On Friday, Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG unveiled its cutting-edge brainchild – the 4++ generation multipurpose MiG-35 fighter jet.
The MiG-35 fighter can participate in high-intensity conflicts, amid conditions where the enemy is engaged in aggressive air defense, and is capable of striking aerial and surface targets. The Russian Aerospace Forces will replace all light fighter aircraft with the new planes. The MiG-35 will master the use of laser weapons.
The MiG-35 fighter incorporates some of the technical upgrades implemented in its predecessor, the MiG-29, as well as advanced technology typical of fifth-generation aircraft. At 1,000 kilometers, the new vehicle's combat range is twice that of the MiG-29.
Above: Russian multipurpose jet fighters MiG-29, left, and MiG-35 perform a demonstration flight at the MAKS-2011 international air show in Zhukovsky near Moscow.
The MiG-35 was designed for engagement in high-intensity conflicts, amid conditions where the enemy is engaged in aggressive air defense, and is capable of striking aerial and surface targets.
New avionics enable the MiG-35 to attain air superiority in dogfights against fourth- and fifth-generation adversaries, conduct reconnaissance, attack surface targets day or night, and serve as a command center.
The warship can carry up to seven metric tons of armaments on 10 stations and can reach a speed of Mach 2.25 (over 2,700 kmph).
Above: A new multirole Russian MiG-35 fighter lands during its international presentation at the MiG plant in Lukhovitsy outside Moscow, Russia January 27, 2017.
Russian President Vladimir Putin watched the beginning of the plane's flight tests via a video link-up and expressed hope the Russian Armed Forces "will be significantly reinforced by this aircraft".
The commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces said on Friday that Moscow "will replace all light fighter aircraft with this class." That is, a total of 170 MiG-35 planes will be procured.
Mass production of the aircraft will kick off a year later.
Above: Sergei Korotkov, Chief Executive Officer of the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG, delivers a speech during the international presentation of a new multirole Russian MiG-35 fighter at the MiG plant in Lukhovitsy outside Moscow, Russia January 27, 2017.
Moscow is contemplating the possibility of exporting the plane. Bulgaria, Poland, and Slovakia were named among the primary purchasers, as they have been operating the MiG-29, the MiG-35's predecessor, and have corresponding maintenance capabilities in place.
In addition to the air-to-air and air-to-surface armaments used by the MiG-29, the MiG-35 will embrace advanced weapons systems which have not been offered for export, such as those capable of hitting targets without entering the enemy's air defense zone.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said the MiG Corporation will be working on a fifth-generation plane.
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