Is there even a logic behind that? Are they buying a mixed matched smorgasbord of Fulcrums only to keep MiG alive? I dont get that, the company clearly has very little life left in it and even less right to an existance imho. I think the impact and relative superiority of their design has been declining since the Mig-21 which IMO is maybe the most significant fighterjet of the last century.
They've been really bad about it, I personally suspect lobbying. They buying the MiG-29K to replace the Su-33s on the Kuznetsov, which is set to undergo a refit similar to the one Gorshkov went through, removing its offensive weapons, and increasing aircraft capacity, along with upgrading all the electronics. The MiG-29SMT were purchased to save MiG, when Algeria refused them. The MiG-35 is supposed to fill the new LFI requirement, because a light 5th gen has been deemed to expensive and complicated. Which isn't untrue.
But most Mig-29's in service do basically what an F-16A does but worse! I think the Mig-29 stems from an outdated strategy for airdefence, and even if the old soviet style of point defence was doable in todays financial climate. The Fulcrum would still be an expensive and limited beast (even in its most modern form) compared to its competitors. Its expensive to maintain, it has short range, the survival of its manufacturer is in doubt and most Fulcrum owners are thinking of retiring them. The VVS even grounded all its Fulcrums at one time.
The MiG-29SMT which the VVS currently operates, and the MiG-29K which they are purchasing, are multi-role. The older MiG-29B, etc. are pretty mediocre, but they are to be replaced partially by MiG-35, partially by PAK-FA.
But all my misgivings aside, why don't the VVS form a coherent strategy around their Migs? Why not upgrade them to a common standard? The SMT version seems like a very decent version and its available right now and a fleetwide upgrade program would save a lot of money in the future and give Mig some stability.
The current plan is to phase out all 1st gen Fulcrums, with the exception of the ~28 new SMTs that the VVS got instead of Algeria, replacing them with MiG-35. A much better question is why doesn't the VVS form a coherent force structure plan, based on actual projected future needs, instead of purchasing whatever new platforms happen to get funding, and pass MoD muster.
I dont understand Russian procurement policy at all though. They never really commit to anything and keep buying small batches of new developments. In the meantime they''re getting nowhere fast. All new weapon systems have pittiful orderbooks as it stands and Russia would be wise to actually go ahead with designing a light but very effective platform to replace the Mig-29 and maybe some SU-25''s in the future.
As it stands there is not Su-25 replacement in sight. They plan on starting up production of upgraded Frogfoots. The truth is that the VVS hasn't evolved beyond narrow squadron-based mission sets. While the SMTs, SMs, and to a lesser extent MiG-31BMs they operate are technically multi-role, they have only recently (very VERY recently) acquired them, and the thinking is still along the lines of dedicated platforms for separate roles.
I don''t see anything of the sort happening in the next 5 to 10 years though. I think the only ones brave enough to work on a light weight 5th gen fighter in the next ten yrs will be a country like Korea or India.
Really the VVS needs to decide on a clear picture of what it needs, how much it needs, and where it needs them. The logical force org is PAK-FA, MiG-35, Su-34, and Su-25XX. However they're also keeping the MiG-31BM, they're also purchasing the Su-35S (to offset its development costs, and as a stopgap measure), they also purchased a few brand new Su-27SM3, and upgraded ~48-60 Su-27 to SM standard, and all these aircraft are expected to remain in service for a while to come.
that kinda made me loose respect for russian air force.