Mikoyan MiG-35

MiG-35
MIG-35D of the Russian Air Force
Role Multirole fighter
National origin Russia
Design group Mikoyan
First flight 7 February 2007[1]
Introduction 2018 (planned)[2]
Status Flight-testing/pre-series production[3][4][5]
Primary user Russian Air Force
Number built 3 known completed by June 2010[6] and 2 pre-series completed by 2016[7]
Unit cost
US$40 million[8]
Developed from Mikoyan MiG-29M

The Mikoyan MiG-35 (Russian: Микоян МиГ-35; NATO reporting name: Fulcrum-F) is a Russian multirole fighter that is designed by Mikoyan, a division of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). Marketed as a 4++ generation jet fighter, it is a further development of the MiG-29M/M2 and MiG-29K/KUB fighters.[9] The first prototype was a modification of the aircraft that previously served as a MiG-29M2 model demonstrator. Mikoyan first officially presented the MiG-35 internationally during the 2007 Aero India air show.[10] By 2009, ten prototypes had been built for field trials.[11]

The single-seat version is designated MiG-35 and the two-seat version MiG-35D. The fighter has vastly improved avionics and weapon systems, notably the new AESA radar, precision-guided targeting capability, and the uniquely designed optical locator system, relieves the aircraft from relying on ground-controlled interception systems and enables it to conduct independent multirole missions.

Design and development

Overview

The MiG-35/MiG-35D exhibits advancements on the MiG-29K/KUB and MiG-29M/M2 fighters in combat efficiency enhancement, universality and operational characteristics improvement.[12] The main features of the new design are the fifth-generation information-sighting systems, compatibility with Russian and foreign weapons applications and an integrated variety of defensive systems to increase combat survivability. The new overall design overtakes the design concepts of the baseline model and enables the new aircraft to conduct full-scale multirole missions as their western counterparts.[12]

New avionics are intended to help the MiG-35 gain air superiority as well as to perform all-weather precision ground strikes, aerial reconnaissance with opto-electronic and radar equipment and to conduct complex joint missions.[12] This includes the Phazotron Zhuk-AE active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, the RD-33MK engines and the newly designed optical locator system, OLS-35.[13][14][15] The number of weapon stations has increased to 10, flight range has increased by 50%, and radar visibility has been reduced.[16]

The final configuration of the MiG-35's onboard equipment has been left open intentionally using the MIL-STD-1553 bus.[17] Weight load 7 tons (twice the weight load of MiG-29).[18][19]

Powerplant

MiG-35D taking off

The RD-33MK Morskaya Osa (Russian: Морская Оса, literally: "Sea Wasp" or Chironex fleckeri) was installed by the new modification. It is the latest version of the RD-33 and was intended to power the MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB. It has 7% more power compared to the baseline model due to the use of modern materials in the cooled blades, providing a higher thrust of 9,000 kgf. In response to earlier criticism, the new engines are smokeless and include systems that reduce infrared and optical visibility. The engines may be fitted with vectored-thrust nozzles, which would result in an increase in combat efficiency by 12% to 15%, according to manufacturer claims.[12][20]

The RD-33OVT engine variant comes with thrust vectoring nozzles, and can direct thrust in two directions or planes. As of 2012, the only in-service, in-production fighter jet using this technology is the Sukhoi Su-35. Other current thrust-vectoring aircraft, such as the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, have nozzles that each vector in one plane.[11] Thrust vectoring capabilities enable this aircraft to use highways or grass strips for landing and takeoff instead of needing to rely on traditionally-prepared asphalt runways.[18][21]

Sensors and weapons

New modifications include the newly rolled-out Phazotron Zhuk-A/AE active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, the first such radar on any Russian fighter.[22] The Phazotron Zhuk-A/AE AESA radar offers a wider range of operating frequencies, providing better resistance to electronic countermeasures (ECM)s, extended detection range and more air and ground targets detected. The FGA-35 radar type, featured 688 mm antenna and 1016 T/R modules (originally planned 1064) with initial stage performance of a 200 km detection range for 3m2 RCS target. Later detection range was raised up to 250 km.[23] It can track up to 30 targets at any time, engaging up to 6 air targets at once, or 4 ground targets at once.[24]

In a conference call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in January 2017, Yuri Slyusar, president of the UAC, reported that the MiG-35 could possibly use a kind of laser weaponry in the future.[25][26] Military trials of the laser are to proceed immediately after flight testing of the aircraft.[27] However, there was doubt if Slusar made a mistake by saying laser weaponry instead of laser-guided weapon.[28] The MiG-35 is also planned to be capable of launching the Kh-36 Grom-1 cruise missile, giving it a long-range strike ability that the MiG-29 does not possess.[29]

