http://www.difesaonline.it/mondo-militare/russia-il-mig-35-completer%C3%A0-i-test-di-volo-entro-lestate-produzione-di-massa-dal

(Franco Iacch)
19/07/16

By the end of the summer Mikoyan MiG-35 Fulcrum-F will complete the flight tests: deliveries could begin next year. The Russian Air Force, which has not yet officially adopted the new jet has agreed to purchase an initial batch of 37 aircrafts that will become fully operational by 2020. In spite of the accumulated delays, the Mikoyan guarantee a high production rate to fill the time lost.

The MiG-35 is clearly an evolution of the beloved MiG-29, although it is classified as a fighter of 4 ++ or fourth-generation advanced. This term identifies a platform that has implemented measures of the fifth generation of an evolved design from the previous year. Not exactly a stealth fighter, but it has several features such as, for example, the low observability, avionics and thrust vectoring.

The Super Hornet and the Eurofighter Typhoon, respectively hunt for the air superiority of the U.S. Navy and almost all the NATO countries, are fourth-generation advanced fighters.

The new MiG was presented for the first time in an air show in Bangalore, in 2007. It exploits the know-how acquired with the MiG-29 SMT Sokol (including the S-31E2 KOLS System), developed in the late years ninety airframe of the MiG-29S Gorbatyi. Sokol has all the improvements introduced in stages of Gorbatyi improvements, in addition to being covered with a new radar absorbing paint.

The MiG-35 is 30 percent larger than the MiG-29 and the intention of the Mikoyan-Gurevich, is to place it alongside the T-50 as a lightweight platform at low cost for the air superiority. Compared with the original Fulcrum, the MiG-35 has a new fly-by-wire control system. The structure of the aircraft, thanks to the wide use of composite materials, is much lighter than that of the MiG-29: with respect to the latter, the MiG-35 is able to carry more fuel optimized by a new digital management system.

The MiG-35 was initially designed for a propulsion system with thrust vectoring. It is powered by two RD-33MKB, also available in vector-thrust variant (three hydraulic actuators that deflect the nozzles mounted around the engine nacelle). Recent reports highlight "exceptional defined capacity" for the evolution of the RD-33 engine. The Russian designers would solve several problems that gripped the previous models, such as poor reliability and the emission of smoke.

The MiG-35 can climb at a rate of 330 m / s with a maximum speed of 2400 km / h. Its range is 2,000 km in the clean configuration, extended to 3100 km with additional external pod. It weighs about 11,000 kg with a maximum take-off weight of 29,700kg. The mono versions of the MiG-35 two-seater D stravolgeranno not the final design of the cell: a way to maximize the effectiveness of the same production line. The MiG-35 will incorporate the electronic scanning radar Zhuk-MA, we can monitor targets at distances beyond 85 nautical miles. Will be equipped with a localization system OLS, an electro-optical sensor passive air-to-air that operates in both the visual and infrared wavelengths. The OLS makes the aircraft less dependent on interception of ground control, allowing it to conduct independent multi-role missions. The Russians believe that the infrared sensor OLS will be crucial in identifying the stealth aircraft like the F-22 and F-35.

There is, finally, a last data particularly interesting: the cost. A MiG-35, in its most powerful version, costs 40 million dollars. If confirmed the expectations, the Russians could buy 100 in the short-term (up to triple that number), but at the international level (proposed by electronic scanning radar Zhuk-AE) that the MiG-35 could prove a real game-changer. Egypt has virtually closed for the MiG-35 as a new platform for air superiority. A decision that could reshape the balance in the region.

The easy access cost, makes palatable than 4 ++ platform to many countries.

(Photo: Dmitriy Pichugin)

---

IZAKOVIC