MiG-29/ΜiG-35 Fulcrum: News #2

Austin wrote:The most suprising think from Indian CAG report is Mig-35 met all the IAF ASQR requirement , Which is to say it met all the criteria for MMRCA

But IAF institutional bias towards Rafale made it select the aircraft

After the dirt CAG found out in their last report, it is a weak position to defend Indian military but I could think the MiG-35 not being operational or a "finished" product would be a significant disadvantage vs. the Rafale. Regardless, if RuAF orders and starts operating MiG-35, AESA appears finally and prices are competitive I think the decision should be clear from a rational perspective. Russia's contracts have way less strings attached to them that those of the West and that alone is a massive reason for selecting their equipment. Especially now that US is abandoning any shred of restrain in terms of using force to get things going their way. Russia cannot allow themselves to behave like that.

MiG Corporation makes a strong pitch for its flagship

http://forceindia.net/weighty-matter/

The tone for the MiG-35 presentation was set by CEO RAC MiG, Ilya Tarasenko. When asked the difference between buying Rafale and MiG-35, he said, “There is a technical decision and an economic decision. Once that is made, MiG-35 presents the better option.” He could have added another reason: Russia brings the political heft that India needs in times of unsure relations with China.

The presentation was given by deputy director general, MiG Corporation, Victor Chernov. The message he gave was that MiG-35 is an entirely new aircraft which can cost-effectively meet all operational needs and maintenance parameters with minimal Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situation. Backing his claim by statistics, he said that the airframe had up to 80 per cent composites which will ensure less weight of aircraft, increased payload and minimal signature.

The engine, RD MK, will provide 12 per cent more thrust which will ensure 200km speed at high altitude and 1,450km at normal altitude. The AESA radar would have capability to detect 30 targets at 200km, and could shoot six aerial targets and four ground/ sea targets simultaneously. The aircraft with eight hard points can carry six tons combat load, and is provided with refuelling pods to fly 2,000km with drop tanks and 900km without them.

The engine life is 4,000 hours while airframe life is 6000 hours. Moreover, the aircraft has fly-by-wire for redundancy. In short, according to Chernov, MiG-35 meets all Make in India requirements.

The AESA radar would have capability to detect 30 targets at 200km

The issue is the "could" that is still not a "has". Untill then mig-35 won't be sold.

Mig-35 AESA Detection Ranges

https://twitter.com/EmirLouise/status/1099143539353665536

Austin wrote:Mig-35 AESA Detection Ranges

https://twitter.com/EmirLouise/status/1099143539353665536

Who is this guy "Kevin Sky" (I assume he's Turkish judging by his feeds general content) and why should we consider his numbers to have any veracity? I'd hardly believe that Zhuk would make such info public.

AESA radar of MiG-35,same beam width,the detection range is a function of power so the range of MiG-35 by 1016 TR madule,10 W peak power each according to Zhuk

40 KM for 0.0003 SqM RCS(F-22)
89 KM for 0.01 SqM RCS(F-117)
257 KM for 1 SqM RCS(FA-18 E)
288 KM for 3 SqM RCS(F-16)

Not a radar expert by any measure, but this performance seems fairly good? If a MiG-35 can carry an AESA that can detect an F-22 at 40kms (even against its sweet spot at 0 degree bearing) what can a Su-35 or Su-57 carry?

I think he made his own calculations based on the data shared for zhuk (260km against a 3sqm target).

With a reduced rcs, a mig-35 would be a dangerous adversary for any any f-15/16/18/eurocanard variants in BVR. And contrary to mig-29, all its hardpoints can carry r-77-1 and probably future r-77M as it is developed in same time as su-57.

Now they also need to give it new ecm pods. The first design included italian made ones.

No clue where those data come from but that would be a really fantastic performance... I remain sceptic mainly due to the limited size of the radar, but hopefully we will know a bit more in the course of the ongoing Indian tender.

Mig-35 Pictures

https://chistoprudov.livejournal.com/211134.html


I am not happy with build quality of Mig-35 , Too many patch like work with rivets , Compare to build quality of Indian Airforce French Mirages .....Mig-35 needs to get better tin that department.

Russian's are not known for their finishing although their marketing is getting better. Doesn't matter functionally but certainly could be better. First impression is kinda important.

First serial MiG-35UB Nº11 for VKS in trials

so this MiG-35UB is another pre-production sample?

Recall that at the end of 2016, RSK MiG at LAZ in Lukhovitsy near Moscow (former Production Complex No. 1) completed the construction of the first two prototypes ("pre-production") of the MiG-35 fighter under a contract to carry out the corresponding development project with the Russian Space Forces. The first single-seater MiG-35 (9-41SR, tail number "702 blue") made the first flight in Lukhovitsy on November 24, 2016, and the double MiG-35UB (9-47SR, tail number "712 blue") December 1, 2016 of the year. The start of the official factory tests of both aircraft was announced during the presentation on January 26, 2017, they were conducted until December 2017.

