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HISTORY, DEVELOPMENT AND STRUCTURE OF THE MIKOYAN MIG-29
FIGHTER
Mirzarahimov Zafarjon Salimovich
Chief of the flight-methodical Department, Colonel
The Higher Military Aviation School The Republic of Uzbekistan
Annotation:The Mikoyan MiG-29 (Russian: Микоян МиГ-29; NATO reporting
name: Fulcrum) is a twin-engine fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union. Developed by
the Mikoyan design bureau as an air superiority fighter during the 1970s, the MiG-29, along with
the larger Sukhoi Su-27, was developed to counter new U.S. fighters such as the McDonnell
Douglas F-15 Eagle and the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. The MiG-29 entered
service with the Soviet Air Forces in 1983.
Keywords: MiG-29, Fulcrum, air superiority fighter, TSAGI.
While originally oriented towards combat against any enemy aircraft, many MiG-29s have been
furnished as multirole fighters capable of performing a number of different operations, and are
commonly outfitted to use a range of air-to-surface armaments and precision munitions. The
MiG-29 has been manufactured in several major variants, including the multirole Mikoyan MiG-
29M and the navalised Mikoyan MiG-29K; the most advanced member of the family to date is
the Mikoyan MiG-35. Later models frequently feature improved engines, glass
cockpits with HOTAS-compatible flight controls, modern radar and infrared search and
track (IRST) sensors, and considerably increased fuel capacity; some aircraft have also been
equipped for aerial refueling.
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the militaries of multiple ex-Soviet
republics have continued to operate the MiG-29, the largest of which is the Russian Aerospace
Forces. The Russian Aerospace Forces wanted to upgrade its existing fleet to the modernised
MiG-29SMT configuration, but financial difficulties have limited deliveries. The MiG-29 has
also been a popular export aircraft; more than 30 nations either operate or have operated the
aircraft to date.
Pic.1 Air Force MiG-29
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Development
Origins
In the mid–1960s, the United States Air Force (USAF) encountered difficulties over the
skies of Vietnam. Supersonic fighter bombers that had been optimized for low altitude bombing,
like the F-105 Thunderchief, were found to be vulnerable to older MiG-17s and more advanced
MiGs which were much more maneuverable. In order to regain the limited air superiority
enjoyed over Korea, the US refocused on air combat using the F-4 Phantom multirole fighter,
while the Soviet Union developed the MiG-23 in response. Towards the end of the 1960s, the
USAF started the "F-X" program to produce a fighter dedicated to air superiority, which led to
the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle being ordered for production in late 1969.
At the height of the Cold War, a Soviet response was necessary to avoid the possibility of
a new American fighter gaining a serious technological advantage over existing Soviet fighters.
Thus the development of a new air superiority fighter became a priority. In 1969, the Soviet
General Staff issued a requirement for a Perspektivnyy Frontovoy Istrebitel (PFI, roughly
"Advanced Frontline Fighter"). Specifications were extremely ambitious, calling for long range,
good short-field performance (including the ability to use austere runways), excellent agility,
Mach 2+ speed, and heavy armament. The Russian aerodynamics institute TSAGI worked in
collaboration with the Sukhoi design bureau on the aircraft's aerodynamics.
Pic.2 MiG-29 parked after a display flight at the Abbotsford Air Show, 1989
There have been several upgrade programmes conducted for the MiG-29. Common
upgrades include the adoption of standard-compatible avionics, service life extensions to 4,000
flight hours, safety enhancements, greater combat capabilities and reliability.
Replacement
On 11 December 2013, Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin revealed that
Russia was planning to build a new fighter to replace the MiG-29. The Sukhoi Su-27 and its
derivatives were to be replaced by the Sukhoi Su-57, but a different design was needed to replace
the lighter MiGs. A previous attempt to develop a MiG-29 replacement, the MiG
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1.44 demonstrator, failed in the 1990s. The concept came up again in 2001 with interest from
India, but they later opted for a variant of the Su-57. Air Force commanders have hinted at the
possibility of a single-engine airframe that uses the Su-57's engine, radar, and weapons primarily
for Russian service. This has since been revealed to be the Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate.
Design
MiG-29UB of the Swifts aerobatic team
Sharing its origins in the original PFI requirements issued by TSAGI, the MiG-29 has
broad aerodynamic similarities to the Sukhoi Su-27, but with some notable differences. The
MiG-29 has a mid-mounted swept wing with blended leading-edge root extensions (LERXs)
swept at around 40°; there are swept tailplanes and two vertical fins, mounted on booms
outboard of the engines. Automatic slats are mounted on the leading edges of the wings; they are
four-segment on early models and five-segment on some later variants. On the trailing edge,
there are maneuvering flaps and wingtip ailerons.
