“As early as Soviet times, this concept was formed when our armed forces simultaneously used front-line fighters of both heavy and light.” “If in the fourth generation, the MiG-29 plays the role of a twin-engine light fighter and the corresponding heavy is the Su-27, in the fifth generation we have the same twin-engine Su-57. for expensive”. “Until recently we did not have an aircraft of another light weight class,” said AviaPort’s head of analysis, expert Oleg Panteleev. At the same time, light and heavy fighters are designed to solve different problems. “Heavy fighters are needed to cover large areas, which means they have to fly a long enough distance before completing the mission,” the expert explained. “For light fighters, aircraft with fuel reserves and a smaller combat range, another mission has been determined. Figuratively speaking, it would fight over a protected object and tackle an equivalent range of missions in terms of versatility, including aerial combat and assault against ground and water targets, but at a shorter distance from its base,” added Panteleev. Concept graphics of a new generation of Russian single-engine light fighter This expert considers the idea of ​​​​building a single-engine fighter to be right. “Common sense, a single-engine aircraft will always be cheaper than a two-engine aircraft if we consider comparable performance,” he said. “However, in the event of one engine failure, the plane is likely to crash, while a twin-engine aircraft can continue to fly thanks to the other engine.” “But with the progress being made in improving the engines and increasing their reliability, situations where engine failure leads to the loss of an aircraft are quite rare. Second, rescue work has developed well enough to ensure guarantee the rescue of the pilot,” Panteleev said. The expert also pointed out that at the test stage, Al-31FN series 3 and 4 engines can be used. In addition, during aircraft construction, flight tests can be performed on existing engines to check the operation of systems independent of the dynamometer. Of course it does not match the full range of engine characteristics that are the target of the aircraft. “We also know that the AL-31 and its modifications are a well-run and mass-produced engine with high reliability due to the modernization carried out. So at the experimental stage, its use proved to be quite reasonable,” said Panteleev. At the same time, the expert noted that the construction of engines that can be used in the light version of the fifth-generation aircraft has been taking place in Russia for a long time. “We remember that the new engine for the Su-57 was used and the T-50 prototype of the Su-57 fighter even flew with this engine. So there will certainly be no delay in creating a new engine,” Panteleev said. As for the difficulties that need to be solved when building a fifth-generation light fighter, the expert notes a large number of requirements for it. Often these requirements conflict – “compact, low reflectivity and high payload, long flight time and, if possible, supersonic cruise; deployment of concealed weapons and an increase in the range of weapons carried, including relatively large long-range missiles”. “So the main difficulty is how to achieve the optimal combination of requirements, and at the same time to compete on price so that the aircraft does not burden the Russian budget and is attractive for export.” Mr. Panteleev concluded.

In the current payroll of the Russian Aerospace Forces, there are more than 2000 jet aircraft of all types. However, this force only uses two-engine fighters, does not own any single-engine fighters. One of the main reasons is that most of the fighters in the current Russian Aerospace Forces, most of which are fighters developed from the previous Su-27 series, use two jet engine. However, part of the reason why Russia did not use single-engine fighters in service, came from the lack of it in the final stage when the Soviet Union was about to disintegrate. Specifically with the MiG-29 fighter. This type of fighter, when developed, was aimed at a single-engine fighter design, to compete with the US-made F-16 fighter. However, this design encountered a very difficult obstacle, that is, the Soviet Union at that time did not have a jet engine strong and light enough to be applied to the design of the MiG-29 at that time. . Designer Mikoyan then had to revise the drawings of the MiG-29, forcing it to use two jet engines instead of one as originally envisioned. Basically, at