The front-line fighter MiG-29 (product 9-12, according to NATO classification: Fulcrum - fulcrum) is a Soviet / Russian multipurpose fighter belonging to the fourth generation. It was developed at the MiG Design Bureau. The aircraft was developed in the early 1980s and opened a new era in the development of light fighters. The MiG-29 became the world's first aircraft of this class, which combined unrivaled efficiency in maneuverable air combat, as well as the ability to attack enemy aircraft with medium-range missiles. The aircraft was designed to destroy all types of air targets with fire from an onboard cannon and guided missiles in various meteorological conditions both in free space and against the background of the earth, including in conditions of jamming. Also, the fighter is able to hit various ground targets.
For the training and preparation of future pilots on the basis of a single-seat model, the two-seat combat training light MiG-29UB fighter was created and since 1985 has been serially produced. At the same time, an on-board radar was not installed on it, and special simulation modes were provided for practicing the use of guided weapons equipped with radar homing heads. When designing the aircraft at the MiG Design Bureau, it was possible to lay in its design very high opportunities for improving the machine, which made it possible in the future to create a number of promising options for its modernization both in the interests of the Russian Air Force and in the interests of exporting countries.
In total, about 1600 MiG-29 fighters were produced, which are in service with the Russian Air Force, as well as 28 other countries of the world. At present, RSK MiG continues to work on the serial production of improved versions of the MiG-29, including the MiG-29SMT and the modernized MiG-29UB. In the interests of various types of customers, comprehensive programs for the modernization of MiG-29 fighters are being created and successfully implemented. These programs improve the efficiency of fighters and reduce the cost of their operation.
MiG-29
One of the latest aircraft modifications intended for export is the MiG-29UPG version (9-20). This is the modernization of the MiG-29B fighter, which was carried out in the interests of the Indian Air Force. This modernization involves the installation of an additional conformal dorsal fuel tank, as well as equipment for refueling the aircraft in the air. The fighter is equipped with more advanced RD-33M-3 engines, Zhuk-M2E weapon control radar, an inertial navigation system from the French company Thales, an optical system OLS-UEM, as well as a helmet-mounted target designation system manufactured by the Israeli company Elbit. In addition, the fighter's radio navigation systems were updated, and the cockpit received new multifunctional LCD displays. The range of weapons used by the fighter will be expanded with Kh-29T / L, Kh-31A / P and Kh-35 missiles. The MiG-29UPG performed its maiden flight on February 4, 2011.
Dashing 90s
The unsuccessful marketing policy of the MiG company management, which was generated by high expectations after the signing of the phenomenal Malaysian contract in 1994 and was focused on completely unrealistic price characteristics, led to the fact that in the second half of the 1990s the company was able to conclude only 2 small contracts at first. for the supply of 3 fighters to Peru, and after 8 more fighters - to Bangladesh. The situation was reversed only since 1999 with the support of the Russian government and the new MiG leadership headed by Nikolai Nikitin. First of all, the efforts of the new management of the enterprise were aimed at stepping up corporate construction. At that time, on the basis of the fragments of the MAPO military-industrial complex, a vertically integrated company was created, which received the designation RSK MiG - Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG.
All this made the innovation process at the enterprise more dynamic: it was possible to accelerate the design of new versions of the MiG-29 fighter, primarily the MiG-29SMT and MiG-29K versions. In addition, RSK MiG was able to conclude a number of contracts that allowed the enterprise to gradually resume production and at least partially finance R&D.
MiG-29SMT
Overcoming the crisis
In 2000-2003, new contracts were signed with several countries in the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia. In total, a total of about 45 fighters were exported. In addition, RSK "MiG" was able to conclude contracts for the supply of a modification of the MiG-29SMT or the modernization of previously supplied fighters to this version.
So in 2001, Eritrea received 2 MiG-29 fighters, which were later upgraded to the MiG-29SMT version (9-18). In 2003-2004, 12 MiG-29 fighters were delivered to Sudan, which paid approximately $ 140-150 million for the aircraft. The same batch of light MiG-29 fighters was purchased by Myanmar in 2001, deliveries were made in 2001-2002. In addition, a fairly large procurement program with the subsequent modernization of a total of 20 fighters was carried out in the interests of Yemen. Initially, in 2001, 12 MiG-29 fighters and 2 more MiG-29UB fighters were purchased for an amount of 420 million dollars. After that, in 2004, the parties signed an additional contract, according to which Yemen received another 6 new MiG-29SMT fighters, and also upgraded the previously delivered 14 fighters to the same version.
