The Mikoyan MiG-29 'Fulcrum' is a supersonic fighter aircraft, which was designed and developed by the State-run firm Mikoyan in the former Soviet Union. It performed its first test flight in 1977 as the MiG-29A, entering service in 1982. Although it was conceived and manufactured during the Cold War, this versatile combat aircraft has been completely upgraded several times by the Russian Air Force to keep it up-to-date at the same level with the American F-15 Eagle and F-16 Falcon. Thus, the Mikoyan MiG-29S, MiG-29SM, MiG-29K (carrier-borne), MiG-29M, etc, have been produced by this Russian aircraft firm.
The MiG-29 is considered a multirole fighter aircraft, meaning it can carry out missions as a fighter, interceptor, and ground-attack aircraft. As such, it has seen combat action in several occasions after the fall of communism, in service with the Russian Air Force, in the Russo-Georgian War, the Chechen Wars, the Syrian Civil War, and now in the Russian-Ukrainian War. Being very maneuverable and fast makes it hard to shoot down, especially when it is equipped with high-tech pulse-Doppler radar, digital computer, and fire control system as well as with Vympel R-27R air-to-air missiles.
Technical Characteristics
The MiG-29 is a single-seat/twin-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft. It is fitted with middle-mounted swept wings, with leading edge extensions that feature automatic slats. It has twin-fin tail, each located laterally to each one of the engine exhaust. The cockpit features a high-mounted bubble canopy and a standard center stick. The pilot has at his disposal a Phazotrol RLPK-29 fire control system and a N019M1 Sapfir-29 look-down/shoot-down pulse-Doppler radar. The power plant of the MiG-29 consists of two Klimov RD-33 turbo fan jet engines, with afterburner.
Specifications
Length: 17.2 m (56ft 10in)
Wingspan: 11.36 m (37ft 3in)
Height: 4.73 m (15ft 6in)
Wing area: 38 m³
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.25 (2,400 km/h)
Combat Range: 1,500 km
Armament: Vympel R-27R and R-73 air-to-air missiles; Kh-25 and Kh-59 air-to-surface missiles; smart bombs.
Below, a Mikoyan MiG-29S taking off from a Russian air base
Below, the MiG-29K with the different type of weapons it can be armed with.
