Development
An operational requirement was issued for a light fighter to replace the MiG-21 Fishbed, the MiG-23 Flogger, the Su-15 Flagon and the Su-17 Fitter in 1972. The prototype first flew on 6 October 1977. Folowing major design changes, the first production MiG-29s became operational in 1985. The MiG is designed for high manoeuvrability coupled with the ability to destroy targets from 200 meters to 60 kilometers away. There are three generations for the Fulcrum, the Fulcrum-A being the basic model, the Fulcrum-C being a larger and more morden version and the MiG-29M being the latest and most morden version.
Malaysian MiGs
After evaluating several multi-role fighters, including the French Mirage 2000-5, the American F-16 Falcon and F/A-18 Hornet and the Russian Su-27 Flanker and MiG-29 Fulcrum, the Malaysian chose to buy 8 F/A-18D Hornets (described seperately)and 18 MiG-29 Fulcrums. The order was placed on 7 June 1993 for 16 MiG-29SDs, 2 MiG-29UBs and 8 Mil Mi-35M Hind assault helicopters. The Hind order did not materialise but the US$1.6 billion deal for the MiGs continued. The deal coverd the 18 jets, 12 spare RD33 engines, two ground instruction airframes and an armament package consisting of Vympel R-73E (AA-11 Archer) IR-homing air-to-air missiles which ae considered the best of its kind in the world and less deadly R-72R (AA-10 Alamo) which is on par with the American AIM-7 Sparrow missile. The MiG-29N Fulcrum is based on the MiG-29SD varient. These include raising airframe and engine life to 6000 and 4000 hours respectively, installation of Cossor IFF, Collins radio, ARN-138 TACAN, English Language voice-warning system, ILS(Instrument Landing System), GPS(Global Positioning System), additional fuel and English Language instruments calibrated in Imperial units. On 16 October 1997, a US$34.4 million contract to upgrade the MiG-29Ns' N-019ME radar to N-019M Toplaz-M radar was reached. This upgrade would enable the MiG-29N to fire the R-77 (AA-12 Adder) active radar missile, the Russian equivalent to the deadly American AIM-120 AMRAAM and also the Kh-27T airr-to-surface missile. The upgrading should have been completed by mid-1999. An order of 16 more MiGs have been announced but not made due to the economic crisis.
Weapon Options
Nearly a pure fighter, the all MiG-29's weapon options(in execption of the third generation MiG-29M) are limited to mostly air-to-air missiles. The MiG-29N has six underwing and a centerline hardpoints. The centreline hardpoint and the inbound underwing hardpoints can carry drop tanks. All underwing stations can carry the AA-11 Archer but only the inbound hardpoint can carry the AA-10 Alamo, AA-12 Adder and the Kh-27 air-to-surface missile. A Gsh-301 30mm gun with 150 rounds is the MiG's internal gun.
Variants
MiG-29 Fulcrum-A : Basic counter-air tatical fighter
Other Operators
Bangladesh : 10 aircraft
Specifications (MiG-29N Fulcrum)
Powerplant : 2 Klimov/Leningrad RD-33 turbofans giving 11 110lb of thrust at full power
MiG-29UB Fulcrum-B : Two-seat combat trainer
MiG-29 Fulcrum-C : Curved top to fuselage for increased avionics and fuel capacity
MiG-29S Fulcrum-C : Subject to multistage upgrade to improve avionics and missile carrying capacity
MiG-29SE Fulcrum-C : Export model of MiG-29S
MiG-29SM : Upgraded MiG-29S with air-to-surface and anti-ship missile capability
MiG-29SD : Export model of basic MiG-29 with most of the 'SE upgrades
MiG-29N : Local Malaysian designation for the MiG-29SD
MiG-29NUB : Local Malaysian designation for the MiG-29UB
MiG-29M : Advanced tatical fighter, ground support and naval precision weapon control
MiG-29ME : Export model of the MiG-29M, renamed MiG-33
MiG-29K : Naval carrier based version with folding wings
MiG-29KVP : Demonstrator for the MiG-29K with STOL(Short Take-Off and Landing)and arrester hook
MiG-33 : Export model of MiG-29M
MiG-35 : Further upgrade of MiG-33 with ten external stores, canards and thrust vectoring
Belarus
Bulgaria : An estimated 22 aircraft(including 4 two-seates)were delivered
Croatia
Cuba : 7 aircraft(ordered 36)
Czech Republic
Germany : 20 MiG-29s and 4 MiG-29UBs
Hungary : 22 MiG-29s and 6 MiG-29UBs
India : 65 MiG-29s and 5 MiG-29UBs
Iran : 14 MiG-29s + 4 more Iraqi MiGs that fled to Iran
Iraq : some 36 MiG-29s out of 50 survived the Gulf War
Kazakhstan
North Korea
Moldova : 34 MiG-29s were delivered
Poland : 9 MiG-29s and 3 MiG-29UBs
Romania : 14 MiG-29s and 2 MiG-29UB
Russia : 600 MiG-29s
Slovikia
Syria : 50+ MiG-29s delivered
Ukraine : 185 MiG-29s
Uzbekistan
Yemen
Yugoslivia : 14 MiG-29s
Length : 17.32 meters
Span : 11.36 meters
Height : 4.73 meters
Weight(empty): 15 300 kilograms
Max. weight : 19 700 kilograms
Max. payload : 4 000 kilograms
Max. speed : Mach 2.3, 1134kts, 2445km/h
Max. range : 2 900 kilometers with three external tanks
A Malaysian MiG-29N Fulcrum
