News project MiG-35
In January of this year, the Russian Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation “MiG” held an official presentation of the promising light fighter MiG-35. In the next few months, the necessary tests were carried out, the results of which were used to refine the project. According to recent reports, the development of the existing project continues to this day. On the eve, some new details of the work being done, the plans of the developers and the customer, as well as the prospects of the fighter, became known.
On June 22, Izvestia published a series of new data on the progress of the MiG-35 project, received from unnamed representatives of the Ministry of Defense and the United Aircraft Corporation. In addition, in recent days, representatives aviation The industry made a number of important statements. All new messages can significantly increase the amount of known data on the promising MiG-35 project. It is reported that at the moment, not only the development of the project continues, but also the coordination of its various details.
MiG-35 at the official presentation
According to Izvestia, currently the Ministry of Defense and the KLA are engaged in determining the exact appearance of a promising fighter. Requirements for the aircraft are formed taking into account the needs and wishes of aerospace forces, which in the future will have to operate such equipment. Work on the formation of the image is already in the negotiation stage. At the same time, some features of the future aircraft are precisely defined. So, it is known that within the framework of the new project, the developer organization will have to noticeably refine the power plant and the complex of on-board radio-electronic equipment.
An unnamed military official told the press about plans for using the new power plant. The upgraded MiG-35 aircraft will have to receive means of deflecting the thrust vector, increasing its maneuverability. At the same time, it will be equipped with a turbojet engine of the existing type - RD-33MK. The task of thrust vector control will be solved not by an appropriate engine design, but with the help of a special nozzle device.
At the moment, the future prototypes of the MiG-35 for VKS are equipped with RD-33MK engines in the basic configuration and do not have thrust vector control capability. Nevertheless, the project initially envisaged the possibility of supplementing the engines with a special nozzle with a controlled nozzle. This version of the power plant has already been tested in practice as part of the relatively old MiG-29OVT project. The engine-nozzle architecture offers certain advantages over engines originally assembled with a deflectable nozzle, such as the AL-31FP,
There is also information about the desire of the Ministry of Defense to equip promising fighters with a new radar "Zhuk-A", which has in its composition an active phased antenna array. This product is a modified version of the older station "Zhuk-MA" and is intended for installation on light-duty combat aircraft, because of which it differs in reduced dimensions. A few years ago, the export version of the radar called "Beetle-AE" entered into mass production. In addition, such equipment has already been used in the onboard equipment of previous versions of MiG-35 fighters.
Recall, the name of the promising aircraft “MiG-35” appeared quite a long time ago and for many years was used to designate various options for the deep modernization of the MiG-29 fighter. Several aviation projects have been created, with marked differences from each other, which can lead to confusion. In the context of messages received in recent months, we are talking about a new version of the MiG-35 aircraft, intended for mass production and supply to the aerospace forces of Russia.
Experienced MiG-35, built on one of the previous projects
The completion of the design of such a machine was announced in mid-autumn last year. At the end of January 2017, an official presentation of a promising fighter took place, and flight tests were also launched. As it has now become known, the currently tested aircraft do not fully meet all the existing requirements and wishes of the customer in the person of the Ministry of Defense. As a result, aircraft manufacturers and the military continue to discuss the technical appearance of the aircraft planned for mass production and operation in the military.
Despite the recent appearance of the project and the beginning of tests, the main features of promising fighters have already been announced. In addition, in recent days, the previously available information has been supplemented by new information on plans to improve the power plant and on-board electronics. According to known data, the main goal of the MiG-35 project is a deep modernization of the existing MiG-29 family with an increase in basic technical, combat and operational characteristics.
The growth of combat qualities should be ensured by the use of a new radar with AFU "Zhuk-A". In addition, the proposed use of optical-location stations in the built-in and suspended version. Provides for the use of modern aim-navigation system, which includes a set of various equipment, including the helmet target designation system. By increasing the technical characteristics should increase the combat load. The modernization potential will be provided by the open architecture of the onboard radio-electronic equipment. The structure of the onboard equipment was proposed to introduce a defense complex, equipped with the necessary detection systems, means of emitting false thermal targets and electronic warfare equipment.
