Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29
Mig-29 spectacular almost vertical take-off RIAT airshow Миг 29 Вертикальный взлёт Air tattoo
The MiG-29 Fulcrum was Russia’s first fourth-generation jet fighter, marked by its elegant and deadly appearance in contrast to previous Soviet fighters.
In a sense, the MiG-29 combined fourth-generation engineering with third-generation hardware. Its relatively low price means that it initially attracted big sales to developing countries, but it would be quickly eclipsed by the more modern Su-27. However, the Fulcrum will remain in service for some time, since the recent improved versions partially correct some of its deficiencies.
The MiG-29 began its development in 1974, however the first MiG-29 began to operate in 1982 and were baptized with the code name “Fulcrums” by NATO, a name that also caught some Russian pilots. The fulcrum had a fearsome reputation in the West and even had its own computer game. In the 1990s, Western pilots had ample opportunity to fly MiG-29, as the German Air Force incorporated the East German MiG-29. Later, the United States even bought twenty-one from Moldova. It was discovered that the Fulcrums were very hot rides, but they also had significant disadvantages. The two turboprop engines RD-33 of the MiG-29 gave it an excellent acceleration and a maximum speed of Mach 2.25, faster than the F-16, but a little behind the larger F-15. The main fame of the MiG-29 is its excellent maneuverability: it can even surpass the lightweight F-16 in both instantaneous and sustained turns (twenty-eight degrees per second versus twenty-six). The NATO pilots who practiced against the Fulcuses of the German Air Force serving in JG 73 discovered that in short-range combat at low speeds, the MiG-29 was more agile than anything thrown on it.
Another advantage of the MiG-29 was the short-range infrared guided missile R-73 (NATO codename AA-11 Arrow) that could be aimed and fired through a sight mounted on the hull. In addition to the R-73, the seven points Fulcrum anchors can equip R-27 mid-range missiles and old R-60 missiles. Some have also been upgraded to fire R-77 long-range air-to-air missiles. Up to eight thousand pounds of air-to-ground ammunition can be transported, a significantly lighter charge than combat aircraft. The MiG-29’s sensors were mediocre: its N019 Phazotron radar with pulse-Doppler had a shorter precise range (thirty and eight miles) that the missiles carrying the MiG-29. Although equipped with an infrared sensor (IRST), the pilots reported that it has limited effectiveness.
Finally, like most fighters of the Soviet era, while the MiG was designed to withstand rough handling, it was not intended to have a long lifespan, only two thousand five hundred hours compared to the six thousand that are typical of US fighters UU The structures of the MiG-29 aircraft deteriorated rapidly in the future and required extensive and costly maintenance to keep flying. Malaysia once reported that it spent $ 5 million per year for MiG-29 to keep them afloat.
1,600 MiG-29 have been produced in total. Originally, the Fulcrum had only a few variants: the standard single seat model and a two-seat trainer variant (MiG-29UB) without the radar. A degraded version, the MiG-29B was exported abroad. In the 1980s the updated MiG-29S appeared, which featured an active locking system behind the cab (which gave it a hunched-back appearance), improved computers and software, and a moderate increase in fuel and weapons loads. . Added support for new R-27E and R-77 missiles
combat history:
Establishing the tune for what is to come, in the first air combat confirmed by the Fulcrum, two Syrian MiG-29 aircraft were shot down by Israeli F-15s in 1989. There are reports that Israeli fighters shot down two other Syrian MiG-29s in 2001 During the Gulf War, five Iraqi MiG-29 aircraft were shot down by US F-15s. However, a fulcrum successfully hit an F-111 and a B-52 bomber with missiles, although both aircraft managed to return to the base. Fulcrums also received a beating in the border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea in the late 1990s, which featured more equal opponents. Russian mercenaries flew with the Ethiopian pilots, while the Ukrainians supported the Eritrean Air Force. In total, four Eritrean MiG-29 were shot down by Ethiopian Su-27s. In return, Eritrean fulcrums shot down a Su-25, a MiG-21 and an unidentified fighter (possibly a MiG-23). During multiple confrontations, Flankers and Fulcrums exchanged more than two dozen long-range R-27 missiles by a single blow. Instead, most of the victories were scored in short-range battles using AA-11 missiles. Sixteen MiG-29 of the Serbian Air Force opposed the NATO bombing campaign on Kosovo in 1999. Deployed halfway up, where they were exposed to a hostile radar, five were shot down by F-15 and F-16 without get victories in return. Flankers and Fulcrums exchanged more than two dozen long-range R-27 missiles in one fell swoop. Instead, most of the victories were scored in short-range battles using AA-11 missiles. Sixteen MiG-29 of the Serbian Air Force opposed the NATO bombing campaign on Kosovo in 1999. Deployed halfway up, where they were exposed to a hostile radar, five were shot down by F-15 and F-16 without get victories in return. Flankers and Fulcrums exchanged more than two dozen long-range R-27 missiles in one fell swoop. Instead, most of the victories were scored in short-range battles using AA-11 missiles. Sixteen MiG-29 of the Serbian Air Force opposed the NATO bombing campaign on Kosovo in 1999. Deployed halfway up, where they were exposed to a hostile radar, five were shot down by F-15 and F-16 without get victories in return.
The Russian Fulcuses have been involved in some incidents over the years. In 1989, Soviet defector Alexander Zuyev escaped with a MiG-29 and took him to Turkey in an incident that involved a cake filled with sleeping pills, a gun battle with a security guard and a failed machine gunning race. A MiG shot down a Georgian drone in 2008 in a pre-Georgian-Russian incident. Ukraine claims a Fulcrum shot down by a Ukrainian Su-25 over eastern Ukraine in 2014.
