An intake , or especially for aircraft inlet, is an air intake for an engine. Because the modern internal combustion engine is in essence a powerful air pump, like the exhaust system on an engine, the intake must be carefully engineered and tuned to provide the greatest efficiency and power...
s' geometry was revised, the upper intake louver
Louver
A louver or louvre , from the French l'ouvert; "the open one") is a window, blind or shutter with horizontal slats that are angled to admit light and air, but to keep out rain, direct sunshine, and noise...
s removed to make way for more fuel in the LERXs, mesh screens introduced to prevent foreign object damage
Foreign object damage
Foreign Object Debris is a substance, debris or article alien to a vehicle or system which would potentially cause damage.Foreign Object Damage is any damage attributed to a foreign object that can be expressed in physical or economic terms that may or may not degrade the product's required...
(FOD) and enlarged inlet
Inlet
An inlet is a narrow body of water between islands or leading inland from a larger body of water, often leading to an enclosed body of water, such as a sound, bay, lagoon or marsh. In sea coasts an inlet usually refers to the actual connection between a bay and the ocean and is often called an...
dimensions for higher airflow. The back of the aircraft featured an enlarged spine for more fuel capacity and a dorsal air brake. Radome and canopy were redesigned to give space for avionic upgrades. Aerodynamics were also revised. The wings increased span and aileron, while the tail fins revised trailing edges.
Powerplant
The RD-33MK, the latest revision of the RD-33, has 7% more power in comparison to the baseline model due to the usage of modern materials on the cooled blades, it provide a thrust of 9,000 kgf. In response to long time criticism, the new engines are smokeless and contain improvements that reduce its infrared visibility. Thrust vectoring nozzles are now offered upon customer’s request.
Range and fuel system
The aircraft is built with an in-flight-refueling (IFR) probe and is able to carry three fuel drop tanks. The redesigned airframe also significantly increased internal fuel capacity in the dorsal spine and LERXs fuel tanks. These give the aircraft of single seat an operation range of 2,000 km with internal fuel, 3,200 km with three fuel drop tanks, and 6,000 km with three drop tanks and in-flight-refueling.
Cockpit
The cockpit has been redesigned to incorporate contemporary features. While some analogue instruments have been retained, two monochrome liquid crystal (LCD) multi-function display
Multi-function display
A Multi-function display is a small screen in an aircraft surrounded by multiple buttons that can be used to display information to the pilot in numerous configurable ways. Often an MFD will be used in concert with a Primary Flight Display. MFDs are part of the digital era of modern planes or...
s (MFD) have been introduced and new weapon controls have been incorporated in a HOTAS
HOTAS
HOTAS, an abbreviation for Hands On Throttle-And-Stick, is the name given to the concept of placing buttons and switches on the throttle stick and flight control stick in an aircraft's cockpit, allowing the pilot to access vital cockpit functions and fly the aircraft without having to remove his...
concept. Other new features include the Zhuk-ME radar, an infra-red search and track (IRST) system and a helmet-mounted target designation system (early
HMD
Head-mounted display
A head-mounted display or helmet mounted display, both abbreviated HMD, is a display device, worn on the head or as part of a helmet, that has a small display optic in front of one or each eye .- Overview :...
).
Sensors
Main upgrades consists the Zhuk-ME pulse-Doppler airbone radar, along with revised IRST systems, helmet-mounted target designation system and electronic countermeasures. New radar capable of detecting air targets at ranges up to 120 km, track-while-scan of ten targets and attack of four targets at a time. In scanning surface targets, the radar detection range of destroyer-type targets is 250 km and that of missile launcher-type targets is 150 km. Hence beyond visual range (BVR) engage is greatly enhanced.
Armament
The aircraft can carry the RVV-AE (R-77), R-27ER1, R-27ET1, R-27R1, R-27T1, R-73E air-to-air missiles, the Kh-29T, Kh-29L, Kh-31A, Kh-31P, Kh-35E air-to-surface missiles, the KAB-500KR (OD), KAB-500L guided bombs, as well as rockets and free-fall bombs. The aircraft retains the GSh-301 built-in gun.
