The MiG-29 is a twin-engine supersonic fourth generation air superiority jet fighter developed in the Soviet Union in the 1970’s. The aircraft entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1983 and still is in use with them as well as equipping over twenty four other countries over the years. The NATO designation for the MiG-29 is Fulcrum and it was designed to counter the American F-16 and F-18. The MiG-29 was first seen in the West in 1986. The MiG-29 (9-13) is designated the Fulcrum C.
Iraqi sources have stated that on January 19, 1991 an Iraqi MiG-29 flown by Captain Jameel Sayhood was scrambled to intercept incoming Tornados. Captain Sayhood says he climbed above the low-flying aircraft and attacked from behind. He selected an R-60MK AAM and fired, destroying RAF Tornado ZA467/EK. Western observers have a different version of the event. According to them ZA467/EK was indeed shot down but not by a MiG-29 but by a SAM. On that same day another RAF Tornado ZA396/GE, was also lost a SAM.
General Specifications Mig-29
Manufacturer – Mikoyan Gurevich
Role – Supersonic Multi-Role Jet Fighter
Entered Service – 1983
Production All Variants – 1,600 +
Crew – 1
Dimensions
Length – 17.32 m (56 ft 10 in) Wingspan – 11.36 m (37 ft 3 in0 Height – 4.73 m (15 ft 6 in)
Weight
Empty – 11,000 kg (24,250 lb) Loaded – 14,900 kg (33,730 lb) Maximum Takeoff – 18,000 kg (44,100 lb)
Performance
Powerplants – 2 X Klimov RD-33 Afterburning Turbofans Each Producing 81.59 kN (18,342 lbf)
Maximum Speed @ Altitude – Mach 2.25 (2,400 km/h) (1,490 mph) Range – 1,430 km (888 mi) (772 nmi) With Maximum Internal Fuel
Service Ceiling – 18,000 m (59,100 ft) Rate-Of Climb – 330 m/s (65,000 ft/min) Ferry Range – 2,100 km ((1,300 mi) (1,130 nmi ) With 1 Drop Tank
Armament
Gun – 1 X 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 Auto-Cannon W/150 Rounds Hardpoints – 7 X (6 Under-Wing, 1 Fuselage Capable Of Carrying Up To 4,000 kg (8,800 lb) Of Various Weapons Rockets S-5 S-8 S-24 Missiles 2 X R-27R/ER/T/ET/P Air-To-Air 4 X R-60 AAMs 4 X R-73 AAMs Bombs 6 X 665 kg (1,466 lb) Bombs