the last stage when the Soviet Union was about to disintegrate, it was very difficult to spend money on research and manufacturing of new generation jet engines. The fighter designers were then forced to use all that was available to them, and the idea of ​​a single-engined Moscow fighter jet ended since. However, it can still be considered that twin-engine fighters have more advantages than single-engine fighters. The US itself at the present time has also stopped producing single-engine fighter aircraft, the F-16 version, although very popular, has only received further upgrades so far, the new production line has been closed. Doors from 2017 to 2019 are allowed to reopen, but only for export. Compared with single-engine fighters, dual-engine combat is considered to be more stable in operation. In the event of one engine failure, at least one remaining engine is enough to bring the plane to a safe landing. Two engines, which means that the aircraft will have two independent power supplies to power the computer system, and also the hydraulic systems on the plane. With single-engine fighters, once the engine stops working, the aircraft will immediately fall into a state of loss of control. Especially with today’s modern aircraft, which use fly-by-wire electronic steering, as soon as the engine is turned off, the computer will also turn off and the steering system will be useless immediately. The American F-16 fighter itself also uses special fuel, along with an electrical energy storage system, allowing the aircraft to operate for an additional 10 minutes after the engine is turned off. At the end of 10 minutes, the energy reserves will run out and the aircraft will also be uncontrollable. In the opposite direction, a single-engine fighter has the advantage of being more compact, lighter, and more fuel-efficient when compared to a twin-engine fighter with the same output thrust. Even the US F-16 fighters, capable of carrying weapons up to 7.7 tons, are only 300 kg inferior to the Russian twin-engine Su-30 aircraft. In the future, Russia is looking to replace its MiG-29 fighters with a single-engine fighter. However, up to now, the design of the new Russian single-engine fighter is likely still on paper. The first thing Moscow needed was a jet engine powerful enough to carry the fighter. Image source: Pinterest. Russia’s MiG-29 fighter is still considered the most “light” fighter that Moscow owns. Source: Mikoyan.

The MiG-35 is an upgraded product of the MiG-29K/KUB and MiG-29M/M2, which is currently undergoing final testing. “The MiG-35 is in the state-level general testing stage and has already obtained preliminary certification to obtain the certification,” said Musheg Baloyan, Director of the MiG-29M and MiG-35 Aircraft Program at the MiG Aircraft Corporation. can be put into pilot production. Pilots love these planes because they are easy to operate and offer many advantages.” MiG-35 . fighter The MiG-35 is the 4++ generation of aircraft. They are equipped with a series of modern technology, but the fate is extremely bleak. Since its announcement in 2007, the development of the MiG-35 has been relatively slow. Only in 2013, the Russian Air Force announced plans to buy a total of 37 of these aircraft. Up to now, a total of 14 MiG-35s have been produced, of which 6 are in the process of testing and 8 are in the mass standard. Russia remains the sole operator and operator of the MiG-35. MiG-35 . fighter The Russian media must also admit that, although there have been many changes, it is the appearance that is almost unchanged compared to the MiG-29 that makes them lose their attractiveness, besides, despite having an engine with a thrust direction. multi-dimensional, but this RD-33MK engine is really just an improvement from the RD-33 that was born in the early 1970s. On the other hand, the RD-33 was never considered an excellent engine, They are quite fuel efficient and often emit black smoke trails. Previously, even the Russian Ministry of Defense also refused to order this fighter line, many sources also said that Russia was forced to buy MiG-35 to leverage the promotion and export of this aircraft. and most importantly, to save the plane maker Mikoyan from bankruptcy. Perhaps Mikoyan has to do more for the MiG-35 – because this is their only salvation at the moment – for this aircraft to become a ‘hot’ item similar to the Su-35, first of all. is the trust of the Russian air force itself, then the air forces of countries that have traditionally used Russian aircraft.

