MIKOYAN-GUREVICH MiG-29

NATO reporting name: 'Fulcrum'
Indian Air Force name: Baaz (Eagle)

All-weather single-seat counter-air fighter with attack capability, and two-seat combat trainer.

Technical assignment (operational requirements) were issued in 1972 to replace the MiG-21, MiG-23, Su-15 and Su-17.
Initial orders were placed simultaneously and detail designs began in 1974.
First of 14 prototypes built for factory and State testing flew on October 6, 1977.
This was photographed by US satellites at Ramenskoye flight test centre, in November 1977 and given interim Western designation 'Ram-L'.
The second prototype flew in June 1978, but the second and fourth prototypes were lost through engine failures.
After major design changes, production began in 1982 with deliveries to Frontal Aviation in 1984.
Operational in early 1985.
First detailed Western study possible after visit of demonstration team to Finland in July 1986.
The NATO reporting name 'Fulcrum' was assigned when it became clear that 'Ram-L' was intended to be a prodeuction aircraft.

All-swept low-wing configuration, with wide ogival wing leading-edge root extensions (LERX).
Lift-generating fuselage, twin tail fins carried on booms outboard of widely spaced engines with wedge intakes, doors in intakes to prevent ingestion of foreign objects during take-off and landing.
Fire control and mission computers link radar with laser rangefinder and infrared search/track sensor, in conjunction with helmet-mounted target designator.
Radar able to track 10 targets simultaneously, targets can be approached and engaged without emission of detectable radar or radio signals.
Large nose radome contains the advanced RP-29 'Slot Dance' conherent pulse-Doppler look-down/shoot-down radar with track-while-scan capability, linked with laser rangefinder.
Difficult to get into stable flat spin, reluctant to enter normal spin, recovers as soon as controls released, and design flying life: 2500 h.
The initial version is the 'Fulcrum-A' and later developments are the MiG-29UB 'Fulcrum-B' trainer with a longer two-seat cockpit.
The MiG-29S 'Fulcrum-C' is a development of the 'Fulcrum-A' with a deeper dorsal fairing aft of the cockpit, probably containing avionics relocated from the lower fuselage to allow an increase in internal fuel.

Two Klimov/Sarkisov RD-33 turbofans, each 49.4 kN (11,110 lb st) dry and 54.9-81.4 kN (12,345-18,300 lb st) with afterburning.
Multi-segment ramp system, including top-hinged forward door (containing a very large number of small holes) inside each intake that closes the duct while aircraft is taking off or landing, to prevent ingestion of foreign objects, ice or snow.
Air is then fed to each engine through louvres in top of wingroot leading-edge extension and perforations in duct closure door.
Basic 'Fulcrum-A' has four integral fuel tanks in inboard portion of each wing and in fuselage between wings.
Total capacity: 4365 litres (1153 US gallons; 960 Imp gallons).

Six close-range R-60MK (NATO AA-8 'Aphid') infrared air-to-air missiles, or four R-60MK and two medium-range radar guided R-27R1 (AA-10A 'Alamo-A'), on three pylons under each wing.
Alternative air combat weapons include R-73E (AA-11 'Archer') close-range infrared missiles.
Able to carry FAB-250 bombs, KMGU-2 submunitions dispensers, 3B-500 napalm tanks, and 80 mm, 130 mm and 240 mm rockets in attack role.
One 30 mm GSh-301 gun in port wingroot leading-edge extension, behind a gridded flash suppressor, with 150 rounds.

DIMENSIONS:
Wingspan:	11.36 m	37 ft 3 1/4 in
Wing chord:
at c/l:	5.60 m	18 ft 4 1/2 in
at tip:	1.27 m	4 ft 2 in
Length overall:
incl noseprobe:	17.32 m	56 ft 10 in
excl noseprobe:	16.28 m	53 ft 5 in
Height overall:	4.73 m	15 ft 6 1/4 in
Tailplane span:	7.78 m	25 ft 6 1/4 in
WEIGHTS AND LOADINGS:
Operating weight empty:	10,900 kg	24,030 lb
Max weapon load:	3000 kg	6615 lb
Max fuel load:	4640 kg	10,230 lb
Normal T-O weight (interceptor):	15,240 kg	33,600 lb
Max T-O weight:	18,500 kg	40,785 lb
Max wing loading:	486.8 kg/m²	99.7 lb/sq ft
Max power loading:	113.6 kg/kN	1.11 lb/lb st
PERFORMANCE:
Max level speed:
at height:	Mach 2.3	1320 knots; 2445 km/h; 1520 mph
at S/L:	Mach 1.06	700 knots; 1300 km/h; 805 mph
Max rate of climb at S/L:	19,800 m/min	65,000 ft/min
Service ceiling:	17,000 m	55,775 ft
Range:
with max internal fuel:	810 nm	1500 km; 932 miles
with underbelly auxiliary tank:	1133 nm	2100 km; 1305 miles