Origins and unveiling at Aero India

MiG-35 at Aero India, 2007

There were references in the late 1980s to a very different design also identified as "MiG-35". This design was a single-engined combat aircraft for air-to-air and secondary air-to-ground roles. According to unidentified Indian sources, the aircraft was evaluated by Indian pilots in the Soviet Union and was probably suggested as an alternative for the Indian LCA being developed at that time.[30]

Russia unveiled the MiG-35 at the 2007 Aero India air show in Bangalore,[31] amid Moscow's keenness to sell these planes to India. The MiG-35 was a contender with the Eurofighter Typhoon, Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, Saab JAS 39 Gripen, and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon in the Indian MRCA competition for 126 multirole combat aircraft to be procured by the Indian Air Force. The MiG-35 was ousted from the contest in April 2011.[32]

MiG-35D landing on the runway while launching a parachute to slow it down

Testing

By April 2010, pictures and additional information surfaced of two new MiG-35 demonstrators, the single-seat MiG-35 "961" and the two-seat MiG-35D "967". According to Russian media, they first flew in autumn of 2009, and subsequently took part in MMRCA trials in India in October 2009. Both have a very high commonality with the previous MiG-29K/KUB airframes, an immediate visible difference being the braking parachute installed in place of the hook, present on the naval aircraft.[33] Subsequently, the MiG-35D "967" appears to have been equipped with a similar AESA radar as fitted to the older MiG-35 demonstrator "154", identifiable by the dark grey short nose radome.[34] Two MiG-35s were to be delivered to the Russian Air Force for flight tests in November 2016 to confirm the technical characteristics. This was stated by general designer of the United Aircraft Corporation Sergei Korotkov to Interfax on 6 September.[35][36]

On 28 January 2017, MiG officially demonstrated the new MiG-35 to the Russian government, followed by subsequent demonstration for export customers on the next day.[37][38] However, the newly presented MiG-35 showed to be a bit different with the one unveiled in 2007. The new MiG-35 allegedly lacked the AESA radar as well as thrust vectoring control, supposedly to keep procurement cost low to attract foreign customer.[39] In July 2017, Ilya Tarasenko, the director general of the MiG, told the press: "We are now testing, and after the results will begin mass production. Serial production will begin within the next two years."[40][41]

In mid-February 2018, MiG Aircraft Corporation announced that it had completed factory trials of MiG-35, the certificate of the trials completion having been signed in December 2017.[42]

Future users

Russia

In May 2013, it was reported that Russia plans to order 37 aircraft.[43] On 17 August 2013, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the purchase worth 37 billion rubles ($1.1 billion) will be delayed until 2016. The delay was caused by state arms spending cuts.[44][45] In August 2015, Colonel General Viktor Bondarev, commander of Russia’s Air and Space Forces stated that MiG-35 development is to be completed in 2017; entry into service is to follow in 2018.[46][2] 170 aircraft are planned.[16]

On 22 August 2018, during the International Miltary-Technical Forum «ARMY-2018», the first contract for 6 aircraft was signed.[47]

Egypt

In 2014, Egypt planned to sign a large arms deal with Russia for the purchase of 24 MiG-35 fighter jets.[48][49][50] In February 2015, MiG Director General Sergei Korotkov announced that the company was ready to supply the MiG-35 jets to Egypt should the country request them.[51] In April 2015, Egypt became the first export customer when it signed a $2 billion contract for the purchase of 46 MiG-29M/M2 multi-role fighters, also referred to as the MiG-35.[52][53]

The Egyptian variant is designated as the MiG-29M (9.41SM) for the single seater, and MiG-29M2 (9.47SM) for the two seater.[54] The country received its first batch of fighters in April 2017, and by the end of the year, had received 15 aircraft.[55][56] The contract is set to be completed by 2020.[57] The fighters will also be supplied with the MSP-418K active jammer pod which uses DRFM technology to spoof radar-guided missiles. The jammer pod was previously displayed at MAKS Air Shows and is yet to enter service with the Russian Air Force.[58] Egypt ordered 24 of these pods with deliveries to begin in 2018.[59] The Egyptian Air Force is expected to keep its MiG-29Ms in service until 2060.[59]

Iraq

In December 2017, the MiG-35, along with the Sukhoi Su-25 and Russian missile systems, were ordered by Iraq with Russia in an arms deal that would be worth US$7 billion. The number of MiG-35s to be sold in the deal is not clarified yet.[60]

