MiG-29UBT Makes First Western Showing at Farnborough

Revealed only late last month, when it was rolled out at the Zhukovsky test center near Moscow, the MiG-29UBT two-seat prototype is making its Western debut at the Show, parked in the static display alongside its single-seat counterpart, the MiG-29SMT. Both of the aircraft on show are conversions of testbeds in the Military Industrial Group, Moscow Aircraft Production Association (MIG MAPO) fleet, although upgrades are shortly to begin on 150 to 180 Russian Federation Air Force MiG-29S "Fulcrum Cs" and MiG-29UB "Fulcrum Bs."

Immediately apparent on both aircraft here this week are the significantly raised spines which contain additional two fuel tanks, this resulting in a beaver-tail effect, as the fuselage now extends beyond the afterburner nozzles. New tanks contain an extra 3,250 pounds of kerosene, of which the rearmost (1,050 pounds) is optional. In the single-seater, this is sufficient to double the mission radius, to 836 nmi (air-to-air) or 594 nmi (air-to-ground).

Most significant of the MiG-29SMT's avionics improvements is a transformed cockpit containing a pair of 6-by-8-inch MFI-68 color multifunction LCD screens, backed by three smaller (3.25 by 3 inches) monochrome LCDs in the side-panels. In the MiG-29UBT, the rear cockpit is additionally configured for a weapons system operator (WSO). There are HOTAS controls and a digital databus in both.

Flight trials of the single-seat SMT began on 29 November last year with the avionics prototype, numbered 331. After fitting with a dummy raised spine, and repainted as 407, the aircraft returned to the air on 22 April. The MiG-29SMT at the Show first flew on 14 July. It wears the number 917 in reference to its MiG Bureau designation, 9-17 (type 9, 17th variant).

The production SMT will have a revised version of Phazotron N019MP Topaz radar with an additional synthetic aperture air-to-ground mode and larger "look" angle (70 degrees in azimuth; +50/-40 degrees in elevation). Provision will be made for a pair of 360-Imperial-gallon drop-tanks under each wing and a semi-retractable refuelling probe. The two-seater at the show is already fitted with underwing tanks, augmenting the standard, 330-Imperial-gallon centerline tank. Even more fuel can be accommodated if the auxiliary air intake louvres in the upper wingroot are deleted.

It is also intended to update the two Klimov RD-33 engines to RD-43 standard with a digital control system, decreased (three-to-five percent) specific fuel consumption and increased thrust. A fourth hardpoint beneath each wing will raise the combat load to 11,000 pounds and increase the spectrum of weaponry to include precision-guided missiles and bombs.

A triple-redundant fly-by-wire control system (as fitted to the unsuccessful MiG-29M venture) will increase permitted angle-of-attack and offer joint control of aerofoil and thrust-vectoring-if the option for the latter is taken up.

Lack of funding in the current year has forced the Russian Federation Air Force to scale down its upgrading plans. It was originally intended to re-deliver 10 MiG-29SMTs before the end of this year, 20 to 30 in 1999 and 40 per year thereafter. However, Gen. Anatoly Sitnov, Chief of Armament for the Russian armed forces, recently revealed that up to last month no funding had been allocated. At most, it may be possible to deliver up to five upgrades by the end of December.

Nevertheless, MIG MAPO continues to promote the SMT and UBT for export, noting in particular that the addition of a WSO's position and (in the definitive version) radar to the two-seater turns it from a mere trainer into a versatile combat aircraft.

By Paul Jackson