Mikoyan mig-29 gt
The MiGK was not ordered into production and only two prototypes were originally built because the Russian Navy preferred the SuK later re-designated Su in the early s. Mikoyan did not stop its work on the MiGK aircraft despite the lack of financing since The programme got a boost in the late s to meet an Indian requirement for a ship-borne fighter following the purchase of a former Soviet aircraft carrier, and the MiGK was first received by the Indian Naval Air Arm in The Russian Navy , with their Sus nearing the end of their service lives by , has also ordered the MiGK as a replacement.
The MiGK project was initiated in the late s when the Soviet Navy developed a requirement for a supersonic carrier-based fighter.
Mikoyan MiG-29M - Wikipedia
As a first step to meet this requirement, the Mikoyan design bureau designed a "proof of concept" version of the MiG fitted with a stronger undercarriage and a reinforced tail section with an arrestor hook , the MiGKVP Korotkii Vzlet i Posadka , or "short take off and landing". To protect the engine from foreign object damage FOD , the engine inlets were fitted with retractable grills for air flow, rather than metal doors and leading-edge extension auxiliary intake louvres used by land-based MiGs.
The project was put on hold with the collapse of the Soviet Union , while the Russian Navy only pursued the rival Su During its tests aboard Admiral Kuznetsov , the aircraft had a springboard-assisted takeoff from strips metres ft and 95 m ft long. According to the results of the tests, the landing accuracy proved to be very high, which made it possible at a later stage to switch over to a three-cable arrester system on Admiral Gorshkov.
Simple Flying
The landing accuracy is additionally enhanced through the employment of an autothrottle system. One factor favouring the MiGK over the Su in the Indian decision was the larger size of the Su, which further limited the number of aircraft on deck. The airframe and undercarriage are reinforced to withstand the stress experienced upon landing. Folding wings, an arrestor hook, and catapult attachments were added for carrier operations; the aircraft's undercarriage track was also widened.
The MiGK, unlike the early MiG, can both conduct aerial refueling and "buddy" refuel other aircraft. The early prototypes were fitted with two RDK turbofan engines, each with afterburner thrust of Internal fuel was increased from 3, to 4, kg 7, to 10, lb , to give a combat radius of km mi. The combat radius can be increased to 1, km mi with three underwing fuel drop tanks.
The Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum Fighter
The maximum weight of the aircraft grew from The aircraft is equipped with three multifunctional color liquid-crystal displays seven LCDs on the MiGKUB , a four-channel digital fly-by-wire flight control system, passive homing system for anti-radar missiles, Sigma GPS receiver, TopGun helmet-mounted targeting system and electronic countermeasures ECM. Additionally, an onboard oxygen generating system eliminates the need for heavy oxygen canisters.
The Zhuk-ME is a development of the N Zhuk radar, introducing functions such as terrain mapping and following. The radar, weighing kilograms lb , features improved signal processing and a detection range of up to km 75 mi vs a 5 m 2 RCS target for the export variant. The IRST can also provide detailed trajectories of missiles at closer ranges.
MiGK has a GSh 30 mm cannon in the port wing root. KhP passive radar seeker missiles are used as anti-radiation missiles. The aircraft is also adaptable to various foreign weapons.
MiG-29 Fighter Jet: History and Facts
The MiGK has a combination of low-observable technology, advanced electronic-warfare capabilities, reduced ballistic vulnerability, and standoff weapons to enhance the fighter's survivability. Deliveries began in December Further deliveries are to continue through The future indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant , being built by India, is also likely to carry these aircraft.
In a report, India's national auditor CAG criticized the aircraft due to defects in engines, airframes and fly-by-wire systems. The serviceability of MiGK was reported ranging from These defects are likely to reduce the service life of the aircraft from the stated hours. The MiGK fleet has been performing well now.