Mikoyan MiG-29M

The Mikoyan MiG-29M (Микоян МиГ-33, NATO reporting name "Fulcrum-E") is a fighter aircraft originally designed in the Soviet Union. Formerly known as the "MiG-33", it was developed from the Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO: "Fulcrum") fighter jet during the mid-1980s. The MiG-29M is sometimes called the Super Fulcrum.

Development
In the mid-1980s, a development of the original MiG-29 was proposed to meet the Soviet western front line requirement. It was required to be a multirole fighter for the front line defensive air force to gain offensive strike ability. This development resulted in a single seat and a double seat variant. The proposal was then grounded as a result of shift in military strategy. The model was named "MiG-33" and later received the MiG-29ME designation for export market in the mid-1990s. A twin seat model of the standard, commonly known as the MiG-29MRCA, was the MAPO-MiG's primary contender for many international fighter aircraft bids, later evolved into the Mikoyan MiG-35. Six of these models were built before 1990. They were constantly upgraded with various components and one received experimental vector thrust engines which eventually became the MiG-29OVT. The model was again renamed as MiG-29M. The MiG-29M/M2 now belongs to the "new unified family" instead of the "MiG-29 fighters family" which comprise the older variants.

MiG-33
During the early 1990s, it became briefly popular for Sukhoi and Mikoyan to assign new designations for upgraded models to make them appear "new and improved" instead of just "improved". The VVS did not accept these marketing designations and most were soon dropped. Following Sukhoi's initiative in this approach, Mikoyan's first such offering was the MiG-29ME, which first publicly appeared as the MiG-33 at the 1994 Farnborough Airshow. The MiG-29ME was the export version of the MiG-29M (Product 9.15) "Super Fulcrum", a comprehensively upgraded, fully multirole version of the MiG-29.

Although the MiG-33 designation was soon dropped, the MiG-29M may have merited a new designation in that it is in many ways a thoroughly redesigned version of the MiG-29. While external differences are few, the MiG-29M was a fully "multifunctional" fighter capable of performing air-to-ground combat with precision-guided munitions (PGMs), along with air-to-air roles of earlier MiG-29 versions. Pilot-aircraft interfaces in the cockpit were also improved and a wide range of new-generation equipment installed. The aircraft's internal fuel capacity was also increased to add combat range.

Design
The MiG-29M/M2 aircraft is a revision of the basic MiG-29. It achieved a more robust multi-role capability with enhanced use of air-to-air and air-to-ground high-precision weapons. It also featured considerably increased combat range owing to an increase in its internal fuel capacity.
 * Features

A few changes took place during the aircraft's development. The redesigned airframe was constructed from a lightweight aluminum-lithium alloy to increase thrust-to-weight ratio. Air intakes' geometry was revised, the upper intake louvers removed to make way for more fuel in the LERXs, mesh screens introduced to prevent foreign object damage (FOD) and enlarged inlet dimensions for higher airflow.
 * Airframe evolutions


 * Powerplant

The RD-33MK, the latest revision of the RD-33, has 7% more power in comparison to the baseline model due to the usage of modern materials on the cooled blades, it provide a thrust of 9,000 kgf. In response to long time criticism, the new engines are smokeless and contain improvements that reduce its infrared visibility. Thrust vectoring nozzles are now offered upon customer’s request. Dry weight is 1,145 kilograms (2,520 lb) compared to the baseline model through modern materials used on the cooled blades, although it retains the same length and maximum diameter. Incorporated is an infrared and optical signature visibility reduction systems. Service life has been increased to 4,000 hours.