The article was published on “Svobodnaia Pressa” on May 9, 2021. Here is the content: Multi-purpose fighter MiG-35 (Image: Marina Lystseva / TASS) The fourth generation multi-role fighter will be mass produced soon. To be honest, it was only a small amount. But this type of aircraft will have very bright prospects not only in the Russian Air Force, but also in the world military aviation equipment market. And here are the comments of the head of the director of programs MiG-29M, MiG-35 and other light multirole aircraft of the “MiG” Group. Mushegh Baloyan When talking to a TASS reporter about the near future of this model: “The MiG-35 is currently in the state testing phase, with preliminary conclusions to allow the production of the first batch of aircraft. Test pilots loved this model very much because it was easy to maneuver and greatly simplified. There are also some problems arising in the process of operating aircraft, but we (Group “MIG”) together with the customer, the Ministry of Defense in time to resolve all problems “. This MiG-35 aircraft did have a dizzying fate. It is designed-built when the Russian aircraft-building corporation “MiG” is literally feverish for the word. There were very serious problems in financing projects because the Sukhoi Design Bureau, which also makes fighter jets, then pulled all the “financial” blanket toward him. And the consequences of the lack of money are the headaches related to human resources. Those issues touch even the top management of the group — they have not been around for long in their positions. In the mid-2000s, the MiG-35 was unexpectedly listed for a massive tender to buy 126 Indian fighters. However, the proposed MiG-35 at that time was indeed “raw” because it was built in haste. Furthermore, it is equipped with some clearly outdated systems. Bidding is really an adventure. Because at that time, the MiG-35 was not even in service of the Russian Air Force and still not mass produced, so its fate in the bidding was already determined – who dared to quit. Money to buy “crab in the hole” (original – “buy cat in a sack”)? Therefore, this plane was not even on the final list, it was eliminated in the first round. The evaluation panel has listed a series of “weaknesses” of the MiG-35- up to 14 points. All of the above “weaknesses” are not disclosed. However, something has leaked through open sources. The “disparage” is mainly related to the engine because its features are “not in line with the stated” in the bid. And for “Zhuk” radar – according to the announcement, the antenna is an active phase network antenna, however, the “MiG” group has installed a passive network. But six of the planes were built to take part in today’s tests – those were completely different fighters. Between them and the “ugly Indian ducklings”, the only remaining similarity was the fuselage. And now the MiG-35 is again participating in India’s second bid. The results of the first bid can only please the French, because they have sold 36 Raphales to India for an exorbitant price in the country. Once again, the MiG-35 will fight German, French, Swedish and American fighters in India. But for now, it can be said without fear of being bragged that they were “wonderful swans”. The aircraft is equipped with a new version of the RD-33MK engine with outstanding technical and operational features. Its rear combustion (acceleration) thrust increases to 9,400 kgf. The engine uses fully digital control system and plasma ignition method. That means it now meets all requirements for 5th generation aircraft engines. In addition, another engine version can be installed if the customer wishes to- – it has a thrust vector changing nozzle on two planes. It is no coincidence that the MiG-35 was chosen by the stubborn “Strizhi” aerobatic squadron and its pilots decided to switch to this model – because it was super maneuverable and easy to maneuver. . In aircraft-avionics equipment, several systems are also included in the 5th generation. For example, the “Zhuk-A” radar finally has an active phase array antenna. Now, the MiG-35 can detect enemy fighters at a range of up to 200 km. The resolution when taking topographic maps is 1 × 1 meter. MiG-29K The aircraft has an excellent power-to-weight ratio. The combat payload compared to the MiG-29 increased by 2 tons and reached 6.5 tons. It can strike both air and ground targets with the same efficiency because it is fully equipped with modern “air-to-air” and “air-to-ground” missiles. MiG-35 is capable of taking a record altitude in all aircraft participating in this auction of India – up to 330 meters per second. There is also a need to talk about combat radius – up to 1,000 km, and operating range of aircraft without aerial refueling – up to 3,000 km. It must be emphasized that the “technical vision organs” of the MiG-35 are much more diverse than that of the Su-35. The MiG-35 has not only one, but two optical navigation stations with channels of thermal imaging and television. An observation post in the front hemisphere to “serve” the air battles. The second station is designed to observe the ground surface which increases the fighter’s ability to fight against ground targets. The engineers of the “MiG” Group also solved the problem of modernizing this aircraft in an optimal way. Aviation electronic equipment system has an open structure and uses a common data