Indian Military

The Mikoyan MiG-29K (Russian: Микоян МиГ-29K) is an all-weather carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft developed in Russia. Developed in the late 1980s by the Mikoyan design bureau from the MiG-29M. It was not ordered into production and only two prototypes were originally built as the Russian Navy preferred the Su-27K. The programme was revived in the 1990s to meet an Indian requirement for a ship-borne fighter following the purchase of a former Soviet aircraft Carrier. It was first received by the Indian Navy in 2009. The MiG-29K's NATO’s reporting name is 'Fulcrum-D'.

New MiG-29K

MiG-29K Simulator at MAK 2009

Development

The original MiG-29K project was initiated in the early 1980s when the Soviet Navy developed a requirement for a supersonic carrier based fighter. As a first step to meet this requirement, the MiG OKB designed a "proof of concept" version of the MiG-29 fitted with a stronger undercarriage and a reinforced tail section with an arrestor hook, the MiG-29KVP (Korotkii Vzlet i Posadka - short take off and landing). The KVP first flew on 21 August 1982, and was subject to extensive trials which demonstrated the need for more power and greater wing area. It was decided to base the definitive naval version on the advanced MiG-29M (Product 9.15) that was already under development, further modified with new undercarriage and folding wings of greater area, with the new model designated the MiG-29K (Korabelniy - ship based) or Project 9-31).

The MiG-29Ks first flight was performed on 23 July 1988 at Saky by test pilot T.Aubakirov. On 1 November 1989, in the same day as the Sukhoi Su-27K, Aubakirov executed the first landing of MiG-29K on the Tbilisi deck (now Admiral Kuznetsov). Then the first take-off of the MiG-29K from the carrier's deck was successfully performed. From 1989–1991 the MiG-29K underwent further tests aboard the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft-carrying cruiser. The MiG-29K differed considerably from the MiG-29 production model, featuring a new multi-function radar, dubbed Zhuk; a cockpit with monochrome display and use of the HOTAS (hands-on-throttle-and-stick) principle; the RVV-AE air-to-air active homing missiles; antiship and antiradar missiles; as well as air-to-ground precision-guided weapons. To protect the engine from FOD, the engine inlets were fitted with retractable grills which replaced the more complex arrangement of land based MiG-29s.

A $740 million contract was signed on 20 January 2004, which will supply the Indian Navy with 16 MiG-29 aircraft (12 single-seat 'K' variants and 4 dual-seat 'KUB' variants). The contract also includes the full hardware for training maintenance & flying personnel, including simulators and interactive ground & sea based training systems. An option to acquire 30 additional aircraft by 2015, was also included in the contract. Reportedly in 2008, the Indian Navy exercised the option to purchase the 30 additional aircraft, which will include 4 dual-seat 'KUB' trainers. When all deliveries are completed, 38 single seat fighters and 8 dual seat trainers will have been inducted. Mikhail A Pogosyan, who serves as the head of Mikoyan, stated at Aero India '09 that the first four aircraft will be delivered in 2009 and delivery of the remaining aircraft will be completed by 2010. Vice Admiral Madanjit Singh, at a press conference on 13 April 2005, pegged the price of each aircraft at $32 million. Based on this calculation, the $740 million contract works out to $46.25 million per aircraft. The additional $14.25 million per aircraft (or $228 million in total) includes the cost of the full hardware for training personnel, simulators and interactive ground & sea based training systems.

An important part of the Indian Navy MiG-29 program, is the creation of a modern logistics system. Hence, RSK MiG has been developing such a system, involving aircraft operation with major overhauls, reduced maintenance man-hours, and full use of the infrastructure already existing in India for the servicing and repair of the MiG-29K/KUB, their equipment and engines, as well as an automated spares record & supply system. The maintenance plan during operations on a 'technical condition' basis, includes scheduled maintenance every 300 flight hours and technical condition checks every 1000 hours or every ten years; in other words the MiG-29K/KUB will have only three major checks during its lifetime. A switch to the technical condition' maintenance system cuts operating costs per flight hour by nearly 40%. A special warehouse for spares stocking is to be built in India for supporting these aircraft. This will reduce spares delivery time to maintenance personnel at the units, at a maximum of 72 hours, thus ensuring a fleet serviceability rate of 80 - 90%.

Rheinmetall Defence Electronics of Germany reported, on 15 March 2005, that they will be supplying the Indian Navy with a full-mission simulator for the MiG-29K/KUB fighter aircraft. The simulator was reportedly delivered to the Indian Navy in 2008 and has been commissioned at Dabolim, Goa. Dabolim is home to INS Hansa, the future land base for the MiG-29K/KUB fighter aircraft. It was reported in The Hindu that Indian Naval pilots have just commenced flight training, as the theory training was recently concluded. The intensive training takes place over six months in Russia, which began in October 2008. Once their training in Russia has been completed, the pilots will return to India and continue further training at the Shore-Based Test Facility (SBTF), that has been constructed with Russian help, at INS Hansa.