The aircraft is built with an in-flight-refueling (IFR) probe and is able to carry three fuel drop tanks. The redesigned airframe also significantly increased internal fuel capacity in the dorsal spine and LERXs fuel tanks. These give the aircraft of single seat an operation range of 2,000 km with internal fuel, 3,200 km with three fuel drop tanks, and 6,000 km with three drop tanks and in-flight-refueling.
 * Range and fuel system

The cockpit has been redesigned to incorporate contemporary features. While some analogue instruments have been retained, two monochrome liquid crystal (LCD) multi-function displays (MFD) have been introduced and new weapon controls have been incorporated in a HOTAS concept. Other new features include the Zhuk-ME radar, an infra-red search and track (IRST) system and a helmet-mounted target designation system (early head-mounted display).
 * Cockpit

Main upgrades consists the Zhuk-ME pulse-Doppler airbone radar, along with revised IRST systems, helmet-mounted target designation system and electronic countermeasures. New radar capable of detecting air targets at ranges up to 120 km, track-while-scan of ten targets and attack of four targets at a time.
 * Sensors

Possible operators
The Syrian Air Force ordered 24 MiG-29M/M2s. In July 2012 at the Farnborough Air Show, Russia announced it would not deliver weapons, including combat aircraft to Syria until the crisis there ends. On 31 May 2013, RSK MiG's director general, Sergei Korotkov, said that the company plans to sign a contract to deliver "more than 10" MiG-29 M/M2 with Syria and that Syrian delegation was in Moscow to discuss terms and deadlines of a new contract supplying fighter jets to Syria.

The Serbian Air Force has expressed its intention to buy 12 MIG-29M/M2s to replace aging MiG-21s. Media reports indicate that Serbia intends to purchase 6 MiG-29M/M2 aircraft by the end of 2013., with the option for 6 more aircraft later. The deal is to be confirmed after a meeting of Serbian ministry of defense with the delegation from Russia in late May 2013.

In November 2013, Egypt announced that there was a new order for 24 MiG-29M/M2s to the Egyptian Air Force.

Variants
Advanced single-seat multi-role variant, with a redesigned airframe, mechanical flight controls replaced by a fly-by-wire system and powered by enhanced RD-33 ser.3M engines. NATO reporting code is 'Fulcrum-E'.
 * MiG-29M / MiG-33 (Product 9.15)

Two-seat training variant of the MiG-29M. Never built. Effectively continued under the designation 'MiG-29M2'.
 * MiG-29UBM (Product 9.61)

An upgrade package of the first-generation MiG-29s (9.12 to 9.13) containing many enhancements intended for the MiG-29M. Additional fuel tanks in a further enlarged spine provide a maximum flight range of 2,100 km on internal fuel. The cockpit has an enhanced HOTAS design, two 152 × 203 mm (6 × 8 inch) colour liquid crystal MFDs and two smaller monochrome LCDs. The upgraded Zhuk-ME radar provides similar features to the MiG-29M. The power plant are upgraded RD-33 ser.3 engines with afterburning thrust rated the same at 8,300 kgf (81.4 kN) each. The weapons load was increased to 4,500 kg on six underwing and one ventral hardpoints, with similar weapon choices as for the MiG-29M variant. The upgraded aircraft has also a painted path for non-Russian origin avionics and weapons.
 * MiG-29SMT (Product 9.17)

SMT standard upgrade for the MiG-29UB. Namely users, Algeria and Yemen.
 * MiG-29UBT (Product 9.51T)

Two-seat version of MiG-29M. Identical characteristics to MiG-29M, with a slightly reduced ferry range of 1,800 km. RAC MiG presented in various air shows, to name a few, Fifth China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (CIAAE 2004), AERO INDIA 2005, and MAKS 2005. It was once given designation MiG-29MRCA for marketing purpose and has evolved into the MiG-35.
 * MiG-29M2 / MiG-29MRCA

Operators

 * Russian Air Force operates 28 MiG-29SMT and 6 MiG-29UBT aircraft.
 * Russian Air Force operates 28 MiG-29SMT and 6 MiG-29UBT aircraft.


 * Indian Air Force all MiG-29s will be upgraded to MiG-29SMT level with latest avionics, engine, Zhuk-ME radar, weapon control systems by 2013.
 * Indian Air Force all MiG-29s will be upgraded to MiG-29SMT level with latest avionics, engine, Zhuk-ME radar, weapon control systems by 2013.