Earlier it was reported about the possibility of using RD-33MK turbojet engines equipped with additional thrust vector control devices. According to the latest news, the military approved this proposal. Also, engines must interface with the new electronic control system. Among other things, all these innovations should lead to a certain increase in the resource of equipment and reduce the cost of maintenance.
The new MiG-35 should be less sophisticated. It was planned to use anticorrosion protection, similar to those used on deck fighters, as well as some other solutions. According to the results of such innovations, the resource of both individual units and the entire aircraft as a whole was to grow. It was argued that the cost of flight hours can be reduced in 2-2,5 times.
Pre-production sample engaged in current testing
Last year, RSK MiG built two prototypes of the MiG-35 fighter, designated as pre-production vehicles. According to early plans, the tests of this technique should have begun in the summer of 2016, but they were later transferred. According to some reports, the first flight took place at the end of November. Later, the UAC leadership said that the flight tests of the pre-production MiG-35 began only at the end of January 2017. At the same time, an official presentation of the technology took place.
In preparation for flight testing of pre-production technology, the leaders of aircraft manufacturing enterprises refined their plans. So, in June 2016, the head of the military aviation department of the United Aircraft Building Corporation, Vladimir Mikhailov, said that in 2017, short-term inspections of the new technology will take place, and already in 2018, the armed forces will receive the first mass-produced vehicles. It was possible to reduce and accelerate the test program due to earlier checks of the equipment of similar configuration. At that time, the volume of deliveries of serial equipment has not yet been determined, but was estimated at 35-37 machines.
The main task of the KLA and RAC MiG is currently to bring the existing MiG-35 project in line with the updated requirements of aerospace forces. Nevertheless, aircraft manufacturers do not intend to limit themselves to deliveries to a domestic customer, and are ready to offer similar machines to the armed forces of foreign countries. The last time the theme of export shipments of the MiG-35 was raised on June 19 during the international aerospace show Le Bourget 2017.
It should be recalled that previous projects under the designation MiG-35 have already been introduced to the international market. For example, at the end of the last decade, another version of such a fighter was presented at the MMRCA Indian competition, known for its many different kinds of problems. However, the Russian industry failed to receive an order: the MiG-35 dropped out of the competition in the 2011 year, at one of its early stages.
On Monday, the Deputy General Director of RSK MiG, Viktor Chernov, said that the fighter of the latest model will have very good prospects. The software company is looking to the markets of South and Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa. However, while new customers have not been found and there are no supply contracts.
The issue of export deliveries of the MiG-35 was also commented on by the general director of Rosoboronexport, Alexander Mikheev. According to him, the newest domestic multifunctional fighter is a competitive export product, but still needs certain improvements. Now, according to the head of the organization, it is necessary to bring the car to the certification appearance. For such work will take about a year or two.
To increase the export potential in the new project it is proposed to apply new approaches to operation. It is supposed to abandon the traditional purpose of the resource structure in the form of a certain number of flight hours. Instead, the readiness of the equipment for operation should be determined in accordance with its current state. The possibility of operating the aircraft in its current state should interest potential customers in the person of third countries.
MiG-35 in flight
Reportedly, a promising fighter is of great interest to foreign customers. During the ongoing Le Bourget Air Show, Ilya Tarasenko, Director General of RAC MiG, told the French La Tribune about the current status of export contracts. According to him, new buyers literally line up at the door. Interest in Russian aviation technology, among other things, is associated with its successful use during operations in Syria. In addition, foreign buyers are planned to attract economic benefits. Operation of the MiG-35 will be about a quarter cheaper than using foreign aircraft of a similar class.
Receiving orders from foreign armed forces is of great interest for RSK MiG and UAC, but the main task of the MiG-35 project is currently creating a machine that fully meets the requirements of the aerospace forces of Russia. At the moment, the customer and the developer are busy agreeing on the updated look of the multifunctional fighter, and have already achieved some success in this matter. At the same time, a fundamental decision was made on the purchase of serial equipment after the completion of all the necessary development and testing.