Revival

The MiG-29K program was revived in response to the decision of the Indian Navy to acquire the former Soviet Navy aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. This called for the provision of the ship with a multi-role carrier-based arrested-landing fighter of the MiG-29K's size. The ship's combat group is likely to include 12 MiG-29K planes. The aircraft has a remote control system, large-area (42 m² vs 38 m²) folding wing, adjustable center-line air intakes with retractable screens protecting the engines during operation from ground airfields, reinforced landing gear, hook, corrosion- protected reinforced fuselage made specifically for deck-based aircraft.

On 20 January 2004, it was announced that India and Russia had signed a $1.6 billion deal finalizing the sale of Admiral Gorshkov to India. According to the deal, half of the money would spent at the Northern machine-building factory in Severodvinsk, to refurbish the carrier with the other half being spent on MiG-29K fighter jets and anti-submarine helicopters. When the ship was part of the Soviet fleet, it was a 'hybrid' carrier/cruiser using vertical take-off aircraft. Now it will use MiG-29Ks, and the deck must be refurbished to accommodate the installation of a landing strip and a catapult. The rest of the money would go the acquisition of 16 MiG-29K fighter jets, and up to 10 helicopters that can fit onto the ship. The MiG-29K might also be chosen to equip medium carriers that India intends to develop and build locally.

Modification was made for Indian Navy requirement; now standard for all current production, featured Zhuk-ME radar, RD-33MK engine, combat payload up to 5,500 kg, 13 hardpoints (inclusive of the multi-lock bomb carriers), additional fuel tanks situated in dorsal spine fairing and wing LERXs, increased total fuel capacity by 50% comparing to first variant of MiG-29 and updated 4-channel digital fly-by-wire flight control system. Current production MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB also share a full-sized two-seater style canopy. With special coatings MiG-29K radar reflecting surface is 4-5 times smaller than of basic MiG-29. Cockpit displays consist of wide HUD and three (seven on MiG-29KUB) colour LCD MFDs and French Sigma-95 satellite GPS module and Topsight E helmet-mounted targeting system. Compatible with the full range of weapons carried by the MiG-29M and MiG-29SMT.

The first MiG-29KUB developed for the Indian Navy made its maiden flight at the Russian Zhukovsky aircraft test centre on 22 January 2007.

Design Features

The MiG-29K is based on the 'basic' MiG-29K airframe, but is lighter in answer to the Indian Navy's requirements for the smallest possible dimensions to maximize use of space on the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya (formerly Admiral Gorshkov). The aircraft is based on the original MiG-29K airframe, but without the high-cost welded aluminium lithium fuel tanks and forward fuselage. The MiG-29K's fuel tanks are situated in the dorsal spine fairing and wing leading-edge root extensions. This reportedly gives the aircraft a 50% increase over the land-based MiG-29. Flight range can also be increased by in-flight refueling capability. With a 25-year design life, the MiG-29K features a larger wing area, incorporating a longer chord double-slotted flap and drooped elevons over the 'basic' MiG-29K. The wing root has a sharp leading edge. In addition, the central fuselage integral tank and a fuselage load-carrying section, to which the arrester hook and main struts are attached, were considerably strengthened.

The nose undercarriage is able to steer through +/- 90º and houses a three-colour lamp which indicates the aircraft's position on the glide path, and its landing speed, to a visual landing signal officer. The arrester hook is also fitted with an illumination system to indicate when it is lowered. Reportedly the radar reflecting surface of the MiG-29K is 4 to 5 times smaller than that of the standard MiG-29. The aircraft will have an improved navigation equipment commensurate with its maritime role. For deck landing, the aircraft will be fitted with a special navigation system comprising instrument landing systems interacting with the ship's markers, jam-resistant coded data link and automated built-in test facilities. In the event of the pilot having to eject near the aircraft carrier, the escape system will ensure that he is ejected clear of the ship. The export 'MiG-29K' will feature a triplex digital fly-by-wire control system, with multiple-redundancy in all three channels and a mechanical back-up in roll-and-yaw channels. A proven control algorithm used in the analog-digital flight control system on the basic 'MiG-29K' will be retained.

The dual-seat 'KUB' trainer has nearly identical (90% commonality) aerodynamic characteristics to the single-seat, export 'MiG-29K' fighter and has the same wing and tail plane platform geometry. To further ease transition from the trainer to the fighter, even the forward nose sections are identical. They are equipped with similar avionics and can carry the same armament (nearly 100% commonality). The trainer variant differs from the fighter variant only in having an additional fuel tank occupying the rear-seat cockpit. Both aircraft have an in-flight refueling capability, having a retractable refueling probe in the port forward fuselage, and may also be used as tankers. With the take-off and landing weights identical to the fighter, the trainer has 8% less fuel capacity and a 7% to 10% shorter combat radius. In addition to carrying out its main training role, the trainer has a fully operational capability. Indeed, the two man crew could open up additional roles such as airborne early warning or electronic warfare. In its combat role, the second pilot will act as a weapons systems operator.