Failed bids

India

The MiG-35 was a contender in the Indian MRCA competition for 126 multirole combat aircraft to be used by the Indian Air Force. Before, Russia unveiled the MiG-35 in the at the 2007 Aero India air show in Bangalore in order to get India interested in the aircraft.[31] During the competition however, India's Ministry of Defense was frustrated with the problems of the aircraft's avionics: the radar could not achieve the maximum targeting distance during the tests and the RD-33MK engines were not shown to be necessary for carrying out thrusting. As a result, the MiG-35 was ousted from the contest in April 2011.[32][61][62]

Variants

MiG-35
Single-seat variant
MiG-35D
Two-seat variant
Naval version
According to the General Director of Mikoyan, Ilya Tarasenko, a carrier-based version of the MiG-35 is under development.[63] The Radioelectronic Technologies Concern (KRET) has already adapted a new landing system to the BINS-SP-2 deck for the MiG-35.[64]

Operators

 Russia
 Iraq
 Egypt

Specifications (MiG-35)

MiG-35 pre-series
The MiG-35 is under development and specification data may change.

Data from Mikoyan MiG-29M2 basic dimensions,[68] deagel.com,[69] airforce-technology.com[70]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

Avionics

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

Notes

  1. ↑ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Russian-company-unveils-MiG-35-at-Aero-India/articleshow/1576126.cms
  2. 1 2 Russia's MiG-35S multirole fighter aircraft could enter service in 2018 - Airrecognition.com, 14 August 2015.
  3. ↑ "Russia's Lethal New MiG-35 to Start Flight Testing This Summer". The National Interest. 2016-03-21.
  4. ↑ "Pre-Series Production of a Multi-Purpose MiG-35 Fighter". Sputnik (news agency). 2016-08-19.
  5. ↑ "Russian engineers produce advanced MIG-35 fighter jets". LiveLeak. 2016-03-17.
  6. ↑ Indian pilots checked MiG-35 in. Take-off magazine. CEO. June 2010, p. 64.
  7. ↑ https://lenta.ru/news/2017/01/27/production/
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ "MiG-35/MiG-35D." RAC MiG Corporation. Retrieved: 8 November 2012. Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ "MiG-35 photos from Air India 2007." aviapedia.com. Retrieved: 8 November 2012. Archived 18 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  11. 1 2 "Russia begins testing MiG-35 ahead of field trials in India news." domain-b.com, 14 August 2009.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "MiG-35/MiG-35D." Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG. Retrieved: 8 November 2012.
  13. ↑ "Account Suspended." Aviapedia.com. Retrieved: 13 November 2011. Archived 8 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  14. ↑ "aviapedia.com". www.aviapedia.com. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  15. ↑ "New MiG-35 OLS." Aviapedia. Retrieved: 8 November 2012. Archived 9 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  16. 1 2 "Производство МиГ-35 развернут в Нижнем Новгороде". Российская газета. 2017-02-03. Retrieved 2018-06-10.
  17. ↑ "MiG-35 Multi-Role Combat Aircraft". defense-update.com. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  18. 1 2 "Эксперт: МиГ-35 обновит линейку легких фронтовых истребителей ВКС России". РИА Новости (in Russian). 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  19. ↑ "МиГ-35: старт, опоздавший на годы | Армейский вестник". army-news.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2018-06-10.
  20. ↑ "Klimov Production: Aircraft Program, RD-33MK." Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Klimov. Retrieved: 8 November 2012.
  21. ↑ "Российский истребитель четвертого поколения МиГ-35. Инфографика". www.aif.ru. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  22. ↑ "AESA Radars Become Mainstream In Fighter Aircraft". www.defenseworld.net. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  23. ↑ "Aviation week & space technology/ august 15. 2011".
  24. ↑ "МиГ-35 оснастят станцией "Жук-АМЭ"". Рамблер/новости (in Russian). Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  25. ↑ "News ∙ President ∙ Events ∙ President of Russia". President of Russia. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  26. ↑ Sputnik. "Blinding Them With Science: Russian MiG-35 to Fire Laser Weapon at Enemy Optics". sputniknews.com. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  27. ↑ https://life.ru/t/%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%83%D0%BA%D0%B0/970285/smi_migh-35_mozhiet_poluchit_laziernoie_oruzhiie