Thus, by the middle of the 2000s, the Russian fighter manufacturer was able to get out of the crisis situation of the 90s. At this time, there was a significant strengthening of its corporate structure, the financial position of the entire enterprise improved, the prerequisites for the restoration of full-cycle production and new promising options for modifying the fighter appeared.
MiG-29K
The heyday of the export prospects of the Russian fighter came in 2004-2007, but by chance many promising deals were never completed. On January 24, 2004, a contract was signed for the restructuring of the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier for India, at the same time a contract was signed for the creation and supply of the Indian Navy with 16 MiG-29K / KUB carrier-based fighters for a total amount of about $ 750 million. Also at this time, negotiations were underway to supply the Venezuelan Air Force with about 50 MiG-29SMT fighters. And in early 2006, a notorious contract with Algeria was signed in the amount of $ 1.3 billion. The contract provided for the supply of 28 MiG-29SMT and 6 MiG-29UBT fighters. Also in April 2007, Syria expressed a desire to purchase 12 MiG-29M / M2 fighters and 4 more MiG-31E interceptors, the total amount of the transaction could be 1.5 billion euros, being only a starting order.
If all these projects could be implemented, the supply of new modifications of the MiG-29 in terms of the amount of money would be comparable to the supply of Su-30 fighters. But this was not destined to happen. Venezuela has decided to purchase the SU-30MK2. The Algerian deal, due to the competition of the local military-political elite, was thwarted and ended with the return of 15 already delivered aircraft and the refusal to continue the deal, and a civil war broke out in Syria, which postponed the prospects for fulfilling the contract indefinitely and suspended it in the air.
Sales prospects
Of course, it can be noted that the Algerian crisis had some negative consequences for the image of the Russian company, but from a financial point of view, it cannot be called a failure. RSK MiG retained the Algerian advance in the amount of $ 250 million, and in addition to this received a contract from the Russian Air Force for the purchase of all fighters destined for Algeria. According to the most conservative estimates, the value of this contract was 15–20 billion rubles.
MiG-29KUB
In December 2009, a very important contract was signed in the amount of 410 million euros, according to this contract, Myanmar was to receive 20 light MiG-29B / SE / UB fighters. The following year, the Indian Navy's option to purchase 29 more MiG-29K / KUB fighters with a total value of $ 1.5 billion was transferred to a firm contract. Finally, in 2012, the Russian Navy ordered 24 of the same shipborne MiG-29K / KUB fighters for the 279th separate shipborne fighter aviation regiment.
The prospects for further sales of the MiG-29 fighter both for the needs of the Russian Air Force and for export are determined by the following set of factors:
- comparative (in comparison with "extreme" heavy platforms) simplicity of this fighter and the economy of its operation;
- the presence of a fairly extensive fleet of these fighters of previous versions in 28 countries of the world with trained personnel and have already deployed the appropriate ground infrastructure. Some of these countries seem to be natural candidates for the purchase of new batches of modern modifications based on the MiG-29;
- low political sensitivity of deliveries of this kind of fighters with a moderate range and comparatively low combat load in comparison with heavy fighters with a take-off weight of more than 30 tons;
- availability of a unique offer for today - a carrier-based version of the MiG-29K fighter, the only serially produced horizontal take-off fighter that can take off from aircraft carrier ships without using a catapult;
- the still remaining ability of Russia to control (through the supply of engines) the export of Chinese light and medium fighters J / F-10 and FC-1 / JH-17, which are quite similar in their technical and financial characteristics.
MiG-29M
India is still one of the largest and most promising sales markets. And although RSK MiG lost in the MMRCA tender for the supply of 126 medium multifunctional combat aircraft, the MiG-29 still has good chances in the Indian market. Negotiations and delivery of the winning Dassault Rafale fighters will take quite a long time, while maintaining the size of the Indian Air Force fighter fleet will require intermediate purchases of fighters. The MiG-29UPG (9-20) may well become such a fighter. In addition, as the program for the construction of its own aircraft carrier ships develops, the Indian Navy will need to increase the fleet of 45 MiG-29K / KUB fighters already partially delivered and contracted. Delhi is likely to buy another 20-24 of these machines.
In addition, in recent years, there has been an increase in demand from the oil-producing states of the CIS - Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and, to a lesser extent, Turkmenistan. All these states can be considered as potential buyers of the MiG-29M / M2. Given that the most promising "anti-Western" markets are in blockade (we are talking about Iran and Syria), supplies to the CIS are seen as quite promising. Kazakhstan has already expressed an unequivocal interest in buying the MiG-29M / M2. The choice in favor of these particular fighters is logical for the Air Force of relatively poor countries, which already operate these fighters of previous modifications. These countries today include Sudan, Peru, Bangladesh, Cuba and Myanmar, and in Europe - Serbia.
