Syrian Air Force Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name: Fulcrum) fighter jets are performing sorties with medium-range air-to-air missiles of the R-77 (AA-12 Adder) family.
Syrian Radio & TV Agency has broadcasted a video showing the attaching of an air-launched weapon of this type to a MiG-29 plane.
The video shows a R-77-family missile (most probably, an export version of the missile, i.e. RVV-SD) being carried by an under-wing AKU-170E ejection unit of a MiG-29 plane.
The video has confirmed media reports that Russia repaired and upgraded several Syrian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jets.
According to data of public sources, the fighter jets have received an advanced avionics suite, which has allowed R-77 family missiles and KAB-500 guided air bombs to enter the planes’ weapon suite.
According to experts, the upgrade work has allowed Syrian MiG-29 fighter jets to come close to Russian MiG-29SMT planes in terms of their operational characteristics.
According to data for 2016 of the US Military Balance journal, Syria’s Air Force operates 30 MiG-29A and MiG-29SM fighter jets and MiG-29UB combat trainers.
