Royal Malaysian Air Force upgraded its fleet of MiG-29N Fulcrum
jets to the more sophiscated SMT version. The upgrade includes
installation of the Zhuk-M new generation jam-protected radar,pilot
instrumentation n control sys,extension of internal fuel capacity n
in-flight refuelling sys.RMAF has 16 MiG-29N fighters n two
MiG-29UB combat trainers used by the 17th and 19th squadrons. The
aircrafts were delivered to the RMAF in 1995. In 1998-99, ATSC
carried out an upgrade work on the delivered aircrafts to add the
R-77 long-range air-to-air missile to the armament mix.
MiG test pilot Pavel Vlasov was full of praise for the RMAF MiG
pilots taking part in the Lima aerial display. He said their
performance was proof the RMAF pilots had mastered the aircraft to
become among the best trained MiG pilots in the world. ``They have
gained a lot of experience in the MiG and their capability and
level of training is evident for everyone to see,`` he said. RMAF
MiG pilots have clocked a total of 8,700 hours on the fighter
jets.
Royal Malaysian Air Force's fleet of 16 single-seat MiG-29Ns n
two two-seat MiG-29NUBs were brought up to MiG-29N standard with a
weapons load boost,to enable them to carry the latest Russian
air-to-air n air-to-surface weapons. The MiG29s were also fitted
with an in-flight refuelling sys which can used with the RMAF's
recently converted C130H tanker aircraft.
Design Features
Emphasis from start on high manoeuvrability, to counter F-15, F-16
n F-18, with target destruction at dist from 200 m (660 ft) to 32 n
miles (60 km; 37 miles), n with effective air-to-surface cap.
All-swept mid-wing config, with wide ogival wing leading-edge root
extensions (LERX), 40 per cent of lift provided by lift-generating
centre-fuselage, twin tailfins carried on booms outboard of widely
spaced engines with wedge intakes; doors in intakes, actuated by
extension n compression of nosewheel leg, prevent ingestion of
foreign objects during take-off n landing; gap between roof of each
intake n skin of wingroot extension for boundary layer bleed.
Fire-control n mission computers link radar with laser range-finder
n infra-red search/track sensor, in conjunction with helmet-mounted
target designator; radar able to track 10 targets simultaneously;
targets can be approached n engaged without emission of detectable
radar or radio signals; sustained turn rate much improved over
earlier Soviet fighters; thrust/weight ratio better than one;
allowable angles of attack at least 70 per cent higher than
previous fighters.Engine replacement time 2 hours; preflight
preparation 20 minutes. Design flying life 2,500 hours.
Armament
Six close-range, IR-homing R-73 or R-73E (AA-11 `Archer') AAMs, or
four R-73/73E n two medium-range radar-guided R-27R1 (AA-10A
`Alamo-A'), on three pylons under each wing; alternative air combat
weapons include six close-range R-60T or R-60MK (NATO AA-8 `Aphid')
infra-red AAMs, or four R-60T/MK and two R-27R1s. Able to carry 16
OFAB-100 or OFAB-120, eight FAB-250, or four FAB-500 M54 or FAB-500
M62 bombs, KMGU-2 submunitions dispensers, ZB-500 napalm tanks,
B-8M1 (20 × 80 mm) rocket packs and 130 mm and 240 mm rockets in
attack role. One 30 mm Gryazev/Shipunov GSh-301 (TKB-687/9A4071K)
single barrel gun in port wingroot leading-edge extension, with 150
AO-18 rounds.