Variants
MiG-29M / MiG-33 (Product 9.15)Advanced single-seat multi-role variant, with a redesigned airframe, mechanical flight controls replaced by a fly-by-wire
Fly-by-wire
Fly-by-wire is a system that replaces the conventional manual flight controls of an aircraft with an electronic interface. The movements of flight controls are converted to electronic signals transmitted by wires , and flight control computers determine how to move the actuators at each control...
system and powered by enhanced RD-33 ser.3M engines. NATO reporting code is 'Fulcrum-E'.
MiG-29UBM (Product 9.61)
Two-seat training variant of the MiG-29M. Never built. Effectively continued under the designation 'MiG-29M2'.
MiG-29SMT (Product 9.17)
In 1998 a decision was made by the Defense Ministry to launch a quantity-modernization program of the MiG-29 fighters. Extensive modernization was planned only for the aircraft produced through the previous decade. The modernization program started in September 1998 by the Kubinka military aircraft-repair plant and the MAPO MiG. The first batch of 10 to 15 MiG-29SMTs was delivered before the end of the year. In 1999, a total of 20 to 30 MiG-29 fighters were modernized into the MiG-29SMT configuration. Starting from the year 2000, the program's annual modernization rate was expected to reach 40 MiG-29SMTs. The overall plan provides for modernization of 150 MiG-29s to the MiG-29SMT status, 120 more to the MiG-29UBT status and the acquisition of 30 MIG-35s, with the remainder of the older MiG-29s to be withdrawn from service.
An upgrade package of the first-generation MiG-29s (9.12 to 9.13) containing many enhancements intended for the MiG-29M. Additional fuel tanks in a further enlarged spine provide a maximum flight range of 2,100 km (on internal fuel). The cockpit has an enhanced HOTAS design, two 152 × 203 mm (6 × 8 inch) colour liquid crystal MFDs and two smaller monochrome LCDs. The upgraded Zhuk-ME radar provides similar features to the MiG-29M. The power plant are upgraded RD-33 ser.3 engines with afterburning thrust rated the same at 8,300 kgf (81.4 kN) each. The weapons load was increased to 4,500 kg on six underwing and one ventral hardpoints, with similar weapon choices as for the MiG-29M variant. The upgraded aircraft has also a painted path for non-Russian origin avionics and weapons.
MiG-29UBT (Product 9.51T)
SMT standard upgrade for the MiG-29UB. Namely users, Algeria and Yemen.
MiG-29M2 / MiG-29MRCA
Two-seat version of MiG-29M. Identical characteristics to MiG-29M, with a slightly reduced ferry range of 1,800 km. RAC MiG presented in various air shows, to name a few, Fifth China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (CIAAE 2004), AERO INDIA 2005, MAKS 2005. It was once given designation MiG-29MRCA for marketing purpose and has evolved into the MiG-35
Mikoyan MiG-35
The Mikoyan MiG-35 is a further development of the MiG-29M/M2 and MiG-29K/KUB technology. It is classified as a 4++ generation jet fighter by Mikoyan. The first prototype was a modification of the aircraft that previously served as MiG-29M2 model demonstrator. 10 prototypes have been built so far...
.
Operators
- Russian Air ForceRussian Air ForceThe Russian Air Force is the air force of Russian Military. It is currently under the command of Colonel General Aleksandr Zelin. The Russian Navy has its own air arm, the Russian Naval Aviation, which is the former Soviet Aviatsiya Voyenno Morskogo Flota , or AV-MF).The Air Force was formed from...
- Indian Air ForceIndian Air ForceThe Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
all MiG-29s will be upgraded to MiG-29SMT level with latest avionics, engine, Zhuk-ME radar, weapon control systems by 2013.
- Syrian Air ForceSyrian Air ForceThe Syrian Air Force is the Aviation branch of the Syrian Armed Forces. It was established in 1948.-History:The end of World War II led to a withdrawal of the United Kingdom and France from the Middle East, and this included a withdrawal from Syria...
ordered an undisclosed number of MiG-29M/M2s.