Nevertheless, while there is only a fundamental solution. The contract for the construction and supply of aircraft will be signed only after the completion of all necessary work. In May, Sergey Korotkov, Vice-President for Innovations of the United Aircraft Building Corporation, who previously headed the RAC "MiG", noted that the industry should work in compliance with the established procedure. It is necessary to conduct state tests, and only after receiving the act of conducting them will be made the final decision on the purchase of equipment. The future contract will be included in the new State Program on Arms, the implementation of which will begin in the next 2018 year.
Also in May of this year, the command of the aerospace forces revealed plans for the future supply of MiG-35 aircraft. Commander-in-Chief of the VKS Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev said that in the future, the entire existing fleet of light fighters of various modifications will be replaced by new MiG-35. Such aircraft will be able to solve various combat tasks associated with the destruction of air and ground targets. With such capabilities, a multi-role fighter will be able to take part in various armed conflicts, including local ones, like the current war in Syria. In the future, it is possible to create new weapons, including laser ones. However, the details of such plans of the commander-in-chief did not reveal.
Currently, the aerospace forces of Russia have a fairly large fleet of light fighters of the MiG-29 family. This technique does not fully meet the requirements of the time, but the armed forces still need it. To replace obsolete machines, a new project is being created. Due to a number of modifications of the airframe, the use of a new power plant and a radical upgrade of the avionics complex, a significant increase in the basic technical, combat and operational characteristics was obtained. According to existing plans, before the end of this year, the pre-production MiG-35 aircraft will pass all the necessary tests, after which equipment of this type will be subject to a contract for mass production. The number of vehicles required by aerospace forces has not yet been specified. However, even without such data, it is clear that the supply of promising fighters will markedly increase the combat capability of domestic military aircraft.
On the materials of the sites:
http://uacrussia.ru/
http://ria.ru/
http://iz.ru/
http://tass.ru/
https://lenta.ru/
https://rg.ru/
https://russian.rt.com/
http://bastion-karpenko.ru/
On June 22, Izvestia published a series of new data on the progress of the MiG-35 project, received from unnamed representatives of the Ministry of Defense and the United Aircraft Corporation. In addition, in recent days, representatives aviation The industry made a number of important statements. All new messages can significantly increase the amount of known data on the promising MiG-35 project. It is reported that at the moment, not only the development of the project continues, but also the coordination of its various details.
MiG-35 at the official presentation
According to Izvestia, currently the Ministry of Defense and the KLA are engaged in determining the exact appearance of a promising fighter. Requirements for the aircraft are formed taking into account the needs and wishes of aerospace forces, which in the future will have to operate such equipment. Work on the formation of the image is already in the negotiation stage. At the same time, some features of the future aircraft are precisely defined. So, it is known that within the framework of the new project, the developer organization will have to noticeably refine the power plant and the complex of on-board radio-electronic equipment.
An unnamed military official told the press about plans for using the new power plant. The upgraded MiG-35 aircraft will have to receive means of deflecting the thrust vector, increasing its maneuverability. At the same time, it will be equipped with a turbojet engine of the existing type - RD-33MK. The task of thrust vector control will be solved not by an appropriate engine design, but with the help of a special nozzle device.
At the moment, the future prototypes of the MiG-35 for VKS are equipped with RD-33MK engines in the basic configuration and do not have thrust vector control capability. Nevertheless, the project initially envisaged the possibility of supplementing the engines with a special nozzle with a controlled nozzle. This version of the power plant has already been tested in practice as part of the relatively old MiG-29OVT project. The engine-nozzle architecture offers certain advantages over engines originally assembled with a deflectable nozzle, such as the AL-31FP,
There is also information about the desire of the Ministry of Defense to equip promising fighters with a new radar "Zhuk-A", which has in its composition an active phased antenna array. This product is a modified version of the older station "Zhuk-MA" and is intended for installation on light-duty combat aircraft, because of which it differs in reduced dimensions. A few years ago, the export version of the radar called "Beetle-AE" entered into mass production. In addition, such equipment has already been used in the onboard equipment of previous versions of MiG-35 fighters.
