MiG-35. Military fighters. Characteristics of MiG-35

In recent years, the Russian military industrial complex has experienced a second birth. New types of weapons are being developed, and the old ones are being modernized. This is especially noticeable in the case of aviation. So, many flight regiments have already begun to receive the newest MiG-35, which is one of the most advanced fighter-bombers in the world.

Main characteristics

The aircraft was developed by RAC MiG. The main distinguishing feature is its wide functionality, which makes it possible to use the machine in a variety of conditions. Also available in the export version, there is a modification with a double cabin. The new MiG-35, whose photo is in the article, is very similar to the previous model (Mig-29), but it is a fundamentally different machine.

All modifications of these machines are principally new aircraft. The main distinguishing feature is the increased flight range, fully updated on-board equipment, enhanced onboard armament, as well as the ability to carry more attachments and ammunition.

In the MiG-35 was fully implemented the principle of HOTAS. What does it mean? The fact is that during the flight all the information necessary for the pilot is output directly to the cockpit cover glass. For this, three "displays" are used at once. Such a concept allows the pilot to conduct an air battle without distracting himself at the control of the instruments.

Aircraft Design

The machine is made according to a scheme with a low wing arrangement and relatively far apart from each other located engines. The body is made of titanium, aluminum alloys and composite materials. The sweep of the wing is about 42 degrees.

Sheathing of the keel is made of carbon fiber. The plane uses a well-proven catapult chair K-36DM.

Power point

As such, RD-33MK engines are used, which are in many respects similar to those for the MiG-29K. The manufacturer informs that power plants with variable thrust vector can be installed for individual customers. It is these engines that are put on each MiG-35 aircraft, which is intended for demonstration of aerobatics figures.

The design uses a GTE-117 gas turbine plant that produces at least 66.2 kW of power. The fuel is supplied from five tanks located in the fuselage of the aircraft, as well as two wing compartments. Their total standard capacity is 4300 liters.

Automation

To reduce the load on the pilot, the aircraft uses the automatic control system SAU-451. In addition, equipment for limiting signals SOS-3M is installed. For guidance to the target, the SUV-29 complex is responsible. It includes a sighting system RLPK-29 and BVVM C100.

In general, modern aviation is focused precisely on the maximum transfer of duties of pilots to complex computer systems. It is understandable: the speed of combat aircraft is such that the reaction of a person is simply not enough to adequately respond to a sudden threat.

The opto-sighting system, represented by the OEPRN-29 model, includes the OEPS-29 complex. Excellent is the "Slit-3UM", which is one of the best systems for indicating goals throughout the world. For navigation and laying of the route is responsible CH-29.

E502-20 "Turquoise" is used as equipment for command radio communications. The approach to the enemy radar pilot ahead of time will inform SPO-15LM "Birch". To prevent detection of the machine and to prevent high-precision weapons from being used, the Gardening-1FU jamming equipment and the PPI-26 equipment responsible for the release of false targets are used.

Basic characteristics of equipment and weapons

The "highlight" of the aircraft is the newest radar "Beetle-ME" radar, a modern optical-location system, and an "intelligent" target-pointing system built into the helmet.

Air-to-air missiles such as PBB-AE, P-27P1, P-27T1 can be used as attachments. In addition, it is possible to hang charges of air-to-surface class X-29T, X-31A. The aircraft is armed with both adjustable bombs and unguided rocket weapons. To defeat ground targets and enemy fighters, the aircraft is armed with an automatic gun GSh-301.

To increase the attractiveness of buying an aircraft for foreign buyers, it was possible to hang weapons from foreign manufacturers.

What else is good about the MiG-35? Specifications speak for themselves.

With a curb weight of only 11 tons, the aircraft can accelerate to 2300 km / h. At the same time on board, he can take 4,5 tons of weapons and fly with him 3200 km (if there are spare fuel tanks).

In addition, the MiG-35, whose technical characteristics we are considering, rises to a height of 17 kilometers, and the minimum take-off length is only 260 meters!

Detecting the enemy

BRLS allows you to identify and accompany air targets at a distance of up to 120 km. It is allowed to simultaneously support ten targets and fight with four of them simultaneously. If we talk about combat with surface targets, ships of the destroyer type are found at ranges up to 250 km, and missile boats - up to 150 km.

Trends in the development of modern combat aircraft

Today, throughout the world, there is a clear trend towards the fact that multifunctional fighters are becoming two-seater. As we already said, the MiG-35 was no exception. With what is the desire of the design bureaus to increase the crew?

When the Ka-50 helicopter was tested, the military found out that when working in air-ground mode, the load on the pilot increases incredibly: the pilot has to not only fight, but also monitor the readings of dozens of devices. All this was taken into account when designing not only the Ka-52 helicopter, but also when creating a new MiG-35 aircraft.

It was because of this that it was decided to seat two pilots in the cockpit so that one of them would fly the plane, and the second would air the battle. Considering that the speed of the MiG-35 exceeds that for the sound, the solution allows not only reducing the load on the operators, but also significantly increases the survivability of the machine as a whole.

Prospects

It is not necessary to think that only the domestic military has become interested in the new development. The Malaysian Air Force has repeatedly spoken about the advantages of using Russian multipurpose fighter-bombers. Approximately the same was said by the representatives of the Indian armed forces.

