O
VER THE PAST ve years the
three remaining operational
units of the Russian
Aerospace Forces (VKS)
ying original MiG-29s —
the regiments at Domna,
Millerovo and Kursk — have all
re-equipped with new Su-30SM ghters.
Russia still ies around 100 MiG-29s,including the newer SMT variants, but
most of these are assigned to three
training bases at Privolzhsky
(Astrakhan), Armavir and
Kushchevskaya. In addition, there is a
sole operational unit at Erebuni in
Armenia, plus the Strizhi (Swifts)
aerobatic team, which is based at the
Kubinka demonstration center.In the fi rst of a two-part review of fi ghter aircraft in Russian service, Combat
Aircraft looks at the MiGs. This opening section reveals how the era of the
‘classic’ MiG-29 ‘Fulcrum’ in Russia is nearing its end.REPORT Piotr Butowski
‘FULCRUM’
INDIAN
UPGRADES
It’s perhaps worthwhile noting
how Russian industry has used the
Indian Air Force’s ‘Fulcrum’ mid-life
update to introduce some of the
most advanced MiG-29 capabilities
to date. The MiG-29UPG (izdeliye
9.20) includes the FGM229 Zhuk-
M2E radar with additional modes
compared to earlier Zhuk-MEs, and
new OLS-UE (I-219/E) IRST systems,
as in the MiG-29K. A new electronic
warfare suite comprises the Indian
Tarang radar warning receiver (RWR),
four 15-round countermeasures
dispensers from Bharat Dynamics and
the ELT-568 Virgilius active electronic
jammer produced by the Italian
Elettronica company. The podded Elta
ELL-8251 escort jammer is an option.
The MiG-29UPG is being retro tted
with the KSU-941 digital y-by-wire
(FBW) control system, as in the
MiG-29K — the basic MiG-29 features
a mechanical control system —, and
new RD-33 series 3M engines.— A FINAL FLING
70 March 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net
70-72 Russian Fighters MiG-29 C.indd 70 19/01/2018 16:23