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ACIG Database
History
In the late 1960s, the requirements study for a new light interceptor was launched by the Russian General Staff. The study resulted in two projects, of which one was called the LPFI (Legkiy Perspectivny Frontovoi Istrebitiel - Lightweight Advanced Frontline Fighter), and the second the TPFI (Tyazholy Perspectivny Frontovoi Istrebitiel - Heavy Advanced Frontline Fighter). The MiG-29 came into being as the result of the former, the requirement for which was officially issued in 1972, with the task of designing a fighter which could leplace the MiG-21 and the MiG-23 in the interceptor units of the V-VS and the V-PVO. The LPFI was supposed to achieve air supperiority over the tactical theater and provide limited escort and air-to-ground capabilities. Detail design work begun in 1974 and resulted in the building of the first 14 of a total of 19 planned prototypes. The first flyable MiG-29 was was flown on 06 September 1977, by chief test pilot Alexander Fedotov from the Ramenskoye airbase. Already two months later, the prototype was for the first time photographed by US reconnaissance satelite, and given the designation RAM-L (RAM from Ramenskoye). The second prototype flew in June 1978, but it was lost already on 15th of the same month, due to an engine failure. The same happened also with the fourth prototype, which crashed on 31 September 1980. Out of the 19 ordered, a total of 14 prototypes – designated 9.01 thru 9.15 – were built.
The MiG-29 was designed as a single-seat fighter-interceptor, with a relatively short endurance but excellent maneuverability, and basic ground attack capability. Together with the Su-27, it was supposed foremost to counter Western fighter-bombers, but also such interceptor-types like F-14, F-15, F-16, F/A-18, and Mirage 2000 fighters, which were entering or about to enter service in the mid- and late-1970s. The primary role of the MiG-29 was to take off at short notice, accelerate to a speed of around Mach 1, and then – under close cooperation with the ground control – acquire and destroy targets at ranges of up to 50 km, at all altitudes and in all interception profiles, under any ECM conditions, but foremost over the friendly territory. The air-to-ground capabilities were limited to unguided bombs, rockets, and the gun, the last of which had a significant air-to-air capability, due to a highly precise fire-control system.
Designated Product 09 by the MiG, the type became the code-name „Fulcrum” from the ASCC.
The Fulcrum entered production in 1982 in the Moscow Znamya Truda plant. The first operational MiG-29 unit was designated in 1983 at Kubinka AB, near Moscow. Deliveries to frontal aviation begun in 1984, after completing the State Acceptance Trials. Initial production, testing, and modyfications continued until 1985, when first examples were delivered to the units of the 16th Soviet Air Army, stationed in East Germany. According to Brassey's report, a total of 1216 single-seaters and 197 two-seaters were built by January 1985, most of which entered the service with the Soviet Air Forces. In 1986 the first export deliveries were made to India, and by the late 1980s some 150 additional examples were delivered to Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania, as well as to Cuba, Yugoslavia (which received 16 examples built already in 1983/84), Syria, and North Korea. For a short period of time, in 1988, there were rumours about the sale of MiG-29s to Jordan and Zimbabwe, but no such deals could be realized.
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| Luftwaffe MiG-29 seen on take-off, carrying R-27s and captive R-73s for a training sortie. (Stefan Kuhn, 2002-2003) |
Probably the largest export order came from Iraq: it included at least 130 MiG-29s, of which only slightly more than three dozens were delivered by August 1990. By the time, the MiG-29s were produced only for export, but the production was discontinued already a year later as the Iraqi batch was completed, but could not be delivered, and there were no new orders (until that from Malaysia, in 1993, and then Algeria, in 1999). Ever since – and until India ordered 50 new MiG-29Ks – the few new customers (including Peru, Bagladesh, Eritrea, and Yemen), have only got examples previously built for Iraq and then stored at the factory ground, near Moscow, before being refurbished and modified to different standards for delivery.
Basic Informations
General information
Crew: 1 pilot
Type: Counter-air fighter with attack capability
Date of first flight: 6th of October 1977
Service Entry: 1983
In service with air forces of more than 20 countries
Dimensions and Weights
Lenght: 17.32m (or 16.28m without pitot boom)
Wing span: 11.36m
Height: 4.73m
Wing area: 38 m2
Empty weight: 10900kg
T-O weight: (interceptor configuration) 15200kg
Max weight: 18500kg
Fuel weight: Internal -3440kg, external –1200kg
Performance
Max velocity: 2445km/h (mach 2.3)
Celling: 18000m
Max rate of climb: 330m/s
Max range (int. fuel only) 1500km
Max range (ext. drop tank) 2100km
Max turn rate: 23 deg/s
Positive G: 4Gs with full drop tank. 9Gs sustained with empty or no drop tank. Over 10Gs maximum.
