Domestic defense industry in recent years is experiencing almost a rebirth. New types of weapons are being developed, and the old ones are being actively modernized. This is especially noticeable on the example of aviation. So, many flight regiments have already begun to receive the latest MiG-35, which is one of the most advanced fighter-bombers in the world.
Main characteristics
The aircraft was developed by RSK MiG. The main distinguishing feature is its widest functionality, which makes it possible to use the machine in a wide variety of conditions. Also available in export version, there is a modification with a double cabin. The new MiG-35 aircraft, the photo of which 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 fundamentally new aircraft. The main distinguishing feature is the increased flight range, completely updated avionics, reinforced airborne armament, as well as the ability to carry more attachments and ammunition.
The MiG-35 fully implemented the HOTAS principle. What does it mean? The fact is that during the flight all the information necessary for the pilot is displayed directly on the glass of the cockpit cap. For this, three “displays” are used at once. This concept allows the pilot to conduct an air battle without being distracted by the control of instruments.
Aircraft design
The machine is made according to the scheme with a low location of the wing and relatively far apart engines located. In the manufacture of the case, titanium, aluminum alloys and composite materials are used. The sweep of the wing is about 42 degrees.
The keel casing is made of carbon fiber. The aircraft uses the well-proven ejection seat K-36DM.
Power point
As such, the RD-33MK engines are used, which are largely similar to those for the MiG-29K. The manufacturer reports that power plants with a variable thrust vector can be installed for individual customers. It is these engines that are put on every MiG-35 aircraft, which is designed to demonstrate aerobatics.
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gas turbine unit of the GTDE-117 type is used in the design, generating at least 66.2 kW of power. 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 an automatic control system SAU-451. In addition, equipment for restrictive signals SOS-3M is installed. For aiming at the target, the SUV-29 complex is responsible. It includes the sighting system RLPK-29 and BTsVM Ts100.
In general, modern aviation is focused precisely on the maximum transfer of pilot responsibilities to complex computing systems. It is understandable: the speed of combat aircraft is such that a person’s reaction is simply not enough to adequately respond to a sudden threat.
The optical-sighting system represented by the OEPrNK-29 model includes the OEPS-29 complex. Well-proven "Slit-3UM", which is one of the best targeting systems in the world. For navigation and route planning is responsible for the SN-29.
As equipment for command radio communication, the E502-20 Turquoise is used. About approaching the enemy radar to the pilot ahead of time will inform SPO-15LM "Birch". To prevent the detection of the machine and to prevent the guidance of precision weapons, the equipment for jamming Gardenia-1FU is used, as well as PPI-26 equipment, which is responsible for the emission of false targets.
Basic equipment and weapons
The highlight of the aircraft is the latest Zhuk-ME radar, a modern optical-location system, as well as a smart target guidance system built into the flight helmet.
As mounted weapons, air-to-air missiles such as PBB-AE, P-27P1, P-27T1 can be used. In addition, there is the possibility of hanging charges of the air-to-surface class X-29T, X-31A. The aircraft is armed with both adjustable bombs and unguided missile weapons. To defeat ground targets and enemy fighters, the aircraft is armed with an automatic gun GS-301.
To increase the attractiveness of buying an airplane for foreign buyers, the possibility of mounting weapons from foreign manufacturers was provided.
What else is good about the MiG-35? Technical specifications speak for themselves.
With a curb weight of only 11 tons, the aircraft can accelerate to 2300 km / h. At the same time, he can take on board 4.5 tons of weapons and fly 3200 km with it (if there are spare fuel tanks).
In addition, the MiG-35, the technical characteristics of which we are considering, rises to a height of 17 kilometers, and the minimum take-off run is only 260 meters!
Adversary detection
Radar allows you to identify and track aerial targets at a distance of 120 km. The simultaneous tracking of ten targets and a battle with four of them at the same time is allowed. If we talk about combat with surface targets, then ships of the destroyer type are found at ranges of up to 250 km, and missile boats - up to 150 km.
Development Trends of Modern Combat Aircraft
Today, all over the world, there is an increasingly clear tendency for multi-functional fighters to become two-seater. As we already said, the MiG-35 was no exception. What is the reason for the desire of design bureaus to increase the crew?
When testing the Ka-50 helicopter, the military found that when working in air-ground mode, the load on the pilot increases incredibly: the pilot has to not only fight, but also follow the readings of dozens of instruments. All this was taken into account when designing not only the Ka-52 helicopter, but also when creating the new MiG-35 aircraft.
It was because of this that it was decided to put two pilots in the cockpit, so that one of them pilots the plane, and the second leads an air battle. Given that the speed of the MiG-35 exceeds that for sound, this solution not only reduces the load on operators, but also significantly increases the survivability of the machine as a whole.
