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MiG Corp. started series production of MiG-29K/KUB for Indian NavyMiG Corp. started series production of MiG-29K/KUB for Indian Navy
Moscow, February 3, 2005 – MiG Russian Aircraft Corporation has finalized, in general, organisation of cooperation and started series production of MiG-29K ship-borne multirole fighter aircraft for Indian Navy. Within the frames of the organized manufacturing cooperation contracts have been signed with the main Russian and foreign sub-contractors, including suppliers of engines, radar, avionics, gear etc. among Russian enterprises are:
- “Ramenskoye Instrument-building Design Bureau” – system integrator for onboard equipment and developer of a number of avionics components;
- “Fazotron-NIIR Corporation” – developer and manufacturer of “Zhuk-ME” radar;
- Moscow-based Chernyshev machine-building plant – manufacturer of RD-33MK engine;
- Klimov plant – developer of RD-33MK engine.
The contract for delivery of MiG-29K ship-borne multirole fighter aircraft for Indian Navy was signed on January 20, 2004, and provides delivery of 12 single-seater MiG-29K and 4 twin-seater MiG-29KUB, as well as training of pilots and technical personnel, delivery of simulators, spare parts, organization of aircraft maintenance on customer’s facilities.
Aircraft delivery will start in 2007 to be finished in 2009. the contract also provides an option for another 30 aircraft with delivery till 2015.
Work on the contract is being conducted in full compliance with the schedule. Series production of the aircraft has been started, their configuration fully meets customer requirements. 8 MiG-29 of various modifications are involved in MiG-29K test program. In 2002 to 2005 they have performed around 600 flights.
MiG-29K is a ship-borne multirole fighter aircraft, intended to provide air defence for aircraft carrier groups, gain air superiority, destroy sea and land surface targets with precision guided weapons at day and night in any weather conditions.
Till 1992 MiG-29K had been developed ad tested for Russian Navy. After 450 flights (including 80 landings on board the carrier) Russian Ministry of Defence issued an aprovement for aircraft series production. But in difficult 1990-s state financing of MiG-29K program was frozen.
In 1999 MiG Corp. restarted the program and significantly improved MiG-29K with its adaptation to modern requirements providing its concurrence ability on world markets.
As a multirole fighter MiG-29K is capable to destroy different aerial, ground and naval targets using wide range of precision weapons. MiG-29K combat payload makes 5500 kg, number of hardpoints – 13 (including the ones on multi-lock bomb carriers). Range of weapons includes "air-to-air" missiles - R-73E and RVV-AE, "air-to-ground" missiles - Kh-31P, Kh-31A, Kh-35E, rockets, bombs (including guided KAB-500Kr and KAB-500-OD) and built-in 30-mm autocannon.
MiG-29K airframe exterior is slightly different from MiG-29. Additional fuel tanks are situated in dorsal spine fairing and wing LERXs, increasing total fuel capacity by 50% comparing to first variant of MiG-29. Considerable increase of flight range is also gained due to increased capacity of drop fuel tanks and in-flight refueling capability (with the possibility to refuel from the aircraft of the same type).
Due to special coatings Mig-29K radar reflecting surface is 4-5 times smaller than of basic MiG-29.
The aircraft has modern 4-channel digital “fly-by-wire” flight control system.
MiG-29K/KUB flight and navigation system is built on an open architecture principle around MIL-STD-1553B standard Databus. “Ramenskoye Instrument-building Design Bureau” (RPKB) is the system integrator for onboard equipment.
According to the customer’s demand MiG-29K/KUB on-board equipment is international. The main part of it is of Russian origin, including on-board computer, radar, IRST sensor and laser ranger, passive anti-radar missiles homing system. RPKB also manufactures cockpit indication systems, including wide HUD and 3 (7 on MiG-29KUB) colour LCD MFDs.
France provides inertial navigation system with Sigma-95 satellite GPS module and Topsight helmet-mounted targeting system.
Indian companies supply some radio communication equipment for MiG-29K. Israel provides ECM system.
Almost all avionics components of both Russian and foreign origin have already been tested and are serially manufactured. This is fully true for the main on-board equipment component – “Zhuk-ME” multirole radar. It has passed all ground and flight tests, which proved all stated technical characteristics. “Zhuk-ME” is serially manufactured by “Fazotron-NIIR” Corporation and exported abroad. It differs from N-019E radar of basic MiG-29 by 1.5 times increased range of aerial targets detection, ability to fire missiles at 4 targets simultaneously and by presence of several new modes, including “air-to-ground”.
MiG-29K/KUB is equipped with new RD-33MK engines. Its afterburner thrust is increased to 9000 kgs comparing to 8300 kgs on RD-33. RD-33MK has total service life 4000 hours, comparing to 2000 hours of RD-33. in 2005 Moscow-based Chernyshev plant will start series production of RD-33MK engines.
MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB are members of unified family of aircraft, which also includes MiG-29M and MiG-29M2 multirole fighters.
MiG Corp. together with “Rosoboronexport”, has supplied its proposals on MiG-29M and MiG-29M2 to participate in the coming tender of the Indian Air Force to purchase 126 fighters.
MiG Corp is Russian largest aircraft manufacturing corporation, which unites enterprises providing all elements of aircraft life cycle – from developing concept, designing aircraft, manufacturing test aircraft and testing them to their marketing, serial production and technical support during exploitation.
MiG Corp. has modern design and testing base (grouped around Mikoyan Design Bureau Engineering Center), well equipped manufacturing facilities in Moscow, Lukhovitsy and Kaliasin, effective financial and marketing structures, and developed global system of technical support. More than 15 thousand qualified people work at MiG Corp.
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