Mikoyan Mig-29 Fulcrum. An in cockpit experience and pilot's explanation of the Russian fighter aircraft.
When it first showed up, in 1977, the MiG-29, like its very distant ancestor, the MiG-15, was a startling revelation: The Soviets were catching up with U.S. aeronautical technology.
The U.S. intelligence community first learned of the new Soviet aircraft from satellite photos in November 1977, about the time of the jet’s first flight. “Simply by looking at the size and the shape of it, it was clear that the Soviets were developing a counterpart to our F-16 and F-18.
The MiG-29 Fulcrum is a fourth-generation jet fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union. Developed by the Mikoyan design bureau as an air superiority fighter during the 1970s. The MiG-29 entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1983.
While originally oriented towards combat against any enemy aircraft, many MiG-29s have been furnished as multirole fighters capable of performing a number of different operations, and are commonly outfitted to use a range of air-to-surface armaments and precision munitions. The MiG-29 has been manufactured in several major variants.
The most advanced member of the family to date is the Mikoyan MiG-35. Later models frequently feature improved engines, modern radar, considerably increased fuel capacity and some aircraft have also been equipped for aerial refuelling.
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a number of states have continued to operate the MiG-29; the largest of which is the Russian Air Force. The Russian Air Force wanted to upgrade its existing fleet to a modernized configuration, but financial difficulties have limited deliveries. The MiG-29 has also been a popular export aircraft; over 30 individual nations either operate or have previously operated the aircraft to date, India being one of the largest export operators of the type.
In the mid–1960s, the United States Air Force (USAF) encountered difficulties over the skies of Vietnam. Supersonic fighter bombers that had been optimized for low altitude bombing, like the F-105 Thunderchief, were found to be vulnerable to older MiG-17s and more advanced MiGs which were much more maneuverable. In order to regain the limited air superiority enjoyed over Korea, the US refocused on air combat using the F-4 Phantom multi-role fighter, while the Soviet Union developed the MiG-23 in response. Towards the end of the 1960s, the USAF started the "F-X" program to produce a fighter dedicated to air superiority, which led to the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle being ordered for production in late 1969.
At the height of the Cold War, a Soviet response was necessary to avoid the possibility of a new American fighter gaining a serious technological advantage over existing Soviet fighters. Thus the development of a new air superiority fighter became a priority. In 1969, the Soviet General Staff issued a requirement for a Perspektivnyy Frontovoy Istrebitel (PFI, roughly "Advanced Frontline Fighter"). Specifications were extremely ambitious, calling for long range, good short-field performance (including the ability to use austere runways), excellent agility, Mach 2+ speed, and heavy armament. The Russian aerodynamics institute TsAGI worked in collaboration with the Sukhoi design bureau on the aircraft's aerodynamics.

Specifications (MiG-29)

Drawing of MiG-29 (Russian Air Force)
Data from Mikoyan, airforce-technology.com, deagel.com,Business World

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 17.32 m (56 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 11.36 m (37 ft 3 in)
Height: 4.73 m (15 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 38 m2 (410 sq ft)
Empty weight: 11,000 kg (24,251 lb)
Gross weight: 14,900 kg (32,849 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 18,000 kg (39,683 lb)
Fuel capacity: 3,500 kg (7,716 lb) internal
Powerplant: 2 × Klimov RD-33 afterburning turbofan engines, 49.42 kN (11,110 lbf) thrust each [278] dry, 81.58 kN (18,340 lbf) with afterburner
Performance

Maximum speed: 2,400 km/h (1,500 mph, 1,300 kn) at high altitude
Maximum speed: Mach 2.25
Range: 1,430 km (890 mi, 770 nmi) with maximum internal fuel
Ferry range: 2,100 km (1,300 mi, 1,100 nmi) with 1x drop tank
Service ceiling: 18,000 m (59,000 ft)
g limits: +9
Rate of climb: 330 m/s (65,000 ft/min)
Wing loading: 403 kg/m2 (83 lb/sq ft)
Thrust/weight: 1.09
Armament
Guns: 1 × 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 autocannon with 150 rounds
Hardpoints: 7 × hardpoints (6 × underwing, 1 × fuselage) with a capacity of up to 4,000 kg (8,800 lb) of stores, with provisions to carry combinations of:
Rockets:
S-5
S-8
S-24
Missiles:
2 × R-27R/ER/T/ET/P air-to-air missiles
4 × R-60 AAMs
4 × R-73 AAMs
Astra (Indian Air Force)
4-6 x R-77 (MiG-29S, MiG-29M/M2 & MiG-29K only)
Bombs:
6 × 665 kg (1,466 lb) bombs
Avionics
OEPS-29 IRST
Phazotron Zhuk-ME radar
SPO-15 'Beryoza' RWR
DARE D-29 EW system (on MiG-29 UPG

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