Mikoyan MiG-35

Mikoyan MiG-35 

The Mikoyan MiG-35 (Russian: Микоян МиГ-35; NATO reporting name: Fulcrum-F) is a Russian multirole fighter that is designed by Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau, 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. According to a Russian defense industry source, the Mikoyan MiG-35 is essentially an upgraded variant of the MiG-29KR. Many consider MiG-35 a new name given by Mikoyan for marketing. The first prototype was a modification of the aircraft that previously served as a MiG-29M2 model demonstrator given the temporary name MiG-35 but a later prototype was a different model with different equipment that served as the base for the MiG-35 as is known today. Mikoyan first officially presented the MiG-35 internationally during the 2017 Moscow air show; the first two serial production aircraft entered service in 2019.

The single-seat version is designated MiG-35S and the two-seat version is MiG-35UB. The fighter has vastly improved avionics and weapon systems compared to early variants of MiG-29, notably new precision-guided targeting capability and the uniquely designed optical locator system, which relieves the aircraft from relying on ground-controlled interception systems and enables it to conduct independent multirole missions. Serial production aircraft use a PESA radar and there is also an option available for AESA radar. The serial production aircraft does not have thrust vectoring control as previously planned.

Specifications

• Crew: 1 or 2
• Length: 17.3 m (56 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
• Height: 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in)
• Wing area: 41 m2 (440 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 11,000 kg (24,251 lb)
• Gross weight: 17,500 kg (38,581 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 24,500 kg (54,013 lb)
• Max landing weight:16,800 kg (37,000 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Klimov RD-33MK afterburning turbofan engines, 52 kN (12,000 lbf) thrust each dry, 88.2 kN (19,800 lbf) with afterburner

Performance Overview

• Maximum speed: 2,100 km/h (1,300 mph, 1,100 kn) at altitude 1,400 km/h (870 mph; 756 kn; Mach 1.14) at sea level
• Maximum speed: Mach 2.25
• Cruise speed: 804.7 km/h (500.0 mph, 434.5 kn)
• Range: 2,100 km (1,300 mi, 1,100 nmi) 
• Combat range: 1,000 km (620 mi, 540 nmi)
• Ferry range: 3,000 km (1,900 mi, 1,600 nmi) With 3 external fuel tanks 6,000 km (3,700 mi; 3,200 nmi) One in-flight refuelling and 3 external fuel tanks
• Maxamum Height: 16,000 m (52,000 ft)
• g limits: +9 -3
• Rate of climb: 330 m/s (65,000 ft/min)

Weapon system

• Guns: 1 × 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 autocannon with 100 rounds
• Hardpoints: 9 hardpoints with a capacity of up to 6,500 kg, with provisions to carry combinations of:
• Rockets:
• S-8
• S-13
• S-25L (LD) laser-guided variant
• S-25-O with fragmentation warhead and radio proximity fuze
• S-24

Missiles:

Air-to-air missiles:

• R-73
• R-77

Air-to-surface missiles:

• Kh-25 MAE
• Kh-29L/TE
• Kh-38ME
• Kh-38 Grom-E1
• Anti-radiation missiles:
• 4 × Kh-31PD
• Anti-ship missiles:
• 4 × Kh-31AD
• Bombs:
• KAB-500KR TV-guided bomb
• KAB-500L laser-guided bomb
• KAB-500S-E GLONASS guided bomb

Avionics 

Zhuk-ME passive electronically scanned array radar (serial production) / Phazotron Zhuk-A/AM active electronically scanned array radar (optional for export)

OLS-13SM-1 IRST

OLS-UEM electro-optical targeting system

OLS-K electro-optical targeting system

MIL-STD-1553 Data bus

MiG-35

History

Russia unveiled a model MiG-29M which was given a temporary name for marketing and export

purposes the MiG-35 at the 2007 Aero India air show in Bangalore, amid Moscow's desire 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. Deficiencies with the MiG-35's radar and its RD-33MK engines led to the fighter being ousted from the contest in April 2011.

In May 2013, it was reported that Russia intended to order 37 aircraft. In August 2013, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that the purchase worth RUB37 billion ($1.1 billion) would be delayed until 2016 due to the spending cuts in the state arms program for 2014–2016.

In August 2015, Colonel General Viktor Bondarev, commander of Russia's Air and Space Forces stated that MiG-35 development was to be completed in 2017; entry into service is to follow in 2018. The state tests of the MiG-35 were to begin in 2017 with completion in mid-2018 after the serial production of the aircraft would have started. According to Viktor Bondarev, Russian Aerospace Forces plan to replace their whole fleet of light fighters with MiG-35s and thus there is a need for at least 170 such aircraft.

In 2016, the first two pre-production aircraft were built at the Production Center No.1 in Lukhovitsy.[citation needed] Both aircraft were delivered at the end of the year.