The MiG-29 has hydraulic controls and a SAU-451 three-axis autopilot but, unlike the
Su-27, no fly-by-wire control system. Nonetheless, it is very agile, with excellent instantaneous
and sustained turn performance, high-alpha capability, and a general resistance to spins. The
airframe consists primarily of aluminum with some composite materials, and is stressed for up to
9 g (88 m/s²) maneuvers. The controls have "soft" limiters to prevent the pilot from exceeding g
and alpha limits, but the limiters can be disabled manually.
Pic.3 MiG-29UB of the Swifts aerobatic team
Powerplant and range
The MiG-29 has two widely spaced Klimov RD-33 turbofan engines, each rated at 50
kilonewtons (11,200 lbf) dry and 81.3 kilonewtons (18,300 lbf) in afterburner. The space
between the engines generates lift, thereby reducing effective wing loading, hence improving
maneuverability. The engines are fed through intake ramps fitted under the leading-edge
extensions (LERXs), which have variable ramps to allow high-Mach speeds. Due to their
relatively short combustor, the engines produce noticeably heavier smoke than their
contemporaries. As an adaptation to rough-field operations, the main air inlet can be closed
completely and the auxiliary air inlet on the upper fuselage can be used for takeoff, landing and
low-altitude flying, preventing ingestion of ground debris. Thereby the engines receive air
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through louvers on the LERXs which open automatically when intakes are closed. However the
latest variant of the family, the MiG-35, eliminated these dorsal louvers, and adopted the mesh
screens design in the main intakes, similar to those fitted to the Su-27.
Pic.4 RD-33 on display at the Luftwaffenmuseum of the Bundeswehr
The MiG-29 has a ferry range of 1,500 km (930 mi) without external fuel tanks, and
2,100 km (1,300 mi) with external tanks. The internal fuel capacity of the original MiG-29B is
4,365 L (960 imp gal; 1,153 US gal) distributed between six internal fuel tanks, four in the
fuselage and one in each wing. For longer flights, this can be supplemented by a 1,500 L
(330 imp gal; 400 US gal) centreline drop tank and, on later production batches, two 1,150 L
(250 imp gal; 300 US gal) underwing drop tanks. In addition, newer models have been fitted
with port-side inflight refueling probes, allowing much longer flight times by using a probe-and-
drogue system.
Pic.5 MiG-29B inflight with its Klimov RD-33 turbofan engines on full afterburner
Cockpit
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The cockpit features a conventional centre stick and left hand throttle controls. The pilot
sits in a Zvezda K-36DM ejection seat.
The cockpit has conventional dials, with a head-up display (HUD) and a Shchel-
3UM helmet mounted display, but no HOTAS ("hands-on-throttle-and-stick") capability.
Emphasis seems to have been placed on making the cockpit similar to the earlier MiG-23 and
other Soviet aircraft for ease of conversion, rather than on ergonomics. Nonetheless, the MiG-29
does have substantially better visibility than most previous Soviet jet fighters, thanks to a high-
mounted bubble canopy. Upgraded models introduce "glass cockpits" with modern liquid-
crystal (LCD) multi-function displays (MFDs) and true HOTAS.
Pic.6 MiG-29 cockpit, 1995
Sensors
The baseline MiG-29B has a Plastron RLPK-29 radar fire control system which includes
the N019 Sapfir 29 look-down/shoot-down coherent pulse-Doppler radar and the Ts100.02-02
digital computer.
Pic.7 MiG-29 nose showing radome and S-31E2 KOLS IRST
The N019 radar was not a new design, but rather a development of the Sapfir-23ML
architecture used on the MiG-23ML. During the initial design specification period in the mid-
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1970s, Phazotron NIIR was tasked with producing a modern radar for the MiG-29. To speed
development, Phazotron based its new design on work undertaken by NPO Istok on the
experimental "Soyuz" radar program. Accordingly, the N019 was originally intended to have a
flat planar array antenna and full digital signal processing, for a detection and tracking range of
at least 100 km (62 mi) against a fighter-sized target. Prototype testing revealed this could not be
attained in the required timeframe and still fit within the MiG-29's nose. Rather than design a
new radar, Phazotron reverted to a version of the Sapfir-23ML's twisted-polarization cassegrain
antenna and traditional analog signal processors, coupled with a new NII Argon-designed Ts100
digital computer to save time and cost. This produced a working radar system, but inherited the
weak points of the earlier design, plaguing the MiG-29's ability to detect and track airborne
targets at ranges available with the R-27 and R-77 missiles.
Pic.8 MiG-29UB on display, showing gunport
The N019 was further compromised by Phazotron designer Adolf Tolkachev’s betrayal of
the radar to the CIA, for which he was executed in 1986. In response to all of these problems, the
Soviets hastily developed a modified N019M Topaz radar for the upgraded MiG-29S aircraft.
