Flight testing of the new generation Russian MiG-35 multi-role fighter has been completed, United Aircraft Corp, said in a statement. The...
Flight testing of the new generation Russian MiG-35 multi-role fighter has been completed, United Aircraft Corp, said in a statement.
The medium weight fighter is ideal for high intensity armed conflict scenarios, with its ability to carry Russian and foreign weapons.
The flight testing involving Russian Air Force pilots, commenced in January 2017, and verified all on board systems including the targeting, navigation, communication, engines and radar.
The MiG-35 is an upgrade of 1980s era designed MiG-29 Fulcrum, with advanced avionics, radar and new weapon capability.
Initially designed as a interceptor, the MiG-35 have now evolved into a true multi-role aircraft, with simultaneous air to air and air to ground weapon capability.
The highly agile fighter can carry a 6400 kg payload on the 8 under wing and one under fuselage weapon stations.
Test flights of the new MiG-35UB light fighter jet (two-seat version). pic.twitter.com/VvxTdZOcnW
— Military Advisor (@miladvisor) January 26, 2017
The most important changes are the Phazotron Zhuk-AE active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, the RD-33MK engines and the newly designed optical locator system, OLS-35.
The Zhuk-AE can detect 30 targets at a range of 130-160 km in air and 300 km in water, and can engage with 6 targets at a time.
Powering the MiG-35 is two Klimov RD-33MK smokeless low bypass turbofan engines, rated at 87 kN each. The engine is 7 percent more fuel efficient and also features improved reliability.
The first MiG-35 was delivered to Egyptian Air Force in April 2017, who have 46 on order.
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.
