ACIG Database
Exotic Fulcrums
By Tom Cooper
Oct 31, 2005, 02:06

Algeria received less than the usually reported "40" MiG-29s from Belarus, begining in 1998. The type is now in service with two understrenght units of 3rd Air Defence Wing, based at Bou Sfer. The aircraft were in quite a poor shape and two MiG-29UBs crashed soon after delivery, killing at least one of four involved crew members. While currently there are barely enough airframes to maintain the two existing units, after testing the Su-30, the al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jaza'eriya (QJJ - Algerian Air Force) apparently decided to purchase additional MiG-29s instead. Although there were plans for establishment of a third unit, the new examples should rather replace the lost or worn out airframes from the first batch.

Burma acquired a total of ten MiG-29s from Russia, after a series of borde incidents with Thailand, in 2001. Two of these should have been MiG-29UB two-seaters. All of these aircraft were apparently "left-overs" from uncollected Iraqi order, built back in 1991 and overhauled before delivery. As delivered to Tamdaw Lay (Myanmar Air Force) the type wears this unusual disruptive camouflage pattern, similar only to that of MiG-29 in service with Bangladesh Air Force.

Eritrean purchased a batch of eight MiG-29s from the Ukraine (or, according to different sources: from Moldova), in late 1998. Two, but more likely four or more, of these were shot down during the bitter war with Ethiopia, in 1999 and 2000. ERAF504, depicted here, is one of survivors from the original batch.

ERAF508 is one of four MiG-29s Eritrea acquired from Russia, in 2003.

Out of two MiG-29UBs originally acquired by ERAF, only "ERAF501" survived the war with Ethiopia. The aircraft is still in service with No.5 Squadron ERAF, based at the military side of Asmara IAP.

Reports about Iran acquiring between 35 and 40 MiG-29s are somewhat exaggerated: the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force is known to have so far organized only two units with the type, indicating that more likely only some 24 were acquired. Reports about four Iraqi examples being flown to Iran in 1991 were never confirmed.

Serials of MiG-29s seen in IRIAF colours so far indicate a low number of available airframes: 3-6116 is so far the highest known serial.

After increasing maintenance problems with its MiG-29-fleet, with Indian assistance, the IRIAF and the Iranian Aircraft Industry works at Mehrabad launched a project for complex overhaul of the type in Iran. In the course of this programme, several MiG-29s have got bolt-on refuelling probes, while all were wired to use air-to-air missiles of Western origin in Iranian service. Iranians are also producing larger than standard drop tanks for their Fulcrums. Overhauled and modified IRIAF MiG-29s can be easily recognized by their new camouflage pattern, consisting of grey and light blue-grey.

Iraq apparently ordered up to 137 MiG-29s, but never collected even a third of these. Eventually, only some 35 were acquired, starting in 1987. One squadron was fully operational by 1991, with the second unit about to complete training, but both were badly mauled during the 1991 War. With a low number of surviving airframes and qualified pilots, the type practically disappeared from IrAF inventory in the 1990s.

Above and bellow: The Tentara Udara Diraja Malaysia - the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) - received a total of 16 MIG-29Ns and two MiG-29NUBs in 1995. They originally entered service with No.17 and No.19 Skvadron in Kuantan. The former unit was meanwhile disbanded pending deliveries of Su-30s, so that the No.19 Skvadron "Cobras" now operates the whole fleet, which was meanwhile modified to receive the RVV-AE (R-77) air-to-air missile. Two single-seaters were lost so far (M43-17 in 1998 and M43-07 in 2004), both apparently due to technical problems. RMAF Fulcrums are recently camouflaged in new colour, similar to that of newly-acquired Su-30MKIs.

Above and bellow: Moldova inherited a total of six "Fulcrum-As", 16 "Fulcrum-Cs" and three "Fulcrum Bs" from the former Soviet Navy's 86. IAP/119 Diviziya, 21 - including the two examples depicted here. 21 of these had been sold to the USA, in June 1997, together with 500 R-73 (AA-11 "Archer") air-to-air missiles. Several were on temporary loan to Yemen, in 1994 and 1995. Reports about the sale of remaining examples to Eritrea, in 1998, were never confirmed: Eritreans stress that their original batch of MiG-29s arrived from the Ukraine.

The SyAAF should have received some 40 MiG-29s and up to eight MiG-29UBs from USSR, between 1987 and 1989. Deliveries were stopped due to a series of incidents within the SyAAF but also with the IDF/AF, which ended in a quite an unpleasant situation within the Syrian Air Force. Contacts between Moscow and Damascus were re-established only in 2001, and ever since the Russians should have delivered 16 additional MiG-29s to Syria, permitting replacement of some of older and worn-out airframes. MiG-29s are seen very often in the skies around Damascus and known to be scrambled dozens of times each year in response to Israeli provocations.