However, VVS was reportedly still not satisfied with the performance of the system and
demanded another upgrade. The latest upgraded aircraft offered the N010 Zhuk-M, which has a
planar array antenna rather than a dish, improving range, and a much superior processing ability,
with multiple-target engagement capability and compatibility with the Vympel R-77 (or RVV-
AE)
Armament
Pic.9 MiG-29B showing its full underbelly. Note the six underwing pylons carrying R-27 and R-
73 air-to-air missiles. The centerline fuel tank is seen with an APU exhaust duct.
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Armament for the MiG-29 includes a single GSh-30-1 30 mm (1.18 in) cannon in the port
wing root. This originally had a 150-round magazine, which was reduced to 100 rounds in later
variants, which only allows a few seconds of firing before running out of ammo. Original
production MiG-29B aircraft cannot fire the cannon when carrying a centerline fuel tank as it
blocks the shell ejection port. This was corrected in the MiG-29S and later versions.
Three pylons are provided under each wing (four in some variants), for a total of six (or
eight). The inboard pylons can carry either a 1,150 L (250 imp gal; 300 US gal) fuel tank,
one Vympel R-27 (AA-10 "Alamo") medium-range air-to-air missile, or unguided bombs or
rockets. Some Soviet aircraft could carry a single nuclear bomb on the port inboard station. The
outer pylons usually carry R-73 (AA-11 "Archer") dogfight air to air missiles, although some
users still retain the older R-60 (AA-8 "Aphid"). A single 1,500 L (330 imp gal; 400 US gal)
tank can be fitted to the centerline, between the engines.
The US has supplied AGM-88 HARM missiles to Ukraine. It appears that they are fired
from MiG-29s. It was only disclosed after Russian forces showed footage of a tail fin from one
of these missiles. U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl has said this: "I would
just point to two things. One, you know, a lot was made about the MiG-29 issue several months
ago, not very much has been noticed about the sheer amount of spare parts and other things that
we've done to help them actually put more of their own MiG-29s in the air and keep those that
are in the air flying for a longer period of time. And then also, in recent PDA [Presidential
Drawdown Authority] packages we've included a number of anti-radiation missiles that can be
fired off of Ukrainian aircraft. They can have effects on Russian radars and other things." Soviet
era aircraft don't have the computer architecture to accept NATO standard weapons. The
interface would be difficult; however with a "crude modification", such as an e-tablet, it would
be possible.
LITERATURE
1. "The MiG-29 fighters family". Archived 19 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Russian
Aircraft Corporation MiG, 8 December 2014. Retrieved: 19 September 2018.
2. ^ Jump up to:a b Gordon and Davison 2005, p. 9.
3. ^ "Scramble". scramble.nl. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 2
February 2019.
4. ^ Jenkins 1998, pp. 9–11.
5. ^ Jump up to:a b Spick 2000, pp. 488–489, 512–513.
6. ^ Gordon and Davison 2005, pp. 8–9.
7. ^ Correll, John T. "The Reformers." Air Force Magazine Online, February 2008, pp. 7–
9. Archived 26 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
8. ^ Lake World Air Power Journal Volume 36 Spring 1999, pp. 110–111.
9. ^ Lambert 1993, p. 238.
10. ^ Zuyev, A. and Malcolm McConnell. Fulcrum: A Top Gun Pilot's Escape from the Soviet
Empire. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: Warner Books, 1993. ISBN 0-446-36498-3.
11. Мухиддинов, М. К. (2022). IMAGE OF THE PROPHET. ALISHER NAVOIY XALQARO
JURNALI, 2(1).
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12. Муҳиддинов, Муслиҳиддин Қутбиддинович (2023). “СЎЗ ГУҲАРИ...”. Oriental
renaissance: Innovative, educational, natural and social sciences, 3 (5), 786-793.
13. Mukhiddinov, M. (2023). Wisdom in the Praises of the Epic" Saddi Iskandariy". Central
Asian Journal of Literature, Philosophy and Culture, 4(5), 210-214.
14. MUHİDDİNOV, M., & ELTAZAROV, J. ALİ ŞÎR NEVÂYÎNİN ESERLERİNDE KÂMİL
İNSAN KAVRAMININ YORUMU VE ONUN ÇAĞDAŞ «İNSANİ GELİŞİM»
DÜŞÜNCESİYLE FELSEFİ-ESTETİK AÇIDAN BAĞLANTILARI 1. Giriş.
15. Muhiddinov, M. (2015). Komil inson–adabiyot ideali. Toshkent. Ma'naviyat.
16. Муҳиддинов, М. (1998). Ўн тўққиз чемпион. Т.: Юлдузча.
17. Муҳиддинов, М. (2007). Нурли қалблар гулшани. Т.: Фан.
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