MiG-29 Fulcrum

The Mig-29, NATO codenamed Fulcrum, is perhaps the Soviet Union's most capable fighter interceptor and most agile aircraft. First flown by the late Alexander Fedotov in October 1977, it was originally designed as a combat fighter to counter the American F-15, F-16 and F-18 but after further development, the ground-attack role was added. The aircraft was operational with Soviet air forces by 1985. It is similar in size and layout to the U.S. F/A-18 Hornet.

The MiG-29 is a single-seat aircraft, although the Fulcrum B variant has two seats for the training role. In the fighter role, the MiG-29 is armed with one 30 millimeter multibarrel cannon in the left wing. On three pylons under each wing it also carries AA-10 air-to-air missiles for long range and AA-11 missiles for short range work. In the attack mode, the aircraft can also carry the three sizes of air-to-ground rockets used by Soviet forces: 240mm, 80mm, and 57mm, as well as a variety of gravity bombs.

The MiG-29 Fulcrum has a pulse-doppler look-down/shoot-down radar that can identify enemy aircraft flying below it and then direct air-to-air missiles against the enemy aircraft. Another innovation was a helmet-mounted sight, which allowed missiles to be launched at high (45 degrees) off-boresight angles.

The MiG-29 is certain to remain in frontline service with the Russian Air Force (Voenno-Vozhdushnye Sily or V.V.S. for short) well into the next century. In addition to Iraq, Fulcrums are also flown by the air forces of various nations allied with Russia. The Iraqis entered the war with about 30 of these world-class planes.

The "Fulcrums" are proudly flown by the "STRIZHY", Russia's highly esteemed flight formation display team. This team is known in the West as the "SWIFTS". One thing for sure, the MiG-29 has dazzled American crowds at air-shows and impressed the American pilots lucky enough to fly it.

FULCRUM SPECIFICATIONS
Length:	16.0 m
Height:	4.73 m
Wing span:	11.36 m
Wing area:	38.0 sq m
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed:	Mach 2.3
Weight: (empty)	10,200 kg
Weight: (normal)	15,240 kg
Maximum Range:	1,500 km
Service ceiling:	17,000 m
Rate of climb:	330m/sec
PROPULSION
Powerplant:	Two Klimov RD-33 afterburning turbofans each rated at 5,040kg static thrust and 8,300 kg maximum
ARMAMENT
One 30mm GSh-30L cannon with 150 rounds. Six AAMs including a mix of SARH and AA - 8?. "Aphid" (R60) AA -10 ..."Alamo"(R27T) AA -11... "Archer"(R73) FAB 500-M62, S-24