‘FULCRUM’ THROUGH THE DECADES

While production of the all-new MiG-29M/ MiG-35 gathers pace, Combat Aircraft looks at the history of the ‘Fulcrum’, older versions and upgrades of which remain in widespread service around the world.

MIG-29 | FIGHTER FOCUS

Work to significantly upgrade the basic ‘Fulcrum’ only really gained momentum once MiG developed its own in-house MiG-29SMT (izdeliye 9.17). This company demonstrator carries a weapons load of KAB-500Kr TV-guided bombs and R-77 missiles.
Piotr Butowski

ON JANUARY 27, 2017 a large group of foreign military attachés and media arrived at Lukhovitsy, some 100km (62 miles) south-east of Moscow, to witness the official presentation of Russia’s new MiG-35 fighter. At the same time, it was an occasion to consider that the history of the ‘classic’ MiG-29 had come to an end. In December 2016, the Russian Aircraft Corporation (RSK) MiG delivered to Russia the last of 14 MiG-29SMTs ordered in 2014. These are also the final MiG-29s that employ ‘stock’ airframes remaining from the Soviet era. From now on, only the newer MiG-29K/M and MiG-35 versions remain in production.

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