These aircraft will be capable of day/night, all-weather, year-round operation in any climate, including tropics with ambient temperatures up to +35°C (+95°F) and air humidity up to 100%. The aircraft will be able to operate singly or in groups in the face of enemy fighter opposition and in an ECM environment, operating from CTOL carriers equipped with a ski jump or from shore bases. The take-off run on a carrier deck equipped with a bow ski jump is estimated as 125 - 195 meters (410 - 640 feet). With these aircraft operating in a salty sea environment, RSK MiG has adopted special corrosion protection measures for the airframe, avionics equipment and the RD-33MK turbofans. Radar-absorbing material (RAM) coatings will reduce the fighter's RCS by a factor of 4 to 5 as compared to the 'basic' MiG-29. Both variants feature a fully retractable L-shaped IFR probe on the port side of the nose in line with the cockpit windshield. Both variants have had their forward air intake blocker doors and spring-loaded dorsal doors - for FOD prevention - installed further down­stream. This frees up internal space inside the LERXes, allowing it to be used for additional fuel.

The MiG-29K multirole carrier-based fighter is designed to provide air cover to the ship grouping, gain air superiority and destroy sea surface and ground targets with guided high-precision weapons, day and night, in any weather. The aircraft is optimized for deployment on carriers of medium water displacement. The MiG-29KUB two-seat carrier-based fighter is intended for pilot training as well as fulfillment of combat missions identical to those of the MiG-29K single-seat fighter. MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB are equipped with in-flight refueling system and also can be used to perform aerial refueling if they are furnished with UPAZ refueling unit.

Radar

The Phazotron-NIIR Corporation's Zhuk-ME is an advanced variant of the original N010 Zhuk radar introducing advanced air to surface functions like mapping and terrain following. The radar forms part of the MiG-29K specific equipment. The radar features improved signal processing and has a range of 150 km in detection mode and 130 km in tracking mode, against a target with a RCS (Radar Cross Section) of five square meters for the export variant, and up to 10 targets tracked and up to 4 attacked at once in air to air mode. The tracking range is 0.83 - 0.85 of the detection range. In air to surface mode the radar can detect a tank from up to 25 km away and a bridge from 120 km away, a naval destroyer could be detected up to 300 km away and up to two surface targets can be tracked at once. The radar has a weight of 220 kg and a scanning area of +/- 85 degrees in azimuth and +56/-40 in elevation. The antenna is an electronically scanned slotted planar array and has a diameter of 624 mm.

Avionics

The radar will have functions for operations in air-to-air and air-to-ground modes, using Thales' TopSight E helmet-mounted targeting system. Both variants will incorporate a ShKAl wide-angle monochrome HUD (Head-Up Display) and the 'K' variant will feature three MFI-10-7 high-performance liquid-crystal multi-function displays, while the 'KUB' variant will have seven such displays. The ShKAl HUD offers a 26° field of view, which allows the pilot to keep an eye on a much wider sector of airspace and use his weapons more effectively in that sector. The 6" x 8" liquid-crystal display has a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels and can illustrate a digital terrain map & tactical situation data (information about aerial and ground/surface targets), thus enabling the pilot to maintain situational awareness.

The aircraft's nervous system comprises four multiplex databuses, which considerably speeds up communication between the miscellaneous electronic systems and increases its reliability. The more efficient data exchange system facilitates the integration of add-ons, should the need arise and the additional avionics can be connected to any of the four databuses, which creates numerous upgrade possibilities. The data transmission rate also conforms to the toughest existing standard (fibre channel). Although copper wires are still used as of now, fiber-optic cables will be incorporated later on. Both variants will feature a secure data link system enabling concerted action by a group of fighters. Due to the importance and complexity of the missions which the fighter will have to fulfill, the data link system will have set channels with a high data transmission rate making use of the latest type of interface. This avionics architecture is unique among today's fighters, rendering the aircraft extremely adaptable and upgradeable.