In February 2017, it was announced that the Russian Ministry of Defense had signed a contract for two more experienced ("pre-production") samples of the MiG-35 fighter to join the expanded State Test program. Initially, plans were announced to complete the State tests of the MiG-35 fighter by mid-2018, however, in reality, State tests with the participation of two prototypes built in 2016 were only begun in May 2018. The end date of 2019 is the date for completion of the State type tests.

At the International Military-Technical Forum "Army-2018" on August 22, 2018, the Russian Defense Ministry signed with United Aircraft Building Corporation JSC (UAC, which includes RAC MiG JSC) a contract for the supply of the first six MiG-35S fighter jets and MiG-35UB. The term of the contract from 2018 to 2023, it was reported that the first aircraft on it will be delivered at the end of 2019.

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3617998.html

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thaimilitaryandasianregion.wordpress.com/2016/05/10/mig-29k-carrier-based-multirole-fighter-aircraft-russia/amp/

A nice and complete article about mig-29k with many technical references and descriptions. R-37E is compatible with zukh ME according to them.

https://m.tvzvezda.ru/news/forces/content/201903250614-ql6g.htm

Video of mig-29smt lunching rockets + inside cokpit with zoom on lcd when using ols. First time I see that.

Which units are using Mig-29SMT? I had seen news about how the last Mig-29 regiment was replaced by SU-30SM. Does anyone know how many Mig-29 are in use? Of SMT variants, k variant, UB, and Mig-29S?

Thank you Franco, thats awesome

Russian military will receive six MiG-35 fighters per year

Moscow. May 8th. INTERFAX-AVN - The Russian Defense Ministry is expected to receive six MiG-35 fighters annually, an informed source told Interfax.

"It is planned to conclude a contract so that the Russian Aerospace Forces receive at least six cars a year," said the agency’s source about the prospects for the MiG-35.
He noted that the military had already received the first two MiG-35 fighters under a contract for six cars, signed at the Army 2018 forum. "Two planes have already been delivered, and four more cars will arrive by the end of the year," the source said.
In December 2018, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated that the MiG corporation was completing the final assembly of the first batch of aircraft for delivery to the Russian Federation Air Force and is preparing to conduct their acceptance tests. However, to date, the official transfer of the first military to the MiG-35 has not been reported.
Then the department said that the crews of the State Flight Test Center (GLITS) of the RF Ministry of Defense began intensive flights on experimental machines to test their maneuverability and aerodynamic stability. In addition, military pilots have already begun to test air armament of the MiG-35 class "air-to-air" and "air-to-surface".
On August 22, 2018, at the Army-2018 forum, the KLA and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation signed a contract for the supply of six MiG-35 light fighter jets until 2023. Machines will be delivered in single and double (combat training) versions - MiG-35S and MiG-35UB.
UAC President Yuri Slusar reported in an interview with Interfax that the delivery of these six cars will end in 2019,
In 2017, Viktor Bondarev, while serving as commander-in-chief of the VKS, stated that the entire fleet of light fighters would be replaced by a MiG-35. However, according to an informed source of Interfax, the Russian military will not massively buy new MiG-35 fighters. "There will be no transition of the entire light fighter aviation to this class in the near future," the agency’s source said in March 2018.
The MiG-35 is considered to be the most advanced aircraft in the MiG fighter family. Deep-upgraded RD-33MK engines are used as powerplants on the MiG-35, its onboard radio-electronic station allows detecting and tracking from 10 to 30 air targets at a distance of up to 160 km, while seizing up to six air and four ground targets simultaneously.
The MiG-35 is equipped with a modern defense system, it minimizes the surprise attack from the enemy, allows you to recognize both aircraft and flying missiles.
As reported, promising aircraft weapons are introduced into the MiG-35 weapons, including long-range weapons, which allow attacking targets without entering air defense zones (air defense). The aircraft is capable of solving combat missions in the air-to-air, air-to-earth, air-to-ship spectra.
In January 2017, the head of the KLA, Yuri Slyusar, said that the MiG-35 could also carry laser weapons.

https://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=0&nid=507725&lang=RU

dino00 wrote:
Russian military will receive six MiG-35 fighters per year

Moscow. May 8th. INTERFAX-AVN - The Russian Defense Ministry is expected to receive six MiG-35 fighters annually, an informed source told Interfax.

