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Mikoyan MiG-35 (Fulcrum-F)

2020 4TH GENERATION MODERN AIRCRAFT FUTURE FLIGHT

History

The Mikoyan MiG-35 is the latest version of the successful light MiG-29 Fulcrum series. With an MTOW increase of up to 30%, the MiG-35 is now in the middle weight class.

NATO sources said the aircraft, codenamed Fulcrum-F, is considered a full-fledged multi-role platform with the latest Russian-sourced search, track and location systems comparable to similar Western aircraft types. The aircraft is both a local product for Russia and an export product, essentially suitable for various Western service systems, allowing the product to better compete in the global market.

The MiG-35 is a further development of the modern MiG-29M/MiG-29M2 variant, also featuring improvements proven by the navalized MiG-29K/Mig-29KUB. These include increased operational load for nine Hardpoint products, larger fuel storage for extended operational range, built-in air-to-air refueling capability for essentially unlimited operational range, reduced radar cross-section and corrosion-resistant finishes.

It is also possible that the aircraft could be arranged as a "buddy" tanker to refuel other types of fighter jets by carrying pure-fuel ammunition only on its hull mount points.

The MiG-35 was completed in several airworthy prototype forms to test the entire design and its new systems under normal operating conditions. The aircraft's first official debut was at the 2007 Airshow India, where it was offered to India at one point as a Mikoyan solution to meet India's existing "multi-role demand" of about 125 aircraft.

Today, the upgraded MiG-35 is paired with Lockheed Martin's F-16 "Fighting Falcon" (whose influence on the world market is well known) and Boeing/McDonald's F/A-18 "Super Hornet" "Direct competition. . As well as the French Dassault Rafale, the Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen and the Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter of the European consortium.

Compared to its Western counterparts, the MiG-35 does this by providing three large LCD multifunction displays in the cockpit, as opposed to the Soviet tradition of combining simple analog electronic dials and gauges. In the planned two-seat version of the MiG-35, the rear cockpit is equipped with no less than four multifunction displays to distribute the workload between the two crew members. Perhaps the most significant upgrade in the series' life cycle is the addition of the powerful Phaztron Zhuk-AE Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar in the nose, which provides improved range, early detection, multi-target tracking and enemy targeting avoid. In Air-to-Air (AA) and Air-to-Surface (AS) modes, targets can be specified via a Helmet Mounted System (HMS) common to other operational Russian fighter types.

The air-to-air detection range is up to 45 kilometers, while the air-to-ground detection range is within 20 kilometers, the sources said. In addition to advanced radar customization and an integrated target/weapon system, the MiG-35 features a higher-rated and higher-powered engine pairing, allowing 19,840 lbf and having built-in afterburner capability for short-duration speeds.

These engines can also be adapted to vector thrusters to improve handling, thereby increasing close combat capability.

As an export, the MiG-35 is considered "friendly" when it comes to adapting foreign-designed weapons and avionics suites - by design. Standard fixed armament is an internal 30mm GSh-1 series cannon to deal with extremely close-range threats, while nine external hardpoints house a variety of proven Russian air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons - ranging from missiles To fools/precision guided bombs and air missiles to droppable fuel tanks.

The changes are designed to breathe new life into the MiG-29 fighter family, which began in the late Cold War as a competitor to Western models such as General Dynamics' F-16 Fighting Falcon, which is still widely in service. today - 2019).

In addition to these changes and additions, the MiG-35 has added wings and tail, improved electronic warfare (EW) systems, and infrared (IR) sensor equipment.

Structural dimensions include 56.8 ft barrel length, 39.3 ft wingspan and 15.5 ft height. Curb weight is 24,250 pounds, and MTOW is 65,500 pounds.

With its powerful pair of engines, performance specifications include a top speed of 1,500 miles per hour (Mach 2.2 altitude), inherent range of up to 1,240 miles (620 miles of combat radius), and a service ceiling of up to 62,340 feet. Climb rate reported 65,000 feet per minute, making the MiG-35 ideal for intercept missions.

To date (2019), the Egyptian and Russian Air Forces are known to have ordered MiG-35s. The Russian Air Force could receive the product as early as 2019 to replace its aging MiG-29 fleet. The service has announced plans to purchase about 30 MiG-35 fighter jets, with long-term plans to support a full fleet of 170 aircraft.

Currently (2019) at least six are on order.

Other potential global customers include China, India, Peru and Vietnam, as well as many MiG-29 operators looking to upgrade.