Recall, the name of the promising aircraft “MiG-35” appeared quite a long time ago and for many years was used to designate various options for the deep modernization of the MiG-29 fighter. Several aviation projects have been created, with marked differences from each other, which can lead to confusion. In the context of messages received in recent months, we are talking about a new version of the MiG-35 aircraft, intended for mass production and supply to the aerospace forces of Russia.
Experienced MiG-35, built on one of the previous projects
The completion of the design of such a machine was announced in mid-autumn last year. At the end of January 2017, an official presentation of a promising fighter took place, and flight tests were also launched. As it has now become known, the currently tested aircraft do not fully meet all the existing requirements and wishes of the customer in the person of the Ministry of Defense. As a result, aircraft manufacturers and the military continue to discuss the technical appearance of the aircraft planned for mass production and operation in the military.
Despite the recent appearance of the project and the beginning of tests, the main features of promising fighters have already been announced. In addition, in recent days, the previously available information has been supplemented by new information on plans to improve the power plant and on-board electronics. According to known data, the main goal of the MiG-35 project is a deep modernization of the existing MiG-29 family with an increase in basic technical, combat and operational characteristics.
The growth of combat qualities should be ensured by the use of a new radar with AFU "Zhuk-A". In addition, the proposed use of optical-location stations in the built-in and suspended version. Provides for the use of modern aim-navigation system, which includes a set of various equipment, including the helmet target designation system. By increasing the technical characteristics should increase the combat load. The modernization potential will be provided by the open architecture of the onboard radio-electronic equipment. The structure of the onboard equipment was proposed to introduce a defense complex, equipped with the necessary detection systems, means of emitting false thermal targets and electronic warfare equipment.
Earlier it was reported about the possibility of using RD-33MK turbojet engines equipped with additional thrust vector control devices. According to the latest news, the military approved this proposal. Also, engines must interface with the new electronic control system. Among other things, all these innovations should lead to a certain increase in the resource of equipment and reduce the cost of maintenance.
The new MiG-35 should be less sophisticated. It was planned to use anticorrosion protection, similar to those used on deck fighters, as well as some other solutions. According to the results of such innovations, the resource of both individual units and the entire aircraft as a whole was to grow. It was argued that the cost of flight hours can be reduced in 2-2,5 times.
Pre-production sample engaged in current testing
Last year, RSK MiG built two prototypes of the MiG-35 fighter, designated as pre-production vehicles. According to early plans, the tests of this technique should have begun in the summer of 2016, but they were later transferred. According to some reports, the first flight took place at the end of November. Later, the UAC leadership said that the flight tests of the pre-production MiG-35 began only at the end of January 2017. At the same time, an official presentation of the technology took place.
In preparation for flight testing of pre-production technology, the leaders of aircraft manufacturing enterprises refined their plans. So, in June 2016, the head of the military aviation department of the United Aircraft Building Corporation, Vladimir Mikhailov, said that in 2017, short-term inspections of the new technology will take place, and already in 2018, the armed forces will receive the first mass-produced vehicles. It was possible to reduce and accelerate the test program due to earlier checks of the equipment of similar configuration. At that time, the volume of deliveries of serial equipment has not yet been determined, but was estimated at 35-37 machines.
The main task of the KLA and RAC MiG is currently to bring the existing MiG-35 project in line with the updated requirements of aerospace forces. Nevertheless, aircraft manufacturers do not intend to limit themselves to deliveries to a domestic customer, and are ready to offer similar machines to the armed forces of foreign countries. The last time the theme of export shipments of the MiG-35 was raised on June 19 during the international aerospace show Le Bourget 2017.