Unfortunately, even the magnificent characteristics of the MiG-35 did not save him from behind-the-scenes intrigues, when the deliveries of Russian aircraft were stubbornly cut by the reluctance of the Indian side to repeat the risks of the 1990s. Then the entire army of the country was without material support.

The reason is simple - Russia's military-industrial complex in those years was not at all up to export security, but India can also be understood.

At present, domestic specialists are working not only on the export supplies of new MiGs, but also on re-equipping their domestic flight regiments. In particular, it has already been announced that the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov will be manned by them.

Predecessors

Today it is very rare that a new aircraft be developed from a "clean slate". The model of the previous generation is always used as a base. This time, domestic specialists preferred the MiG-29M.

The differences between the MiG-35 and the old model

Despite the fact that the design was based on the model 29M, the new aircraft with 29K was unified. The power plant and control system, cockpit and wing design are almost identical. In many ways, the difference is only in a much lightweight chassis design.

In general, MiG-35 fighters are in many respects similar to shipborne aircraft systems. Even the anticorrosive coating was designed so that unification was maximum. This approach to the production of old and new aircraft in the same factory.

But avionics on these machines are completely different. In particular, there is a radar station with phased array, as well as an excellent defensive aircraft complex, which includes several active and passive defensive systems. Many of them are multifunctional.

Reliability and combat stability

These fighters are distinguished by excellent combat survivability due to the presence of a radar and infrared curtain. In addition, for our latitudes, it is especially noteworthy that it is possible to land on completely unadapted and unlit aerodromes.

Reliability of the aircraft designers paid close attention. So, all control systems of the machine and systems are duplicated. In normal mode, all additional control systems are in the standby mode. A special approach is also evident in the example of power supply for an aircraft.

So, instead of two generators that were installed on the MiG-29, the new aircraft was immediately four. There is also a special starter system that is able to fully provide the aircraft with electricity even with idle engines. This allows you to fully test almost all on-board systems still on the ground, and it is not necessary to burn fuel for this. Even the plant for extracting oxygen from the air on the plane has its own.

All these circumstances make the fighters of this class virtually autonomous combat systems.

Pilots' workplaces

As we have already said, three information displays have been made on the "windshield" of the cockpit lantern. By the way, the cabin itself is virtually identical to that of the ship's Mig-29K.

The developers did so because of the fact that the pilots were most positive about this option. The second cabin is also equipped with four multifunction indicators, one of which is duplicated basic information from the cockpit of the first pilot.

By the way, in the single-seat version of the MiG-35, an additional fuel tank is put in place of the second cabin.

Flight Performance Characteristics

Generally, the 35th model was designed with the same account for training pilots to take as little time as possible. For example, cadets can hardly be directly transferred from training simulators based on the MiG-29. At present, new versions of simulators are being developed, which would have presented the MiG-35 in a ship version.

But the aircraft has one more important advantage, expressed in the extreme simplicity of its operation. The fact is that our troops today are largely manned with MiG-29M and 29K. Accordingly, to serve almost identical to them the car will be much easier, rather than a completely new aircraft.

Among other things, experts note that the potential for modernization of this model can be sufficient up to 2040.

Information on modern operation in the RF Armed Forces MiG-29/35

At the moment, the troops of our country have about 400 MiG-29 new modifications. It is reported that from this year the MiG-35 fighter will begin to be actively supplied to the troops. Today there are no more than a few dozen machines of this class in the army, but the transition to them will obviously be carried out at an accelerated pace.

In many respects this is due not only to the program of mass rearmament (until 2020), but also to the fact that the design of the 29th Migov began to reveal fatal flaws associated with the catastrophically rapid wear of certain tail fin parts. In particular, in 2008, for this reason, one pilot died.

Currently, only those airplanes that have undergone a full technological inspection are allowed to fly. Already, defense projects are considered, for which almost every second MiG-35 fighter will be a deep modernization of the already existing aircraft.

However, the military themselves treat this idea very skeptically: many cars of this class were produced even under the USSR, so their operational resource has long been exhausted.

Sale to foreign partners

As we have already said, foreign partners show an enviable interest in buying these aircraft. However, at present there are no really interesting proposals for their supply. So, domestic manufacturers still have not forgotten the incident of 2012, when the Indian military refused to buy a batch of fighters.

The formal motive was their claims to aircraft engines. Unofficially it is reported that India at that time simply did not have the desire to repeat the sad experience of the 90s.

Today the situation is approximately the same: foreign buyers show a certain interest in the aircraft, but they are not in a hurry to buy it in large quantities. By the way, what is the cost of the MiG-35?

It's rather big: if you take into account the same 2012, the price of one aircraft was about $ 100 million. Given that at that time the Indians refused to supply 126 fighters, the total cost of which amounted to more than $ 10 billion, our military-industrial complex received a lot of money.

However, enough about the sad. It should be noted that it is the aircraft, from which foreign buyers refused at the last moment, entered the arsenal of domestic aircraft. It is hoped that the MiG-35 will be used in the amount required for the normal defense capability of the country.

It is reported that almost all the new fighters are quartered at the airfields of the Kursk region and in the Moscow region. Given the latest geopolitical trends, one can not doubt that Russian aircraft are very necessary for our army.