  28. ↑ Boring, War Is (2017-02-08). "Don't Expect Russia to Arm MiG-35s With Laser Cannons". Medium. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  29. ↑ https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2015-08-31/mig-35-prospects-are-still-good-says-maker
  30. ↑ Jane's Defence Weekly, 13 August 1988, p. 235.
  31. 1 2 "Russia to Unveil Latest MiG-35 at Bangalore During Aero India 2007." India Defence, 2 February 2007.
  32. 1 2 "IAF to soon finalise multi-billion dollar aircraft deal." hindustantimes.com. Retrieved: 8 November 2012.
  33. ↑ "Тендер MMRCA" (in Russian). Take-Off, November 2009, pp. 36–37. Retrieved: 13 April 2010.
  34. ↑ "Photo of MiG-35 '967'." Airliners.net. Retrieved: 8 November 2012.
  35. ↑ "Минобороны РФ получит первый образец истребителя МиГ-35 в этом году". Interfax. 2016-03-30.
  36. ↑ "Истребитель МиГ-35 передадут военным для испытаний в ноябре". Lenta.ru. 2016-09-06.
  37. ↑ https://theaviationist.com/2017/01/27/new-mig-35-fulcrum-foxtrot-demonstrated-for-putin-and-foreign-market/
  38. ↑ Russia’s MiG-35 fighter jet will challenge U.S. supremacy in the sky
  39. ↑ http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/russias-mig-35-has-big-secret-time-nato-will-be-pleased-19246
  40. ↑ "МиГ-35 пойдет в серийное производство в ближайшие два года". RIA Novosti. 2017-07-14.
  41. ↑ "Mass production of MiG-35 fighter jet to be launched within 2 years". Ruptly. 2017-07-15.
  42. ↑ Russian defense contractor completes trials of new-generation fighter jet TASS, 16 February 2018.
  43. ↑ "РСК "МиГ" в июне подпишет контакт с Минобороны на поставку МиГ-35". РИА Новости. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  44. ↑ "Russian Defense Ministry Delays Deal on MiG-35 Jets." - Rian.ru, 17 August 2013
  45. ↑ Pike, John. "MiG-35 / MiG-29M OVT / Fulcrum F". Retrieved 2018-06-10.
  46. ↑ "Источник: МО и ОАК могут в 2018 г. подписать контракт на более 30 МиГ-35". ТАСС (in Russian). Retrieved 2018-06-10.
  47. ↑ "Подписан контракт на поставку первых истребителей МиГ-35". tvzvezda.ru. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  48. ↑ News Desk. "Egypt interested in buying 24 MiG-35s from Russia". defense-update.com. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  49. ↑ "Russia said set to sell its top fighter jets to Egypt". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  50. ↑ "MiG-35: The plane that won't die". in.rbth.com. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  51. ↑ Russia Ready to Supply MiG-35 Jets to Egypt - Manufacturer
  52. ↑ "Мы обезопасились от катастрофических последствий". migavia.ru (in Russian).
  53. ↑ "Contract for the supply of 46 MiG-29 fighters to Egypt". vedomosti.ru. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  54. ↑ Butowski, Piotr (March 2018). "'FULCRUM' ENCORE". Combat Aircraft Monthly. UK.
  55. ↑ Russia ahead of schedule handed over to Egypt the first MiG-29 aircraft
  56. ↑ "Российское оружие удержало свое место" (in Russian). 5 March 2018.
  57. ↑ Sputnik. "To a Tee: Russia to Fulfill MiG-29 Delivery Contract to Egypt on Schedule". sputniknews.com. Retrieved 2018-06-10.
  58. ↑ "МиГи для Египта оснастят новейшим оборудованием". Известия (in Russian). 2016-07-15. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  59. 1 2 Taghvaee, Babak (15 November 2017). "Swifts of the Nile". Air Forces Monthly. UK.
  60. 1 2 Shafaaq. "روسيا تتحدث عن مشروعها لتصدير السلاح للعراق في 2018". Shafaq (in Arabic). Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  61. ↑ "И снова мимо". Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  62. ↑ "Проиграли второй раз подряд | Еженедельник "Военно-промышленный курьер"". vpk-news.ru. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  63. ↑ "Илья Тарасенко: МиГ-35 хотят приобрести почти 30 стран". РИА Новости (in Russian). 2017-02-14. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  64. ↑ "Крылатый "фронтовик". МиГ-35 прикроет Сухопутные войска с воздуха". РИА Новости (in Russian). 2018-05-26. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  65. ↑ "ВКС планируют сменить весь парк легких истребителей на МиГ-35". РИА Новости (in Russian). 2017-01-27. Retrieved 2018-06-10.
  66. ↑ bmpd (2017-07-19). "Согласовано число закупаемых истребителей МиГ-35 для ВКС России". bmpd. Retrieved 2018-06-10.
  67. ↑ Названо число полученных российскими военными самолетов [The number of Russian aircraft received]. lenta.ru (in Russian). 1 January 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  68. ↑ MiG-29/MiG-29UB/MiG-29SE specifications. RAC MiG, 8 December 2014.
  69. ↑ "MiG-35." deagel.com. Retrieved: 29 December 2013.
  70. ↑ MiG-35 airforce-technology.com
  71. ↑ https://ria.ru/arms/20170126/1486495384.html
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