MiG News

[macman]

The Skat UCAV project should be a priority - from what info has come out about it, it looks like a major boost to capabilities...


PS. Does anyone know of the causes of the recent crashes of a couple of MIG-29's in Siberia.

I noticed that the reports just said MIG-29, rather than SMT.
Were they old planes - training flights with inexperienced pilot's - severe cold (reports said they could get to the crash site due to weather)?

 

[SkolZkiy]

in the plane there was a colonel so he wasn't unexperienced. Not COUPLE but ONE MiG-29 and there is no info about what type of MiG-29 it was. But there are two versions technical problems and pilot's mistake.

 

[baranek]

russian mig-29 crashed

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081205/118707921.html

 

[nevidimka]

From the report, what I can say is that, the Mig29 was flown under unacceptable condition, hence the resultant crash killing the pilot.

 

[Firehorse]

Not COUPLE but ONE MiG-29 and there is no info about what type of MiG-29 it was.

One went down on 17 October.-

Напомним, 17 октября в Читинской области разбился еще один МиГ-29. http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?DocsID=1089288&NodesID=6

The crash was the second in East Siberia involving a MiG-29 fighter in less than two months. In mid-October, a MiG-29 fighter crashed 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the [same] Domna airfield during a regular training flight. The pilot ejected safely.
Last year, two Russian Air Force MiG-29 fighters were involved in a mid-air collision over the Rostov Region. Both pilots bailed out safely. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081205/118707921.html

Perhaps they are getting too old to be flown safely, or the maintanance procedures aren't being closely followed.

 

[Salty Dog]

An IAF Mig-29 went down near Jamnagar on 01 Sep 2008.

"The MiG-29 aircraft was on a one-on-one training flight when the pilot lost control and it crashed. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Dheer ejected out safely," IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Mahesh Upasani said in New Delhi.

 

[Feanor]

I think part of the problem is maintenance and part of the problem is pilot training. Russia has two types of airforce units. High readyness and low readyness. Andthe high readyness units fly over 100 hours annually, while the low readyness are often below 20. When funding increases and low readyness units are suddnely awarded lots of new flying hours, their equipment maintenance and pilot experience isn't enough to handle the new load safely. The result is crashes.

 

[macman]

Question about the Mig-29K's for India...

Are the engines the vector thrust type?
If not, why not?
Would of thought thrust vectoring would add greatly to the STOL ability - allow them to carry higher loads at take-off & make it easier to land on a smaller carrier.

 

[nevidimka]

Sri lankan MiG 29 spotted. Pic at the link.

http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2008/5/28503_space.html

 

[Salty Dog]

Question about the Mig-29K's for India...

Are the engines the vector thrust type?
If not, why not?
Would of thought thrust vectoring would add greatly to the STOL ability - allow them to carry higher loads at take-off & make it easier to land on a smaller carrier.

You can see for yourself: MiG-29K/MiG-29KUB

 

[macman]

Looks like a no on the thrust vector front...

Thanks for the link, but doesn't go into 'why' of things - ie. why not thrust vectoring.
Also, load capability from small carrier, ie. how much fuel & what is the weapons load it can carry & still take off comfortably from Gorshov type carrier as is..

 

[SkolZkiy]

MiG-29 had 6 points and from MiG-29M there are 9 points for weapons 4+4+1+Gun GSh-30(or 23). The variety of weapons depends on type of MiG - last MiG-29SMT could almost all Russian AA, AS missiles and bombs (callibrated of not).

 

[Preceptor]

Made a change of title to this thread, as the subject more properly seems to discussion of MiG aircraft in general, as opposed to specifically MiG-29 aircraft.
-Preceptor

 

[Chuncho]

Hello,

Just to correct, Peruvian Air Force (FAP) only has 19 MiG-29's (3 SE, 2 UB & 14 S) and 2 W/O by attrition. The recent contract is to upgrade a first batch of 8 S type models to a standard SMP (Peruvian SMT version). The only airplanes right now capable of BVR are the 3 SE with the R-77. The MiGs were never upgraded back in the 90's to any standard.

Peru is not looking to buy any new airplanes, unfortunately the funds are not enough to support a new aircraft, right now the GOP is looking for some upgrades, the MiGs contract mentioned above, a current overhaul of 13 Mi-17s in Russia and some overhaul of an undetermined Mi-25's in Peru. We still waiting for some decision for the M2000 and for the Su-25. Good news was that Russia (Oboronprom) will established a permanent major overhaul center in Peru for MIL helicopters (Mi-17, 8 and 26).

Cheers,

Marco

Here is a more detail specifics of the Peruvian deal from Jane's:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/Mig-29/SMP.jpg

 

[ROCK45]

Checking

Just checking has Russia delivered any Mig-29K's to India yet even for training? Thanks

 

[Haavarla]

MiG-29 had 6 points and from MiG-29M there are 9 points for weapons 4+4+1+Gun GSh-30(or 23). The variety of weapons depends on type of MiG - last MiG-29SMT could almost all Russian AA, AS missiles and bombs (callibrated of not).

Will the RD-33MK engine be installed on the Mig-29K and how many Russian Mig's have been upgraded with these engine SkolZkiy?

 

[Feanor]

Most likely 0. I don't think there is any upgrade program for the Fulcrums in progress right now. Though I may be wrong.

 

[SkolZkiy]

http://engine.aviaport.ru/issues/28/page14.html
this is in Russian about engines RD-XX
here is said that RD-33MK are engines for MiG-29KUB which are building for India to be based in Gorshkov.
RD-93 - vsriant for China
and for MiG-29SMT there are RD-33 ser.3

MiG-29 SMT is the modernization program for old MiG-29. I have no real info but different highly ranked officials announced that the program of modernization MiG-29, Su-27, Su-25, MiG-31 to MiG-29SMT (SMT2), Su-27 SM, Su-25 SM, MiG-31BM is providing. I've read about real deliveries of Su-27SM and MiG-31BM.

I've no info about the ammount of MiG-29SMT variants put in service =)

http://www.take-off.ru/asp/page000022
http://www.army.lv/?s=356&id=9160
in first there is said about 7 SU-27SM dilivered in 2004 and in second about 6 Su-25SM in the end of 2007

 

[SkolZkiy]

I've forgot about Su-24M2 variant =) they are also modernizing

 

[Feanor]

The modernization number are 24 Su-24M2, 24 Su-25SM, and 48 Su-27SM. As of last there were two MiG-31BM delivered both at Lipetsk undergoing testing. No serial runs, and none are actually operational. It's unclear if the program will continue.