Mikoyan MiG-29
The Mikoyan MiG-29 (Russian: Микоян МиГ-29; NATO reporting name: "Fulcrum") is a fourth-generation jet fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union. Developed by the Mikoyan design bureau as an air superiority fighter during the 1970s, the MiG-29, along with the larger Sukhoi Su-27, was developed to counter new American fighters such as the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, and the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. The MiG-29 entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1983.
While originally oriented towards combat against any enemy aircraft, many MiG-29s have been furnished as multirole fighters capable of performing a number of different operations, and are commonly outfitted to use a range of air-to-surface armaments and precision munitions. The MiG-29 has been manufactured in several major variants, including the multirole Mikoyan MiG-29M and the navalized Mikoyan MiG-29K; the most advanced member of the family to date is the Mikoyan MiG-35. Later models frequently feature improved engines, glass cockpits with HOTAS-compatible flight controls, modern radar and IRST sensors, considerably increased fuel capacity; some aircraft have also been equipped for aerial refueling.
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a number of successor states have continued to operate the MiG-29; the largest of which is the Russian Air Force. The Russian Air Force wanted to upgrade its existing fleet to the modernized MiG-29SMT configuration, but financial difficulties have limited deliveries. The MiG-29 has also been a popular export aircraft; over 30 individual nations either operate or have previously operated the aircraft to date, India being one of the largest export operators of the type. As of 2013, the MiG-29 is in production by Mikoyan, a subsidiary of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) since 2006.
Users[edit | edit source]
- Algeria
- Algerian Air Force
- Azerbaijin
- Azerbaijani Air Force
- Bangladesh
- Bangladeshi Air Force
- Belarus
- Belarusian Air Force
- Bulgaria
- Bulgarian Air Force
- Chad
- Chadian Air Force
- Cuba
- Cuban Air Force
- Czech Republic
- Czech Air Force
- Czechoslovakia
- Czechoslovakian Air Force
- Eritrea
- Eritrean Air Force
- East Germany
- East German Air Force
- Germany
- Luftwaffe
- Hungary
- Hungarian Air Force
- India
- Indian Air Force
- Indian Navy - see Mikoyan MiG-29K
- Iran
- Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force - sold back to Iraq
- Iraq
- Iraqi Air Force
- Kazakhstan
- Kazakh Air and Air Defence Forces
- Kyrgyzstan
- Kyrgyzstan Air Force
- North Korea
- Korean People's Air Force
- Malaysia
- Royal Malaysian Air Force
- Moldava
- Moldavan Air Force
- Mongolia
- Mongolian Air Force
- Myanmar
- Myanmar Air Force
- Peru
- Peruvian Air Force
- Poland
- Polish Air Force
- Romania
- Romanian Air Force
- Russia
- Russian Air Force
- Russian Navy - see MiG-29K
- Serbia
- Serbian Air Force
- Slovakia
- Slovak Air Force
- Soviet Union
- Soviet Air Force
- Sudan
- Sudanese Air Force
- Syria
- Syrian Arab Air Force
- Turkmenistan
- Turkmen Air Force
- Ukraine
- Ukrainian Air Force
- Ukrainian Navy
- Uzbekistan
- Uzbek Air Force
- Yemen
- Yemen Air Force
- Yugoslavia
- Yugoslav Air Force
- Zimbabwe
- Zimbabwe Air Force
See Also[edit | edit source]
Related Development[edit | edit source]
Comparable Aircraft[edit | edit source]
- Aircraft
- Algerian Air Force
- Azerbaijani Air Force
- Bangladesh Air Force
- Belarusian Air Force
- Bulgarian Air Force
- Chad Air Force
- Cuban Air Force
- Czech Air Force
- Czechoslovakian Air Force
- East German Air Force
- Eritrean Air Force
- Fighters
- Fourth Generation Fighters
- Hungarian Air Force
- Indian Air Force
- Iraqi Air Force
- Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
- Israeli Air Force
- Kazakh Air Force
- Korean People's Air Force
- Kyrgyzstan Air Force
- Luftwaffe
- Mikoyan-Gurevich
- Moldovan Air Force
- Mongolian Air Force
- Myanmar Air Force
- Peruvian Air Force
- Polish Air Force
- Romanian Air Force
- Royal Malaysian Air Force
- Russia
- Russian Air Force
- Serbian Air Force
- Slovak Air Force
- Soviet Air Force
- Sudanese Air Force
- Syrian Arab Air Force
- Turkmen Air Force
- Ukrainian Air Force
- Ukrainian Navy
- United States Air Force
- Uzbekistan Air Force
- Yemen Air Force
- Yugoslav Air Force
- Zimbabwe Air Force