Sep 13 2017
Once again the Syrian Air War is the testbed for the most
recent Russian Air Force weapons system. This time is the turn of the
MiG-29SMT.
The Russian Air Force has deployed some MiG-29SMT
multirole combat aircraft to Hmeymim
airbase, near Latakia, in western Syria, the Russian Ministry of Defense
confirmed on Sept. 13, 2017.
It’s the first time the modernized version of the
baseline Fulcrum jet is deployed to take part in the Syrian Air War.
The MiG-29SMT is an upgraded variant of the MiG-29 featuring
a big 950-litre spine CFT (Conformal Fuel Tank) and an in-flight refueling
system on the left hand side of the cockpit: it is equipped with a “glass
cockpit” with two MFI-10-6M displays and IKSh-1M HUD (Head-Up Display). With a
maximum range of 1,800 km (3,000 with three drop tanks), it can carry guided
air-to-surface weapons.
According to “Russia’s
Warplanes, Volume 1” by Piotr Butowski published by Harpia Publishing, one
of the most authoritative sources on Russian military aircraft and
helicopters today, besides the baseline Fulcrum loadout, the MiG-29SMT can
carry two R-27T medium-range IR-guided air-to-air missiles or two
extended-range R-27ER/ET AAMs, or up to six RVV-AE AAMs. Air-to-ground weapons
include two Kh-29T/L, up to four Kh-25M, or two Kh-31A7P missiles, or up to
four KAB-500 guided bombs. The first images emerging from Syria show at least
one aircraft with two such bombs.
The Russian Air Force plans to operate a fleet of 44
MIG-29SMT fighters: 28 were returned from Algeria (that ordered the aircraft in
February 2006 and broke the contract after 16 were delivered because they
claimed that the airframes were not brand new – these, according to Butowski
were acquired by the Russian MoD and delivered to a fighter regiment in
Kursk-Khalino beginning in February 2009) and another batch (whose
complete delivery status is not known) of 16 aircraft ordered in 2014 and due
to delivery by the end of 2016.
The video below shows the MiG-29SMTs in Syria for the
very first time.
Anyway, the deployment of the upgraded Fulcrum is worth
of note: it represents the latest of a long series of Russian advanced
“hardware” put to test in the Syrian theater.
Top image credit: Russian MoD
Actually the MiG-29SMT have been in Syria for some time
already........
Interesting footage of #Russia|n airstrikes in #Syria.A pair of
Mig-29SMT? Seem to be Algeria rejects.Could be 25 red https://youtu.be/RH_2QW9iGBs
Source: RussianDefence.com
MiG-29 SMT: Details
No comments:
Post a Comment