Once an flourishing Russian fighter aircraft manufacturer, post Soviet era was hard for MiG as it lost local and export market to homegr...
Once an flourishing Russian fighter aircraft manufacturer, post Soviet era was hard for MiG as it lost local and export market to homegrown rival Sukhoi's Su-27 Flanker family.
The Company hopes to revive demand for its combat jets with the latest MiG-35 4++ generation multi-role fighter, which debuted at the MAKS 2017 airshow in Moscow, July 18-23.
First unveiled in January this year, the MiG-35 is an vastly upgraded and improved version of the 1980s era designed MiG-29 Fulcrum, equipped with advanced avionics and radar.
Sporting no major structural differences, the MiG-35 is derived from the naval MiG-29K/KUB and multi-role MiG-29M/M2 variants featuring increased weapon capability, range and performance.
Major thrust while developing the MiG-35 was given to improving the operational reliability of the MiG-29 and its sensors, which were poor in its predecessors.
The engine and avionics are far more reliable now with increased service life. The mean time between overhauls (MTBO) of engines has increased to 1000 hours which have a service life of 4000 flight hours. The flight hour cost have also reduced by 2.5 times than those of the MiG-29 fighter.
Powering the MiG-35 is the same twin Klimov RD-33MK engines that powered its predecessor. Even though developed in 2001, the 87 kN thrust RD-33MK engine- an improved and higher thrust version of the RD-33 developed in 1985 to power the original MiG 29, has been upgraded further with latest version of BARK-88 FADEC engine control system.
The new engine is smokeless and exhaust have reduced heat signature that increase stealthiness of the aircraft along with making harder for heat seeking missiles to detect.
Major difference from predecessor variant are the avionics system, the Phazotron Zhuk-AE active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, and the new OLS-UEM Infra-red Search and Track (IRST) system.
The Zhuk-AE AESA radar have extended range detection capability and can simultaneously engage air to air and air to ground targets. It is capable of simultaneously tracking up to 30 targets at ranges of more than 130 km, while engaging six of them. The radar also have enhanced resolution in the surface mapping mode and is high jam resistant.
The IRST system with infra-red, TV and laser sighting enable passive target detection, that also increase stealthiness of the aircraft as the primary radar can be turned off. The day and night capable system can track, identify and lock-on air(20 km range), ground/surface (40 km range) targets in the forward and rear hemispheres.
As being an optronics system, the IRST will enable detection of stealth target, even though at short ranges. The IRST system and new helmet-mounted target designation system are integrated into the armament control system.
Improvements carried over from the MiG-29K/KUB, MiG-29M/M2 fighters include the three axis quadruple redundant fly-by-wire flight control system, improved airframe with 4000 flight hour life, increased range due to more internal fuel and in-flight refueling capability and significantly reduced radar signature.
Weapon payload has been increased to 6,500 kg, with the ability to carry a wider range of munitions including laser guided bombs. Two new under wing stations have been added bringing the total external stations to 9, including the centeral fuselage station.
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov during the MAKS 2017 said, the MiG-35 will be inducted to Russian Air Force from 2018 pending completion of the flight testing, even though no formal orders have been placed.
He added that induction of the aircraft to Russian Air Force is key to achieve export order for the type. Designated as a light fighter in Russian service, RuAF plans to acquire 170 of the type to replace its entire MiG-29 fleet.
Currently Egypt have placed an order for 46 aircraft under a contract worth over $ 2 billion, signed in 2015. The first aircraft under the deal have been reportedly delivered in April 2017.
