Published: 7/24/1998

In an interview with the Independent Defence Review newspaper, Mikhail Korzhuyev, general designer of ANPK MiG (Aviation Scientific Industrial Complex "MiG"), said that Mikoyan is to show at Farnborough'98 a new version of the MiG-29 tactical fighter, the MiG-29UBT. It is a two-seat aircraft intended for fulfilment of special tasks at a long distance from the front-line, such as detailed aerial reconnaissance, pin-point strikes, and the destruction of selected small-sized stationary targets well into enemy territory. The new MiG will retain the capability to act against hostile aircraft: it has been developed from the MiG-29UB fighter trainer. Korzhuyev said it is necessary to have two crew members when fulfilling "very delicate combat tasks" from attacks at extremely low height. The MiG-29UBT carries two special radars, one millimetric, the other centimetric. The armament will remain the same as on the MiG-29SMT (also referred to as "Aircraft 917"), including the RVV-AE medium-range air-to-air missile with active radar homing head, the R-73 air-to-air missile with IR guidance and a wide range of precision munitions for the destruction of ground targets - the KAB-500KR, X-29, X-31A and X-31P. "We are not going to restrict the two-seat strike aircraft in terms of weaponry", Korzhuyev commented. The new version will feature the extended "hump" just behind the cockpit, previously tried on the MiG-29SMT. In comparison with the standard MiG-29UB, the new MiG carries 1600kg more fuel in internal tanks. The forward cockpit of the MiG-29UBT will be similar to that on the MiG-29SMT, with three colour liquid-crystal multifunctional displays. The first prototype is now under final assembly at the company's pilot plant in Moscow. On 7 August, it should be moved to the airfield of LII, Gromov's Flight Test and Research Institute in Zhukovsky, for flight tests. In September the MiG-29SMT and the MiG-29UBT will fly non-stop to Farnborough, for flight and static display respectively. Korzhuyev said that the development of the MiG-29UBT was initiated after having received approval from Rosvooruzheniye (Russian Armament) arms-trade agency and the Defence Ministry, primarily for export and also for training of MiG-29SMT pilots. According to the ANPK MiG general designer, the bulk of funds for development of the MiG-29UBT has been provided by Rosvooruzheniye. He also said that trials continue on the first prototype of the MiG-29SMT fighter. Since the first flight in November last year it has been modified. The changes include installation of a longer tail sting housing the brake chute. In July the aircraft entered a new phase of tests, which are being conducted together with specialists of the Defence Ministry. Korzhuyev expects this phase to be completed by the end of August. According to him, the Defence Ministry has placed an order for upgrading old MiG-29s into the SMT standard. The initial order is limited to 10-15 airframes for trials in military units. Due to insufficient funding, however, only five MiG-29s can be upgraded to the SMT standard by the end of this year, Korzhuyev confessed.(DF798.2) (VK)    

Article ID: 221