MiG-29/ΜiG-35 Fulcrum: News #2

F-16 was a standard fighter for lots of NATO countries, so the number was pushed up even due to that.
Not sure if the number given accounts for the licensed or developed versions the Koreans and Japanese made?

I think George is perhaps referring to USAF aircraft numbers only?

The Chinese are likely way more advanced in terms of basic radar technology than either Russia or even the US at this point.

AESA radar is about production capacity which means the US and China have advantages, but the next step in radar technology means new technology so making old technology is no advantage... in fact investing lots of money and energy into producing old AESA technology is more of a hindrance to making the new technologies.

Using AESA radar on all their new fighters makes western fighters expensive... not spending that money on AESAs and investing in next gen photonic radars might make Russian fighters cheaper and also better by a generation.

The F-15 was a twin engine all-weather air superiority (more expensive) development, whilst the F-16 was initially a single engine air superiority fighter for daytime close combat (dog fighter).

The F-15 was going to be the best plane the US could manage, with the best radar and the best engines they could manage placed in an aircraft based on the shell, the planform of the best fighter design they had seen.... the MiG-25, so they spend everything they had to make it the best fighter they could possibly make at the time based on the Soviet fighter they feared and just relied on the superiority of their technology to end up with a better aircraft... what they didn't know was that the MiG-25 was an interceptor optimised for speed which led to them getting a good fighter out of it... but it was always going to be too expensive to be a standard all round fighter so they needed a light cheap day fighter they hoped could be cheap because it was a simple aircraft with a big engine and all digital systems they wanted to make plug and play... the original F-16 was a 9g fighter that was supposed to have a great multirole radar for air and ground targets and to carry dumb bombs and Sidewinder missiles... it was created at a time when AMRAAM was just an idea and F-15s used Sparrows... the F16 was going to be a day fighter that was cheap and sophisticated but not complex or expensive.

That didn't last long.

The F-5 was the cheap export fighter for countries that didn't need anything better, but for the US the F-16 became the light fighter and bomb truck swing fighter.

The Mig-29/35 is not competitive. Why? It is simply not bought and therefore not built. The market rules.

If market rules meant anything at all then the F-35 would not exist and most western aircraft simply would not be sold either.

The MiG-35 is ideal for any country that does not need anything better... Su-35 performance over shorter ranges at a reasonable price and low operating costs.

Most countries buying Flankers would actually be much better off with Fulcrums instead... they think they can save money by buying fewer Flankers and end up with less coverage and higher operating costs.

Malaysia bought old model MiG-29s and complained that they cost too much to operate, well you could get SMT upgrades and they would be cheaper than their Su-30s but they want to keep their Su-30s so they don't upgrade their planes to take advantage of the improved performance and lower costs.

The Germans were the same... they could have upgraded their old model MiG-29s to SMT standard but then why would they buy expensive Typhoons when MiG-29SMTs would do a better job and be cheaper to operate... instead they retired their MiG-29s and used F-4s.

If they want to cut their own noses to spite their own faces then let them but don't pretend it is the fault of MiG that these countries are stupid.

Even India is not buying more Mig-29Ks for its new launchers.

And after they have spent billions on Rafales or Hornets they might eventually realise their mistake but considering their history of buying weapons I would say they should be looked at as an education as to how not to spend money, or better an example of how corruption works and how western MIC companies promoted corruption in other countries and domestically.

Mig can produce a very expensive and therefore very limited in number Mig-41

Actually I think they might produce rather more MiG-41s than they produce Su-57s for domestic use... they will probably want 300 plus replacements for MiG-31s.

It is better to upgrade the Mig-31 with another, a BM2 package. The integration of PESA in the wings. on the hull, etc. for TOR would have to be checked in my view as self-protection.

They wont keep MiG-31s like they wont keep MiG-25s, the new aircraft are a generation better and will have capabilities that make the older aircraft obsolete very quickly.

What MIG should do is create a FC-1/JF-17 competitor with the new RD-93.

The MiG-35 is already better than these aircraft you mention and the RD-93 is the same engine the MiG-35 uses... they just shifted the gearbox to the bottom for maintenance reasons.

Creating a brand new 4th gen fighter with just one engine would be bloody stupid... if no one wants a MIG-35 why would they want a single engined version of it?

The cost of the engine is only a tiny fraction of the maintenance on a MiG-35 so removing one engine DOES NOT HALVE ITS MAINTENANCE COSTS.

This aircraft could take over the role of the Su-25 or just serve as a small fighter for carriers. It should only cost 40% of a possible Su-75.

The Su-25 on aircraft carriers is for pilot training... practising landings and taking off. It has never had any role other than that... the Su-25 on the Kuznetsov is unarmed... it does not even have a gun.

The MiG-29K already replaces the Su-25 because it has a two seat version that is fully operational and combat capable with IRST and radar and weapon pylons on which weapons can be carried.

In any case, Mig should do something to give his own supply chain and research teams a vision, a kick again. Otherwise, Mig will soon be history. And Moscow, just as before, should encourage competition!

MiG is a division of OAK/UAC and has the same management team as Sukhoi has right now.

Right now they will likely be working on their new single engined 5th gen fighter that will now be funded by the Russian AF.