Prospects
It is not necessary to think that exclusively the domestic military became interested in the new development. The Malaysian Air Force has repeatedly spoken out about the benefits of using Russian multi-role fighter-bombers. Representatives of the Indian Armed Forces spoke about the same thing.
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 cut off at the root by the reluctance of the Indian side to repeat the risks of the 90s. Then the whole army of the country was without material support.
The reason is simple - in those years, the military-industrial complex of Russia was not at all ready for export, but India can also be understood.
At present, domestic specialists are working not only on export deliveries of new MiGs, but also on re-equipping them with domestic flight regiments. In particular, it has already been announced that the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov will be equipped with them.
Predecessors
Today it is very rare that a new aircraft is developed from scratch. The model of the previous generation is always used as a base. This time, domestic experts preferred the MiG-29M.
Differences of the MiG-35 from the old model
Despite the fact that the 29M model formed the basis of the design, a new 29K aircraft was unified. The power plant and control system, the cockpit and the wing structure are almost the same. In many ways, the difference is only in the significantly lightweight chassis design.
In general, MiG-35 fighters are very similar to naval aircraft systems. Even the
anti-corrosion coating was designed so that unification was maximized. This approach to the production of old and new aircraft in the same factory.
But avionics on these machines is completely different. In particular, a phased array radar station is installed there, as well as an excellent defensive aircraft complex, which includes several active and passive defensive systems at once. Many of them are multifunctional.
Reliability and combat stability
These fighters are distinguished by excellent combat survivability due to the presence of radar and infrared curtains. In addition, for our latitudes, the possibility of landing on completely unsuitable and unlit airfields is especially noteworthy.
The reliability of the aircraft designers have paid close attention. So, all control systems of the machine and systems are duplicated. In normal mode, all additional control systems are in standby mode. A special approach is also noticeable on the example of aircraft power supply.
So, instead of two generators that were installed on the MiG-29, the new aircraft received four at once. There is also a special system of starters that are 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 for this it is completely optional to burn fuel. Even the installation for the extraction of oxygen from air on an airplane has its own.
All these circumstances make fighters of this class virtually autonomous combat systems.
Pilot jobs
As we have already said, three information displays are placed at once on the “windshield” of the cabin lantern. By the way, the cabin itself is virtually identical to that of the ship Mig-29K.
The developers did this because the pilots spoke most positively about this option. Four multifunctional indicators are also placed in the second cockpit, and the main information from the cockpit of the first pilot is duplicated on one of them.
By the way, in a single-seat version, an additional fuel tank is put in the place of the second cockpit in the MiG-35 aircraft .
Flight Performance
In general, the 35th model was developed precisely in view of the fact that pilot training took as little time as possible. For example, cadets can almost directly be transplanted from training simulators based on the MiG-29. Currently, new versions of simulators are being developed that would present the MiG-35 in a ship version.
But the aircraft has another major advantage, expressed in the extreme simplicity of its operation. The fact is that our troops today are largely equipped with MiG-29M and 29K. Accordingly, servicing an almost identical car will be much easier than a completely new aircraft.
Among other things, experts note that the potential for modernization of this model may be enough until 2040.
Information on the modern operation of the MiG-29/35 in the RF Armed Forces
At the moment, in the troops of our country there are about 400 MiG-29 vehicles of new modifications. It is reported that from this year the MiG-35 fighter will begin to be actively supplied to the troops. Today in the army there are no more than a few dozen vehicles of this class, but the transition to them will obviously be carried out at an accelerated pace.
This is largely due not only to the program of mass re-equipment (until 2020), but also to the fact that fatal flaws began to be identified in the design of the 29 “Migs” associated with the catastrophically rapid wear of some parts of the tail unit. In particular, in 2008, for this reason, one pilot died.
Currently, only those aircraft that have undergone a full technological inspection are allowed to fly. Projects of the defense department are already being considered, according to which almost every second MiG-35 fighter will represent a deep modernization of the aircraft already in service.
However, the military themselves are very skeptical of this idea: many machines of this class were produced back in the Soviet Union, 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.
A formal reason was their claim to aircraft engines. Unofficially, it is reported that India at that time simply did not want 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 are not in a hurry to buy it in large quantities. By the way, what is the cost of the MiG-35?
It is rather big: if we take into account the same year 2012, then the price of one aircraft was about $ 100 million. Given that at that time, the Indians refused to supply 126 fighters, the total value of which amounted to more than 10 billion dollars, our defense industry received a lot of money.
However, quite sad. It should be noted that it was the planes that foreign buyers abandoned at the last moment that entered the arsenal of domestic aircraft. It is hoped that the MiG-35 will be adopted in the volume that is required for the country's normal defense capability.
It is reported that almost all new fighters are stationed at the airfields of the Kursk region and in the Moscow region. Given the latest geopolitical trends, there is no doubt that our army really needs domestic aircraft.