The essential hardware of
this Russian air superiority
fi ghter revealedO
ften overlooked in the west due to its
Sov iet Union origins in the Eighties, the
Mikoyan MiG-29 is actually one of the
world’s most prolifi c fi ghter jets, with over 1,600
units in operation around the globe. For a little
perspective, there are only just over 300
Eurofi ghter Typhoons currently in operation
across the planet, a number that is unlikely to
ever exceed the 500 mark.
So why is this Russian plane so successful?
For starters, it’s great value for money – just shy
of £18 million ($29 million), compared to the
£64.8 million ($104.6 million) Ty phoon.
The MiG-29 is a fourth-generation fi ghter jet
designed for an air supremac y role, which
involves infi ltrating and seizing enemy
airspace through force. It comes in a wide range
of variants, with both legacy and current
production models (such as the MiG-29K and
MiG-29M) in operation, and has seen signifi cant
combat throughout its 19-year ser v ice,
including deployment in the Persian Gulf War.
The aircraft is built around an aluminium
airframe, which is bolstered with advanced
composite materials. This airframe is designed
for up to 9g manoeuv res, making the jet
insanely agile and quite easy to fl y for skilled
pilots – hence why it’s often used at air shows.
Surrounding the airframe lies an elegantly
sculpted titanium/aluminium alloy fuselage
that tapers in from a wide rear to a raised,
‘swan neck’ cockpit and elongated nose cone.
From the fuselage extends the aeroplane’s
mid-mounted swept wings, each of which is
installed with leading-edge root extensions.
The MiG-29 is powered by two widely spaced
Klimov RD-33 afterburning turbofans that,
besides granting a top speed of 2,400
kilometres (1,490 miles) per hour, also help
reduce effective wing loading. This is thanks to
their wide spacing, with the area between
them generating extra lift. The engines are fed
by an internal fuel system that parses its total
reserves down into a series of sub-tanks.
The MiG-29 comes packing a vast arsenal too.
Each jet is fi tted with seven hardpoints capable
of carr ying a wide array of missiles and bombs,
or external fuel tanks for longer missions.Russia’s primary fi ghter jet combines
a host of advanced tech to create an
agile and deadly aircraft
Mikoyan
MiG-29
Anatomy of a MiG-29B
Cockpit
The MiG-29B’s cockpit has
a bubble canopy and
comes equipped with a
conventional centre stick,
left-hand throttle controls
and a heads-up display.
Pilots sit in a Zvezda
K-36DM ejection seat.Airframe
The MiG-29B’s airframe
is made primarily from
aluminium and composite
materials. The airframe is
stressed for up to 9g
manoeuvres, making it an
extremely agile jet.Sensors
The stock MiG-29B comes
with a Phazotron RLPK-29
radar fi re control system,
which includes the N019
pulse-Doppler radar along
with an NII Ts100 computer.Weapons
The MiG-29B comes with
seven hardpoints, each
capable of carrying a
selection of arms (such as
R-73 air-to-air missiles) and
bombs. In addition, it
carries a single GSh-30-1
30mm (1.2in) cannon.Mikoyan MiG-29
Crew: 1
Length: 17.4m (57ft)
Wingspan: 11.4m (37.4ft)
Height: 4.7m (15.4ft)
Powerplant: 2 x Klimov RD-33
afterburning turbofans
Max speed: Mach 2.25
(2,400km/h; 1,490mph)
Max range: 1,430km (888mi)
Max altitude:
18,013m (59,100ft)
Hardpoints: 7
Max payload:
3,500kg (7,720lb)The statistics...
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