Classic MiG-29 jets production ends

[Lankan Ranger]

Classic MiG-29 jets production ends

RSK MiG is beginning to wind down production of its "classic" MiG-29 design, as it completes a final batch of the aircraft for Myanmar. The company's plants in Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod and Lukhovitsy will shift to producing the newer MiG-29K/KUB/M1/M2/35 unified platform.

The manufacturer showed 24 classic airframes in the final assembly shop at its Moscow factory during a 3 August visit.

The majority were incomplete examples for Myanmar, while two were Indian air force fighters undergoing modernisation to the MiG-29upg configuration.

RSK MiG says three aircraft have been delivered to Myanmar, with three more being shipped to the customer and the last due to arrive in 2012.

The nation ordered "about 20 classics, chiefly MiG-29SE single-seaters and a few MiG-29UBs," said Vladimir Barkovsky, chief of the company's engineering centre.

The company's production process has been modernised to meet this delivery schedule, with several innovations having cut the lead time to one year.

"We will continue to innovate in our manufacturing methods to increase the [annual] output [of the Moscow plant] from 12 to 24", said general designer - general director Sergey Korotkov.

The company's current backlog for the type is five years, he added, noting that some customers "do not want to wait that long for their new airplanes".

RSK MiG is also performing upgrades for four countries including India and Peru, with the former project covering roughly 60 interceptors.

Six of these will be modified in Russia, with the remainder to be completed in India.

Two single-seat and one twin-seat aircraft are already undergoing flight tests at the Zkukovsky aerodrome near Moscow.

The upgraded MiG-29upg features a new radar, believed to be the Phazotron Zhuk-ME, plus replacement cockpit displays, a larger ventral fuel tank and the ability to use modern air-launched weapons.

Korotkov said 11 MiG-29K/KUB shipborne fighters have been delivered to the Indian navy, with the remaining aircraft from a 16-aircraft launch order to be handed over by the end of this year.

A follow-on contract for 29 more aircraft was signed earlier this year, with these to be delivered from 2012.

Korotkov said India is "completely satisfied" with the performance of its MiG-29K/KUBs, after racking up more than 1,000 flight hours during operational trials over a one-year period.

The Russian navy has also shown interest in the K/KUB model, he said, with an initial order for 12-14 aircraft potentially being signed during this month's MAKS air show in Moscow.

MiG-29 production enters transformation

 

[Tshering22]

It was a beautiful aircraft...one of the best lookers Russians ever made. But since they are moving to newer platforms,MiG-29K is good. However, they need to integrate AESA in it and other MiG-35 features to make it a lucrative seller around the planet.

It is time that MiG moved away from 4th generation airframes and chose something alongside its LMFS design-- a fifth generation impetus. A single engine 5th generation aircraft that acts as a secondary jet to the PAKFA/FGFA. I am sure it will find a big market in Southeast and other traditional markets, Vietnam and Venezuela being the first probable customers and even Malaysia (their fascination with Russian jets started with MKMs).

 

[T90TankGuy]

i stil remember it was the mid 80 and the Mig 29 had arrived in pune . i was flying back home to Delhi with my father. when the flight landed in pune and i had my first glimpse of it . they were really beautiful , and they still serve the IAF well.

 

[ashdoc]

the mig 29s gave india a lot of trouble . their engine needed constant overhauling due to which the aircraft was grounded a lot of time . the engines gave out smoke . then there was the problem of spares when the soviet union broke up . the whole fleet was grounded for a while without spares . the range of the aircraft was too short due to the engines being fuel-guzzling .

 

[Zabaniyah]

Looks good, and deadly in combat - but suicidally maintenance intensive. Hope the PAK FA has more to offer and addresses the problems faced by customers concerning Russian birds. If those are addressed, the PAK FA would have good market potential.

 

[Tshering22]

the mig 29s gave india a lot of trouble . their engine needed constant overhauling due to which the aircraft was grounded a lot of time . the engines gave out smoke . then there was the problem of spares when the soviet union broke up . the whole fleet was grounded for a while without spares . the range of the aircraft was too short due to the engines being fuel-guzzling .

You serious? MiG-29s have the best record when compared to all customer countries. True that it has a terrible overhauling time interval but it was a fierce fighter of its time. The engine smoke wasn't an issue during those days since BVR wasn't really an issue. The only problem came because USSR broke up. Now naturally when they had tough time even eating food how would they be able to give us spares? Applicable for even US and Europe if they were in Soviets' position.

Hopefully the UPGs are going to be far better and more efficient. Heard it has a lot of features of MiG-35 incorporated in it.

 

[rockstarIN]

The main problem is, like all Soviet jets, needs more maintenance. Soviet jets engines yet to come to the standard of US/Europeans in terms of reliability. An engine at least last 1000 hours.

 

[Executioner]

We are grateful and salute to Mig29s to part of our Air Force to play his vital role.