It should be recalled that previous projects under the designation MiG-35 have already been introduced to the international market. For example, at the end of the last decade, another version of such a fighter was presented at the MMRCA Indian competition, known for its many different kinds of problems. However, the Russian industry failed to receive an order: the MiG-35 dropped out of the competition in the 2011 year, at one of its early stages.
On Monday, the Deputy General Director of RSK MiG, Viktor Chernov, said that the fighter of the latest model will have very good prospects. The software company is looking to the markets of South and Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa. However, while new customers have not been found and there are no supply contracts.
The issue of export deliveries of the MiG-35 was also commented on by the general director of Rosoboronexport, Alexander Mikheev. According to him, the newest domestic multifunctional fighter is a competitive export product, but still needs certain improvements. Now, according to the head of the organization, it is necessary to bring the car to the certification appearance. For such work will take about a year or two.
To increase the export potential in the new project it is proposed to apply new approaches to operation. It is supposed to abandon the traditional purpose of the resource structure in the form of a certain number of flight hours. Instead, the readiness of the equipment for operation should be determined in accordance with its current state. The possibility of operating the aircraft in its current state should interest potential customers in the person of third countries.
MiG-35 in flight
Reportedly, a promising fighter is of great interest to foreign customers. During the ongoing Le Bourget Air Show, Ilya Tarasenko, Director General of RAC MiG, told the French La Tribune about the current status of export contracts. According to him, new buyers literally line up at the door. Interest in Russian aviation technology, among other things, is associated with its successful use during operations in Syria. In addition, foreign buyers are planned to attract economic benefits. Operation of the MiG-35 will be about a quarter cheaper than using foreign aircraft of a similar class.
Receiving orders from foreign armed forces is of great interest for RSK MiG and UAC, but the main task of the MiG-35 project is currently creating a machine that fully meets the requirements of the aerospace forces of Russia. At the moment, the customer and the developer are busy agreeing on the updated look of the multifunctional fighter, and have already achieved some success in this matter. At the same time, a fundamental decision was made on the purchase of serial equipment after the completion of all the necessary development and testing.
Nevertheless, while there is only a fundamental solution. The contract for the construction and supply of aircraft will be signed only after the completion of all necessary work. In May, Sergey Korotkov, Vice-President for Innovations of the United Aircraft Building Corporation, who previously headed the RAC "MiG", noted that the industry should work in compliance with the established procedure. It is necessary to conduct state tests, and only after receiving the act of conducting them will be made the final decision on the purchase of equipment. The future contract will be included in the new State Program on Arms, the implementation of which will begin in the next 2018 year.
Also in May of this year, the command of the aerospace forces revealed plans for the future supply of MiG-35 aircraft. Commander-in-Chief of the VKS Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev said that in the future, the entire existing fleet of light fighters of various modifications will be replaced by new MiG-35. Such aircraft will be able to solve various combat tasks associated with the destruction of air and ground targets. With such capabilities, a multi-role fighter will be able to take part in various armed conflicts, including local ones, like the current war in Syria. In the future, it is possible to create new weapons, including laser ones. However, the details of such plans of the commander-in-chief did not reveal.
Currently, the aerospace forces of Russia have a fairly large fleet of light fighters of the MiG-29 family. This technique does not fully meet the requirements of the time, but the armed forces still need it. To replace obsolete machines, a new project is being created. Due to a number of modifications of the airframe, the use of a new power plant and a radical upgrade of the avionics complex, a significant increase in the basic technical, combat and operational characteristics was obtained. According to existing plans, before the end of this year, the pre-production MiG-35 aircraft will pass all the necessary tests, after which equipment of this type will be subject to a contract for mass production. The number of vehicles required by aerospace forces has not yet been specified. However, even without such data, it is clear that the supply of promising fighters will markedly increase the combat capability of domestic military aircraft.
On the materials of the sites:
http://uacrussia.ru/
http://ria.ru/
http://iz.ru/
http://tass.ru/
https://lenta.ru/
https://rg.ru/
https://russian.rt.com/
http://bastion-karpenko.ru/
- Ryabov Kirill
- KLA / uacrussia.ru, Bastion-karpenko.ru
Information