User:Askari Mark/MiG-33 draft

The designation MiG-33 has been associated with two different Mikoyan fighter designs. It was first employed for a single-engined, lightweight strike fighter similar in capabilities to the then-General Dynamics F-16. More formally known as “Project 33”, development work began on this design about 1980, but it was canceled in 1986 as the result of changing Soviet Air Force requirements. However, in 1998 China purchased the design and test data from Russia to aid in expediting the development of the Chengdu FC-1 (“Fighter China 1”).

More recently, the MiG-33 designation was introduced at the 1994 Farnborough Air Show as the briefly used marketing name for the MiG-29ME export model of the MiG-29M “Super Fulcrum”, a comprehensively upgraded, fully multirole version of the MiG-29 (NATO reporting name: "Fulcrum-E"). Although only a few MiG-29M aircraft were built (and none exported), they have served as prototypes for the development of the latest, most advanced Fulcrum variant, the MiG-35 (NATO designation: “Fulcrum-F”).

Project 33 – the first “MiG-33”

Around 1980, the Mikoyan OKB design bureau began working on a very light “strike fighter” that was intended to be a direct competitor to the F-16 Fighting Falcon. This new Mikoyan design, designated Izdeliye 33 (Izd 33) (and variously translated as “Article 33”, “Project 33”, “Product 33”, or “Project R-33”), was of conventional layout and similar in appearance to the F-16. It was powered by a single Klimov RD-33 afterburning turbofan engine – the same engine used by the twin-engined MiG-29. While extensive wind-tunnel testing was conducted on the design, no prototypes were built since the Soviet Air Force (VVS) dropped its support for concept about 1986. The program was one of several victims of the VVS’ changing operational needs, financial constraints, and a growing preference for multirole designs.

Influence on the Chengdu FC-1 “Xiao Long”

Following the cancellation of U.S. and European companies’ participation in the development of the Westernized Chengdu J-7 variant known as the “Super-7”, China launched a program in 1991 to develop an indigenous evolution of this MiG-21-based design, which it designated the FC-1 (“Fighter China 1”). To expedite its development, officials of the Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Corporation (CAC) or the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) – or perhaps both – approached the Russians for technical support. In 1998, CATIC purchased Izd 33 design and test information from the Mikoyan design bureau, along with other research and development assistance. This has led some sources to incorrectly describe the FC-1 as being based on the Izd 33 or even as a continuation of that program.

Although engineers from the Mikoyan Aero-Science Production Group (MASPG) have provided design assistance on the FC-1 project, its aerodynamic design is quite different from that of Project 33. The wings are attached at mid-fuselage on the FC-1, whereas the Izd 33 is a low-wing design. The FC-1’s planform resembles that of the F-16, while that of the Izd 33 is similar to the MiG-29. The FC-1’s inlets are 'D'-shaped and angled, but those for the Izd 33 are rectangular and slab-sided. Given the FC-1’s heritage of the 'Super 7', J-7, and MiG-21, some analysts believe that the FC-1’s internal structure is more likely based on the MiG-21 than on the Izd 33, which some have called a “single-engine MiG-29”.

MiG-29M “Super Fulcrum” – the second “MiG-33”

During the early 1990s, it became briefly popular for Sukhoi and Mikoyan to assign altogether new designations for upgraded models to make them appear “new and improved” instead of just “improved”. The VVS did not accept these marketing designations and most were soon dropped. Following Sukhoi’s initiative in this approach, Mikoyan’s first such offering was the MiG-29ME, which first publicly appeared as the “MiG-33” at the 1994 Farnborough Air Show. The MiG-29ME was the export model of the MiG-29M (Product 9.15) “Super Fulcrum”, a comprehensively upgraded, fully multirole version of the MiG-29 (NATO reporting name: "Fulcrum-E").

Although the MiG-33 designation was soon dropped, the MiG-29M may have merited a new designation in that it is in many ways a thoroughly redesigned version of the MiG-29. While external differences are few, the MiG-29M was a fully “multifunctional” fighter capable of performing not only the air-to-air roles of its predecessor, but also air-to-ground combat employing precision-guided munitions (PGMs). Pilot-aircraft interfaces in the cockpit were also improved and a wide range of new-generation equipment installed. Furthermore, the aircraft’s internal fuel capacity was increased, which produced a notable increase in combat range.

MiG-29M / MiG-33 Description

The description below focuses on the unique features of the MiG-29M with respect to earlier versions of the Fulcrum; for further information, see the main article on the MiG-29.

Design features

The MiG-29 was originally designed to fight solely as an air superiority dogfighter, and a limited ground-attack capability with unguided munitions was introduced only with the MiG-29S (Product 9.13) “Fulcrum-C”. It was only with the MiG-29SM (Product 9.13M) “Fulcrum-C” that Mikoyan added an ability to carry precision-guided munitions such as TV- and laser-guided bombs and a variety of air-to-surface missiles. With the MiG-29M / MiG-33 (Product 9.15) “Fulcrum-E”, however, the basic MiG-29 design was thoroughly reworked to produce an advanced, fully multirole variant.

External differences are minimal. The most notable changes are in the geometry of the intakes. Inlet dimensions have been enlarged to permit greater airflow, and the upper intake louvers have been deleted. Movable nets have been installed to protect the engines from being damaged by the ingestion of the “foreign object debris” (FOD) found on taxiways and runways during take-off and landing. FOD protection of the inlet and engines is achieved by an inlet screen like that used on the Sukhoi Su-30.

The number of hardpoints for weapons carriage is raised to nine, four under each wing (instead of only three) and a centerline fuselage position plumbed for carrying fuel tanks. The MiG-29M is also configured to be capable of aerial refueling. The inboard pair of wing hardpoints may also be used to carry additional fuel, and the total weapons load was increased to 4,500 kg (xxxx lb).

Internally,

The MiG-29M features a redesigned airframe constructed from a lightweight aluminum-lithium alloy. Additional fuel tanks are installed within the fuselage, extending the Fulcrum’s maximum range on internal fuel to 2,000 km (xxxx). An analog fly-by-wire system supplants the earlier models’ mechanical flight control system.

Cockpit

New “glass cockpit” displays, consisting of 2 cathode-ray-tube multi-function displays (MFDs).

Powerplant

The MiG-29M introduced the enhanced-thrust Klimov RD-33K engine, which raised the maximum thrust achievable in afterburner to 86 kN (xxxx) from the 81.6 kN (xxxx) of the original RD-33 used in the MiG-29 (Product 9.12).

Sensors

The MiG-29’s original radar, Phazotron NIIR’s coherent pulse-Doppler N019E Rubin (Sapfir 29 for export) (NATO reporting name: “Slot Back”) Phazotron RLS RP-29 (N019 Rubin) look-down/shoot-down radar was replaced by the Phazotron’s N010 (RLPK-29M) "Zhuk" (“Beetle”) multimode airborne radar. The Zhuk X-band radar was especially designed for the MiG-29 and besides enhancing the Fulcrum’s air combat capabilities, it introduced ground-mapping and terrain-following flight modes. The original model of the Zhuk radar was first flown aboard prototypes of the MiG-29M during the early 1990s.