Max AoA: 26 deg
Corner velocity: 700 km/h
Weapons
Multipurpose
GSh-301 built in gun:
- ROF 1500-1800 rds/minute
- Capacity 170 rounds (150 or less are usually loaded)
- Caliber 30mm
Air to Air
R-27R radar homing, medium range missile
- Max Range in front hemisphere: 50km
- Max Range in rear hemisphere: 17km
- Allowed altitude of intercept: 30 – 23000m
- Allowed weather conditions: any
R-60 IR homing, short range missile
- Max Range in front hemisphere: 12km
- Max Range in rear hemisphere: 8km
- Allowed altitude of intercept: 0 – 8000m (front hemisphere) or 20000m (rear hemisphere)
- Allowed weather conditions: Beyond clouds in day and night, against clouds, ground and water surface, with the sun or „sun way” bearing being not less than 15º, including against ground heat-contrast targets
R-73 IR homing, short range missile
- Max Range in front hemisphere: 30km
- Max Range in rear hemisphere: 15km
- Allowed altitude of intercept: 20 – 20000m
- Allowed weather conditions: no data
Air-to-Surface
Bombs
- Caliber: up to 500kg
- Max mass total: 2000kg
S-24 rockets
- Caliber: 240mm
- Warhead mass: 123,5
- Flight velocity: 410m/s
S-8 rockets (carried in B-8 pods, with 20 rockets per pod)
- Caliber: 80mm
- Warhead mass: 3,6 – 7,4kg depending on version
- Range: 2,2 – 4,5 km depending on version
KMGU-2 sub munition dispenser
- Bomblets carried: PTAB-2,5; PTAB-1M; AO-25RT
- Deployment altitude: 50 – 1500m
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| An insight of the future? Romanian MiG-29, heavily modified with western avionics in a joint project of Aerostar and IAI. (Aerostar, via Iain Norman) |
Analysis
The role of the MiG-29 is practically the same as the role of previous MiG interceptors: the MiG-21 and 23. It is supposed to operate under strict control of GCI stations, over friendly territory. It was required to intercept Western bombers and recce planes at different altitudes and in high mach numbers. Thus the Fulcrum has a very good acceleration, climb speed, and maximum velocity, while the range and ECM (which in the first version simply doesn’t exist) suffer.
The Soviet Union has always lagged behind the West when it came to avionics. If the MiG-29 was to be able to counter Western machines, sacrifices had to be made. The radar is limited in range and capabilities: it loses lock easily, has no ride assesment mode, and is voulnerable to beaming. Defence systems (RWR, ECM) are either outdated or nonexistant. The cockpit lacks any „fancy” digital displays and HDDs, and the aircraft isn’t pilot-friendly.
The Fulcrum however has two important aces up its sleeve – the IRST and the HMCS. The IRST (OEPS-29) or Infra Red Search and Track system allows for passive detection and cueing, supports the radar, and can serve as a backup if the radar malfunctions. The HMCS or Helmet Mounted Cueing System is one of the factors that makes the MiG-29 a deadly dogfighter. It can cue R-60 and R-73 missiles onto targets even 45 degrees off boresight, allowing the Russian plane to fire first. However, the capabilities of the IRST and the HMCS, and the R-73 missiles are greatly decreased due to the poor situational awareness assured by the poor avionics and the dependance on support from ground control stations.
The very light GSh-301 packs a good punch, and is highly accurate (with the help of the laser rangefinder fitted into the OEPS-29). Close range R-73 is the first air to air missile fitted with thrust vectoring in operational service. This feature makes it very maneuverable, and able to fire on off-boresight targets. The R-27R medium range SARH missile is a roughly comparable with the US-built AIM-7 Sparrow; with the introduction of the AMRAAM both became completely outdated. An R-27R fitted MiG-29 with its poor radar has a low probability of success in BVR air combat with modern Western jets. Rest assured, the MiG-29 has considerable advantages to its direct competition in the WVR-arena, but also significant disadvantages in the BVR-arena.
Air-to-ground armament is composed of dumb bombs and rockets, and without significant upgrades, the MiG-29 is almost two generations behind ist counterparts.
The Fulcrum is considered easy to fly and very maneuverable: it should have slightly better initial and substained turn rates and be more flexible in maneuver than the F-16A, and on pair with the F-16C. The maximal operating altitude, velocity, and initial climb speed figures are higher when compared to F-16 and F-18, and closer to the F-15.
The only poor performance is range. It is half of that of the F-16. This makes the MiG-29 unable to do any serious offencive sorties beyond the FEBA.
To conclude, the MiG-29 is effective only in the scenario it was built for – GCI controled interceptions over friendly territory or over the front. It was built as a single role Soviet-style plane.
Bibliography:
- „MiG-29 Flight Manual: Declassified” by Alan R. Wise
- „MiG-29” by Easy Tartar on http://www.sci.fi/~fta/MiG-29.htm
- „ACIG Forum” https://acig.org/phpBB/index.php
- „Lotnictwo Wojskowe” Magazine
© Copyright 2002-3 by ACIG.org
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Phantoms Phorever, Part 8: Spain & Turkey
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Phantoms Phorever, Part 7: South Korea
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Phantoms Phorever, Part 6: Iran
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Phantoms Phorever, Part 5: Greece
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Phantoms Phorever, Part 4: Japan
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Phantoms Phorever, Part 3: Israel
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Phantoms Phorever, Part 2: Germany
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Phantoms Phorever, Part 1: Australia & Egypt
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MiG-29M2
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MiG-21, Part 2
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MiG-21, Part 1
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Su-27: Russia's Top Fighter of the Cold War?
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Bear Hunters, Part 4
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Bear Hunters, Part 3: Collision with Flanker
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Bear Hunters, Part 2: Korean Style
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Bear-Hunters, Part 1
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The Big "MiG"-Question
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Kfir C.10
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MiG-29 Fulcrum
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