The Mikoyan MiG-35 is a Russian multirole fighter that is a further development of the MiG-29M/M2 and MiG-29K/KUB fighters. It is classified as a 4++ generation jet fighter by Mikoyan. The first prototype was a modification of the aircraft that previously served as a MiG-29M2 model demonstrator. In 2009, ten prototypes had been built for field trials.
The Russian fighter MiG-35 - stands as the ultimate evolution of the MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter series. The MiG-35 has vastly improved avionics and weapon systems, especially the new AESA radar and the distinctive designed OLS, relieves the aircraft from relying on GCI (ground-controlled interception) systems and enables it to conduct independent multi-role missions. According to Russian military, the new MiG-35D multirole fighters as an equal to the U.S. F-35 jet fighters.
Maximum speed: 2,600 km/h (1,616 mph) Range: 1,243 mi Maiden flight: 2007 Length: 56.76 ft Wingspan: 39.34 ft Cruising speed: 1,223 km/h (759.94 mph)
The Mikoyan MiG-35 Fulcrum-F is set to enter testing in 2017 with deliveries to the Russian Aerospace Forces starting in 2018. Flight tests for the new advanced Fulcrum derivative-which were originally scheduled for this summer-have been pushed back due to production delays.
“Development work under contract with the Ministry of Defense on the MiG-35 is currently ongoing,” Vladimir Mikhailov, the head of United Aircraft Corporation’s (UAC) directorate of military aircraft, told the Moscow-based TASS news agency. “They are a little behind schedule because of some fault with enterprise cooperation delaying deliveries of components, but we can say that in general the problem is solved.”
However, UAC’s Russian Aircraft Corporation-MiG division expects to make up for the production delays next year. “We will catch up with the schedule in 2017,” Mikhailov said. “The will be a very brief trial of the machine since the prototype has already repeatedly proven itself. The aircraft will be supplied to the VKS [Vozdushno-Kosmicheskiye Sily] in 2018.”
UAC has not signed a production contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense. That will have to wait until the MiG-35 completes testing. However, the Russian Air Force was previously expected to buy an initial batch of thirty-seven MiG-35s. The jet is expected to become operational in 2020.
The MiG-35 is an advanced derivative of the original MiG-29. While the airframe is similar, the aircraft is practically a new design under the hood. Compared the to original Fulcrum, the MiG-35 adds a completely new fly-by-wire control system, a lighter airframe, more fuel capacity, more efficient engines and thrust-vectoring nozzles. Moreover, the Russians are developing single and two-seater versions of the jet based on the same outer mold line to maximize commonality. More importantly, the MiG-35 will add a completely new avionics suite. The new jet will incorporate Russia’s first operational fighter-mounted active electronically scanned array radar-called the Zhuk-MA. The radar is able to track fighter-sized targets at ranges greater than 85 nautical miles.
The MiG-35 will also be equipped with a unique optical locator system (OLS)-which is a passive air-to-air electro-optical sensor that operates in both visual and infrared wavelengths. The Russians believe that the OLS sensor will be useful in countering stealthy aircraft like the F-22 and F-35. The MiG-35 will also incorporate a powerful electronic warfare suite-an area where the Russians excel.
RSK-MiG-which falls under the aegis of the United Aircraft Corporation alongside arch-rival Sukhoi-hopes to recapture some the Mikoyan design bureau’s old glory with the new advanced MiG-29 derivative. RSK-MiG’s Fulcrum product line has been overshadowed by Sukhoi’s larger and more capable Flanker series in the years since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The MiG-35 might be the RSK-MiG’s last hope of regaining some of its lost market share on the international fighter market.
(Courtesy DM June 9, 2016)
General Characteristics Crew: 1 or 2 Length: 17.3 m (56 ft 9 in) Wingspan: 12 m (39 ft 4 in) Height: 4.73 m (15 ft 6 in) Wing area: 38 m² (409 ft²) Empty weight: 11,000 kg (24,250 lb) Loaded weight: 17,500 kg (38,600 lb) Max. takeoff weight: 29,700 kg (65,500 lb) Powerplant: 2 × Klimov RD-33MK afterburning turbofans Dry thrust: 53.0 kN (11,900 lbf) each Thrust with afterburner: 88.3 kN (19,840 lbf) each
Role: Multirole fighter National origin: Russia Manufacturer: Mikoyan First flight: 2007 Introduction: 2018 (planned) Status: Flight-testing/pre-series production Primary users: Russian Air Force Egyptian Air Force Number built: 3 known completed by June 2010 and 2 pre-series completed by 2016 Unit cost: US$40 million Developed from: Mikoyan MiG-29M
Performance Maximum speed: At altitude: Mach 2.2 (2,700 km/h; 1,690 mph) At sea level: Mach 1.17 (1,450 km/h; 900 mph) Range: 2,000 km (1,240 mi; 1,080 nmi) Combat radius: 1,000 km (620 mi; 540 nmi) Ferry range: With 3 external fuel tanks: 3,100 km (1,930 mi; 1,670 nmi) With aerial refueling: 6,000 km (3,730 mi; 3,240 nmi) Service ceiling: 19,000 m (62,340 ft) Rate of climb: 330 m/s (65,000 ft/min) Thrust/weight: 1.03 Maximum g-load: +10 g
Armaments Guns: 1 × 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-301 autocannon with 150 rounds Hardpoints: 9 hardpoints with a capacity of up to 7,000 kg and provisions to carry combinations of: Rockets: S-8 S-13 S-25L (LD) laser guided variant S-25-O with fragmentation warhead and radio proximity fuze S-24 Missiles: Air-to-air missiles: R-73 R-77 Air-to-surface missiles: Kh-29L/TE Anti-radiation missiles: 4 × Kh-31PD Anti-ship missiles: 4 × Kh-31AD Bombs: KAB-500KR TV-guided bomb KAB-500L laser-guided bomb KAB-500S-E guided bomb
Avionics Phazotron Zhuk-AE active electronically scanned array radar OLS-UEM electro-optical targeting system OLS-K electro-optical targeting system