The aircraft's avionics will be based on MIL-STD 1533 bus. Although primarily to be armed with Russian weapons, Western weapons may be offered as an option. Integration of Western-made weapons is not expected to present problems, as RSK MiG has amassed experience of a variety of Western weapon systems during development of the Russian-French MiG-AT jet trainer and the mating the Kopyo radar on the MiG-21-93 for the IAF. The aircraft will also feature Sagem's Sigma-95 INS cum GPS receiver navigation system. Indian industry will supply the following equipment;

• A radio altimeter.
• An ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) set developed jointly with Russian avionics houses.
• An active ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) pod carried on the #8 hard point under the starboard wing.
• A UHF (ultra-high frequency) radio, which is also fitted to the Indian Air Force's Su-30MKI air dominance fighter.
• Two short-range radio navigation systems (for tactical area navigation and approach/landing) manufactured under licence from

Powerplant

The two 1980s prototypes were each fitted with two RD-33K turbofan engine with afterburner thrust of 86.3 kN (19,400 lb) and a possible take-off thrust of 92.2 kN (20,723 lbf) for shipborne operations.

The MiG-29K has two widely spaced RD-33MK "Morskaya Osa" (Russian: Морская Оса: "Sea Wasp") which is the latest model of the family. Developed in 2001, it is intended to power the MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB shipborne fighters, however it is has also been adopted for the MiG-35. The new engine features a 7% higher power in comparison to the baseline model due to the usage of modern materials on the cooled blades. It retains the length and maximum diameter while increasing afterburner thrust to 9,000 kgf and dry weight to 1,145 kg. It also contains systems that reduce its infrared and optical visibility. Service life has been increased to 4,000 hours. New modifications ensure shipborne fighters to take off from aircraft carrier deck unassisted, retain performance in hot climate environment and of course, a boost in combat efficiency of the latest variant of MiG-29 fighter family.

Armament

Due to an integrated weapon selection panel, the MiG-29K can use a wide range of weapons, which includes no less than eight types of air-to-air missiles and 25 air-to-surface weapons. The aircraft features eight under wing, weapons hardpoints plus a centerline hardpoint which can likewise be used for carrying bombs. The two inboard pylons under each wing can be fitted with tandem bomb racks, which effectively increases the number of hardpoints to thirteen. The weapon selection system enables the pilot to fire more than one type of weapon per attack. The aircraft is fitted with a 30mm Gryazev/Shipunov GSh-301 (TKB-687/9A4071K) single barrel gun, with 150 AO-18 rounds.

In the air superiority role, the aircraft can be armed with the close-combat R-73E and the beyond-visual-range R-77RVV-AE air-to-air missiles. In the sea-denial role, the AS-20 and the Kh-31A anti-ship missiles can be carried. In the SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defences) role, the passive radar homing Kh-31P missile can be carried. Pinpoint strikes against ground targets are made possible by the Kh-29T TV-guided missile and the KAB-500KR TV-guided HE bomb or the KAB-500OD fuel-air bomb. The unguided weapons to be used include ordinary & cluster bombs of up to 500 kg (1102 lb) calibre (up to eleven FAB-500 HE bombs can be carried) and 240mm S-24B heavy unguided rockets (up to six).

ECM and Defenses

The Russian-made IRCM (Infra-Red Counter Measures) system comprises two 16-round flare dispensers located on the sides of the engine nacelles, below the fins and fire downwards. The calibre of the flares has been increased to 50mm, which increases their burn time & heat signature and thus offering greater protection against heat-seeking missiles. The electronic warfare (EW) suite consists of the indigenous Tarang RWR (Radar Warning Receiver) and Elta's EL/L-8222 ECM pod. A pair of ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) transponders, in the wing strake, are built into the upper surfaces of the main wing.

Variants

MiG-29K

Single seat variant.

MiG-29KUB

Tandem two-seat operational trainer variant.

Operators

Russia

• Russian Navy-Russian Naval Aviation - Under evaluation.

India

• Indian Navy - Naval Air Arm

Specifications

Data from Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG data, Gordon and Davidson,

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Length: 17.3 m (57.76 ft)
• Wingspan: 11.99 m (39.34 ft)
• Height: 4.40 m (14.44 ft)
• Wing area: 43 m² (462 ft²)
• Loaded weight: 18,550 kg (40,900 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 24,500 kg (54,000 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Klimov RD-33MK afterburning turbofans, 9,000 kgf (88.2 kN, 19,800 lbf) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2+ (2,200 km/h, 1,370 mph) At low altitude: 1,400 km/h, 870 mph
• Combat radius: 850 km (528 mi)
• Ferry range: 3000 km (1,860 mi) with 3 drop tanks
• Service ceiling: 17,500 m (57,400 ft)
• Rate of climb: initial 330 m/s, average 109 m/s 0-6000 m (65,000 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 442 kg/m² (90.5 lb/ft²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.97

Armament

• 1x 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon with 100 rounds
• 8 stations for up to 5,500 kg (12,125 lb)[19] of weapons including eight air-to-air missiles — a mix of semi-active radar homing (SARH) and AA-8 "Aphid", AA-10 "Alamo", AA-11 "Archer", AA-12 "Adder", FAB 500-M62, FAB-1000, TN-100, ECM Pods, S-24, AS-12, AS-14, Kh-31P, AS-20, Kh-31A.