     "It is planned to conclude a contract so that the Russian Aerospace Forces receive at least six cars a year," said the agency’s source about the prospects for the MiG-35.
    He noted that the military had already received the first two MiG-35 fighters under a contract for six cars, signed at the Army 2018 forum. "Two planes have already been delivered, and four more cars will arrive by the end of the year," the source said.
https://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=0&nid=507725&lang=RU

At usual such articles add uncertainty and confusion instead of easing them...

At least six at years means nothing, thet can be seven or thirty.

Rodion_Romanovic wrote:It is not a bad thing at all. They will maintain production and keep investment on a lighter fighter than Su 30 family.

This could also help for export.

In addition to the indians, this aircraft would be perfect for Iraq, if only they stopped taking orders from the americans.

Fat chance, the Iraqi airforce was left deprive for years, if i recall, they ordered 40 F-16s in 2008, but didn't receive any from that order for years.
Leading to a situation where the Iraqi capitol was almost endangered by ISIS.

In short, there airforce isn't known for seeking alternatives.

Russia Mulls a Larger MiG-35 Contract

Russia’s defense ministry has received its first MiG-35UB two-seat multirole fighter from the August 2018 contract that was signed at ARMY’2018, covering an initial six aircraft. Aircraft side number 11 was spotted in the past month flying from the airfield at RAC MiG’s Lukhovitsy plant in the Moscow region. Upon completion of the manufacturer’s tests, it was ferried to an air force base for participation in state acceptance trials.

The tests began in the fall at the Valery Chkalov State Flight Test Center (GLITs) at Akhtubinsk in southern Russia. When visiting GLITs on May 14, President Putin was shown a MiG-35, among other aircraft. At the time, the center was operating two such aircraft: a MiG-35UB side 712 and MiG-35S single-seater side 702. Completed in late 2016, they had made a public debut at MAKS’2017, billed as “the new MiG-35.” After manufacturer’s tests, they were handed over to the MoD in the middle of 2018. For state acceptance trials to complete as planned in 2020, GLITs requires several more airframes to arrive over the next few months.

The defense ministry expects one more MiG-35UB and four MiG-35S deliveries in 2019 and is preparing a second contract for signing at ARMY’2019, which opens on June 25. Reportedly, the State Armament Program 2018-2027 (GPV-2027) authorizes procurement of between 24 and 36 MiG-35s. In a recent interview, RAC MiG general director Ilya Tarasenko confirmed that the type was included in GPV-2027, but declined to give an exact number due to the classified nature of this document. He gave the MiG-35’s gross weight at 23.5 tonnes, and fuel capacity as twice that of the baseline MiG-29.

Full Article
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2019-05-27/russia-mulls-larger-mig-35-contract

I hope they do.

dino00 wrote:Russia Mulls a Larger MiG-35 Contract

Russia’s defense ministry has received its first MiG-35UB two-seat multirole fighter from the August 2018 contract that was signed at ARMY’2018, covering an initial six aircraft. Aircraft side number 11 was spotted in the past month flying from the airfield at RAC MiG’s Lukhovitsy plant in the Moscow region. Upon completion of the manufacturer’s tests, it was ferried to an air force base for participation in state acceptance trials.

The tests began in the fall at the Valery Chkalov State Flight Test Center (GLITs) at Akhtubinsk in southern Russia. When visiting GLITs on May 14, President Putin was shown a MiG-35, among other aircraft. At the time, the center was operating two such aircraft: a MiG-35UB side 712 and MiG-35S single-seater side 702. Completed in late 2016, they had made a public debut at MAKS’2017, billed as “the new MiG-35.” After manufacturer’s tests, they were handed over to the MoD in the middle of 2018. For state acceptance trials to complete as planned in 2020, GLITs requires several more airframes to arrive over the next few months.

The defense ministry expects one more MiG-35UB and four MiG-35S deliveries in 2019 and is preparing a second contract for signing at ARMY’2019, which opens on June 25. Reportedly, the State Armament Program 2018-2027 (GPV-2027) authorizes procurement of between 24 and 36 MiG-35s. In a recent interview, RAC MiG general director Ilya Tarasenko confirmed that the type was included in GPV-2027, but declined to give an exact number due to the classified nature of this document. He gave the MiG-35’s gross weight at 23.5 tonnes, and fuel capacity as twice that of the baseline MiG-29.

Full Article
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2019-05-27/russia-mulls-larger-mig-35-contract

I hope they do.

Well, it would probably happen the same than happened with Su-57, a small initial order followed by a second, larger ones as soon State trials are over.

marcellogo wrote:Well, it would probably happen the same than happened with Su-57, a small initial order followed by a second, larger ones as soon State trials are over.

24 is still not that many I hope there will be more. Anyway withour RuAF buying 35s nobody would buy export version.