New variant МiG-29К/КUB has been created specially for Admiral Gorshkov / Vikramaditya aircraft carrier who should be transferred to Indian Naval Forces in 2012. The carrier-based fighter has the increased sizes (the wing area has increased with 38 up to 42 м2, are increased the area tail and volume airframe for the increased capacity of fuel). The Possibly empty weight of МiG-29К new version will make not less than 13.200 kg. Two-seat version MiG-29KUB, possibly weight not less than 13.700 kg. For comparison, the weight of empty weight F-18E makes 13.387 kg, two-seat F-18F - 13.880 kg (the information western sources). Sometimes empty weight F-18E/F is accepted to identical size (13.880 kg). Thus, empty weight МiG-29К/КUB (13.300/13800) it is practically identical with F-18E/F (13.387/13.880).
These are deck-test on Admiral Kuznetsov .. Test Including Take off Taxing Landing and Emergency Landing of MIG-29KUB which will later delivered to India..Vikramaditya will have more Deck area than Admiral Kuznetsov ..so This Sea Beauty will have more space to perform than this testing platform.
The aircraft were formally inducted into the Navy on 19 Feb 2010 with INAS 303 "Black Panthers"
The Zhuk-ME is an advanced variant of the original N010 Zhuk radar introducing advanced air to surface functions like mapping and terrain following. The radar forms part of the MiG-29K specific equipment. The radar features improved signal processing and has a detection range of up to 120 km vs a 5 m2 RCS target for the export variant, and up to 10 targets tracked and up to 4 attacked at once in air to air mode. The tracking range is 0.83 - 0.85 of the detection range. In air to surface mode the radar can detect a tank from up to 25 km away and a bridge from 120 km away, a naval destroyer could be detected up to 300 km away and up to two surface targets can be tracked at once. The radar has a weight of 220 kg and a scanning area of +/- 85 degrees in azimuth and +56/-40 in elevation. The antenna is an electronically scanned slotted planar array and has a diameter of 624 mm.
The Zhuk-AE radar was developed with modular approach, enabling upgrade of existing Zhuk ME radars deployed in MiG-29 platforms into the active electronic scanned array (AESA) Zhuk-AE standard. India is already operating the BAR phased array radar on its Su-30MKI and has specified AESA as a critical element of the MRCA platform. There were some reports that the optional MiG-29K/KUB for India are offered with Zhuk AE.
The MiG-29K's design relies on a combination of low-observable technology, advanced electronic-warfare capabilities, reduced ballistic vulnerability, and the use of standoff weapons to enhance the fighter's survivability.It has a reduced radar signature according to Mikoyan from the extensive use of radar-absorbent materials. Special coatings reduce the MiG-29K's radar signature 4-5 times over the F18. RD-33MK turbofan engine full FDAC contains systems that reduce its infrared and optical visibility.
