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MiG-posting: The MiG-29 'Fulcrum'
An agile and capable fighter with an elegantly fluid design, the MiG-29 showed the world the best of Soviet engineering. A worthy adversary to the American F-16.
Introduction
Production of the MiG-29 began in 1981 and entered into service with the Soviet Air Force in 1983, to little fanfare. India, Yugoslavia, North Korea, Finland, and various Warsaw Pact countries placed orders for the fighter but little else was known. However, times were changing...
The MiG-29 was the first Soviet fighter jet to be revealed to the world following Gorbachev's reforms. Unlike with previous aircraft, the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau was eager to market the plane to other countries. It was debuted at Kuoppio-Rissala on 2 July 1986. It flew at the 1988 Farnborough Airshow, 1989 Paris Air Show, and even the 1989 Abbotsford Air Show.[1]
During the 1989 Abbotsford Air Show, Canadian pilot Major Bob Wade became the first western pilot to fly a modern Soviet fighter jet. Wade took the controls along with Soviet test pilot Valery Menitsky and flew a MiG-29UB with only a limited preflight briefing, no knowledge of Russian and ten minutes to prepare. He was surprised at how capable the aircraft was compared to the CF-18 Hornets he was used to flying.[2]
Watercolour by Janice Kun of a MiG-29UB in flight during the 1989 Abbotsford Air Show. Kulshan/Mount Baker looms in the distance. Canadian pilot Major Bob Wade became the first western pilot to fly a modern Soviet fighter jet.
These efforts would prove fruitful as the Indian Air Force (IAF) become thoroughly convinced of the aircraft's capabilities. The MiG-29 was officially inducted into the IAF in 1987. In 1989, an additional 26 aircraft were ordered, and 10 more advanced MiG-29 9.13s were bought in 1994. India would quickly become Mikoyan's largest customer outside of Russia.[3]
The aircraft would receive various design updates over the decades, improving upon previous design issues and introducing new combat features required in contemporary warfare. Countries who have invested in the aircraft have modernized their MiG-29 fleets to meet the unique needs of their respective air forces.
Newer MiG-29 models such as the MiG-29M 'Fulcrum-E' feature an aluminum-lithium alloy frame, extensive use of radar-absorbent materials, improved Klimov engines, increased fuel capacity and range, glass cockpits with HOTAS-compatible flight controls, modern radar and infrared search and track (IRST) sensors, and in-flight refuelling probes. The positive operational record of the aircraft with the IAF prompted the Indian government to sign a contract with Russia in 2006 to invest US$888 million to upgrade all of its MiG-29s.[4]
https://youtube.com/watch?v=RPufHrR7O8E
A short documentary about the MiG-29, its evolution from a heavyweight frontline fighter to a nimble multirole fighter, and its service history with the Indian Air Force.
The MiG-35 'Fulcrum-F' is the latest development of the MiG-29. Its a larger, heavier aircraft that still manages to maneuver with as much grace as its predecessors. Although it improves on a lot of the MiG-29's compromises, its high sticker price and lack of significant advantages over the MiG-29M/M2s has so far only garnered the support of the Russian Aerospace Forces.[5] The escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War in February 2022 has likely tempered whatever international support for the aircraft remained.
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