Mikoyan MiG-29SMT Fulcrum: Price, Specs, Cockpit, & Details. The MiG-29SMT is an improved multi-purpose fighter aircraft of the MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter, designed and manufactured due to the Russian Aircraft Company MiG (RAC MiG), which belongs to JSC United Aircraft Corporation. The first flight of the MiG-29SMT fighter was accomplished in April 1998. The first production began in 2004.
The modernized MiG-29SMT (NATO reporting name: Fulcrum) fighter jet is equipped with high-precision air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons to provide high combat efficiency against air, land and sea-based targets. This includes cockpit and avionics enlargements, additional fuel tanks, improved engines and increased arms transport capacity.
Mikoyan MiG-29SMT Engine
The MiG-29SMT Fulcrum fighter jet is powered by two RD-33 series 3 turbofan engines. Each engine is capable of producing takeoff thrust of 8,300 kgf (81.4 kN). The maximum speed of the MiG-29SMT is 2,400 km/ h at altitude and 1,500 km/ h near ground.
The MiG-29SMT’s flight range is 1,800 km without an external tank. This range could be extended up to 2,400 km with one tank drop. This fighter can reach a maximum distance of greater than 5,000 km when it is equipped with three falling tanks and one single refueling in flight.
Mikoyan MiG-29SMT Specs
The fuselage structure that has been reinforced due to the MiG-29SMT Fulcrum causes increased flight endurance and longer range. The aircraft has two fixed wings which are swept back with square-cut wingtips. Two vertical stabilizers are mounted at the rear.
Retractable landing gear allows the aircraft to remove and land safely. The nose landing gear wheel consists of a single two-wheeled bogie, and the two main landing gear wheels each have a single wheel.
Overall, the MiG-29SMT has a length of 17.32 m, a wing span of 11.36 m and a height of 4.73 m. The normal and maximum takeoff weight of each aircraft is 17,000 kg and 22,000 kg.
The aircraft is equipped with retractable refueling probes and different in-flight refueling systems. It could be equipped with additional fuel tanks for more fuel.
Mikoyan MiG-29SMT Cockpit and Avionics
The new glass cockpit of the MiG-29SMT fighter aircraft is equipped with a data display system being composed of two multi-color MFD-10-6 multifunctional screens 152 × 203 mm (6 × 8-inch) and throttle and stick control (HOTAS). It also incorporates the INS-GPS navigation system.
The MiG-29SMT is equipped with a Zhuk-ME multi-mode multifunction pulse doppler air radar developed by Phazotron-NIIR. The array of slot antennas mounted on the radar increases the range and recognition of targets compared to previous generation radars. With this radar, the MiG-29SMT is able to track up to ten air targets, while involving four targets simultaneously in air-to-air mode.
The MiG-29SMT fighter has an open architecture mission computer with a multiplex data exchange channel for the integration of various avionics systems, based on operator requirements. Optional equipment includes electronic countermeasures (ECM), radio stations, enhanced infrared search and tracking systems (IRSTS), as well as a variety of identification, friend or foe (IFF) transponders.
Mikoyan MiG-29SMT Weapons
The MiG-29SMT fighter jet has six external hard points to carry a variety of modern high-precision weapons systems. The MiG-29SMT Fulcrum fighter jet could be armed with two R-27ER1 (R1), two R-27ET1 (T1) and six medium-range RVV-AE air-to-air missiles; six short-range air-to-air missiles R-73E; four KAB-500Kr/ KAB-500L guided bombs; and the Gsh-301 30 mm internal air gun.
The aircraft also carried two Kh-29TE air-to-surface missiles, two Kh-29L and four Kh-25ML; two Kh-31A anti-ship missiles; and two Kh-31P anti-radar missiles.
Mikoyan MiG-29SMT Price and Orders
The price of the latest Mikoyan MiG-29SMT fighter jet is around US $ 22 Million. Algeria completed contracts for 28 one-seat MiG-29SMT aircraft in March 2006. The MiG RAC sent 15 aircraft in April 2007. The Algerian military refused delivery and canceled the contract in 2008 because of low-quality manufacturing allegations. 28 MiG-29SMT jets rejected by Algeria were sent to the Russian Air Force between 2009 and 2010.
In April 2014, the MiG RAC signed a three-year contract worth much more than RUR17bn ($ 473 million) with the Russian Ministry of Defense to send 16 MiG-29SMT aircraft, together with ground support and test equipment, to the Russian Air Force. The first MiG-29SMT fighter aircraft were delivered in January 2016 and the remaining aircraft were delivered by the end of 2016.
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