warehouse. This makes connecting new devices as easy as possible – as there is no factory setup and error correction required. Everything is done on the same principle as connecting a new external device to the computer – plugging in the connector, and the operating system recognizes the device and puts it in a general working configuration. The MiG-35 is the second Russian fighter (after the Su-57) to utilize artificial intelligence (AI). Start with some “basic” action – for example, reminding pilots of the imminent danger of maneuvering or when any of the aircraft’s systems are malfunctioning in combat. And even very complex missions. For example, AI can just “look” at a part of an object in the air or on the ground / at sea to be able to immediately determine which type of aircraft or ship, of whom. AI radically interferes with the operation of all systems under special circumstances. For example, if the pilot is unable to control the aircraft due to an injury, the AI ​​can control the aircraft from any distance to the airport and land. In non-emergency conditions, the AI ​​can “advise” the pilot on the use of one or a certain weapon or conduct necessary maneuvers. But despite the plane’s obvious advantages, the Russian Defense Ministry doesn’t seem to trust it. That is why, so we signed a preliminary agreement to buy only 24 units. Yes, that is from now until 2028. But, of course, there are plenty of grounds to believe that this skepticism will vanish at the end of the tests. Currently, the Russian Defense Ministry is working with the “MiG” Group “eagerly” to test the MiG-35. Either way, the deployment of mass production of these machines will be an “inevitable objective”. Because it is necessary to gradually replace 120 MiG-29s, many different variants currently in the equipment of the Russian Air Force. In addition, many different countries also have the MiG-29 and the Air Force of those countries also wants to renew their lineup of light fighters. And so, an additional fifty potential orders could be counted. Yes, there is also a possibility that the MiG-35 will win India’s tender to buy 110 fighter jets. The fighter’s factory-level flight tests were conducted throughout 2017. In order to conduct state-of-the-art flight tests, the aircraft factory in Lukhovitsy built six MiG-35s – three MiG-35S single-seater and three MiG-35UB trainers. And for almost two years now, the six aforementioned aircraft have been tested in many different flight modes. They will themselves be handed over to the “Strizhi” airborne aerobatic squadron as mentioned above. Le Hung- Nguyen Hoang (Translate)

Russian aircraft maker Mikoyan recently said it is developing a new generation of intelligent target recognition system for MiG-series fighters, including the MiG-35. The new system will be able to target not only when the object is completely discovered, but even a small amount of exposure. “Work is underway to create an automated landing assistance system, along with an accurate target recognition complex thanks to neural circuit-based artificial intelligence,” said the company representative. . Mikoyan has repeatedly talked about the possibility that the MiG-35 will receive a steering assistance system with artificial intelligence elements. The MiG-35 is Russia’s latest generation 4 ++ multipurpose fighter, it is an upgrade from the MiG-29 with the integration of many applied technologies on the 5th generation fighter. The aircraft has an empty weight of about 24,500 kg, the largest weapon payload is 6.5 tons. The speed of 2,100 km / h, the maximum thrust of the engine reaches 18,000 kgf. Actual ceiling is announced about 16,000 m, a range of 3,000 km. MiG-35 has 9 external suspension points and a 30 mm cannon integrated in the body, armament includes air-to-air missiles at various ranges, air-to-ground missiles, guided aviation bombs, Uncontrolled rockets and free-fall bombs. Currently, the Russian Air Force has officially received six MiG-35S fighters belonging to the first mass production batch. Under the state procurement program of weapons, by 2027, the manufacturer will hand over a total of 24 MiG-35S fighters. The official operation of the MiG-35S by the Russian Aerospace Forces will open up export opportunities for this fighter, because many customers, though showing interest, are not ready to order because reliability concerns have not been verified. After integrating additional artificial intelligence, MiG-35 can make customers more bold in “opening the purse” when its reliability has increased significantly. But in the opposite direction, there are also many comments that Russia’s claim is very suspicious, because this technology is still foreign to them, and Moscow is also significantly behind the US and the West. MiG-35, Su-57 or many other Russian weapons, although advertised very “monumental”, but in fact so far they have not perfected the features as designed, or have not been proved in operation. . In addition, Russia is also known for its “way” to sell weapons with incomplete features to “ask” for a perfect partner, which is reflected in the fact that the MiG-35 has been sold in India for decades now on. Therefore, perhaps the manufacturer must deploy new technologies on the aircraft serving the Russian Air Force and have a good performance on the battlefield, for example in Syria, the export prospects of MiG- 35 is really bright