This thread was made solely for discussion on future developments of the MiG-29 upgrades that push the Fulcrum way past the limitly capable F-16 and Mirages to be in the league with F-14s, F-15s and the Su-27 as documented here.
For discussions on MiG-29 Sniper vs. F-16 Viper, please go to link :
http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/showthread.php?t=4474
The Falcons seem to have suffered the same fate of the Sabre Jets of the Korean war, having fallen victims to IAF Gnats nicknamed the “Sabre Killers” during the Indo-Pak wars, it was with the same solemnity of the IAF Gnat “Sabre Killers” that the IAF christened their famed Fulcrums the “FALCON HUNTERS” after the Kargil War where a lone MiG-29 poised like a sniper atop the Himalayas held PAF F-16s at gunpoint.
With its maiden flight in July 1998, Russian plans to have more than 200 MiG-29SMT. Upgrade comprises: increased range and payload, new glass cockpit, digital fly-by-wire control system, new avionics, improved radar, KOLS infrared search and track (IRST) and an in-flight refuelling probe.
Mig-29M2 : Range on internal fuel is 1,079 nm (2,000km; 1,242 miles), or, with three external tanks 1,726nm (3,200km; 1,988 miles).
Unrefueled range of the MiG-29SMT is cited as 2,200 kilometers (1,370 miles) without external tanks, almost half again as great as that of 9-12 MiG-29.
THE SNIPER’S SIGHTS
The KOLS infrared search and track (IRST), superior to F-16 IRSTs. The KOLS (OLIS) laser range finder / IR search and track system tied with a pilot HMS (helmet mounted sighting) system completes the weapon system.
MiG-29SMT-in-flight-refuelling, limitless range :
Re- engined with Klimov RD-43 (or VKS10) engines, Fulcrums now have 22,040lb (98. 1 kN) thrust with afterburner, compared with 18,293lb (81.4kN) of the RD-33 engine.
MISSILES
In DACT over the skies of Gwalior, Cope India 2004 reports showed that IAF Sukhoi-30MKs and USAF F-15 pilots were detecting each other at the same time with their radars, but IAF pilots were scoring simulated first shots with their R-27 (AA-10 Alamo) AAMs (Air-to-Air Missiles) every time in BVR engagements.
With the AA-10 ALAMO (Max. range upto 170 km) and Zhuk series radars working in tandem, no F-15, F-16, F-18 or Mirage has a chance for survival.
Unlike the limitly capable F-16 the Russians couldn’t even care to look at, the MiG-29 designated 'Ram-L' by the West sent coronary scares throughout US Intel. So good was the MiG that America was quick to buy off 21 nuclear capable Moldovian MiG-29s before they could be auctioned off to Iran or North Korea.
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