04 Mikoyan MiG-29A Fulcrum-A (WL)
The baseline MiG-29B has a Phazotron RLPK-29 radar fire control system that includes the N019 Safir look-down/shoot-down coherent pulse-Doppler radar and the Ts100.02-02 digital computer. The N019 radar was not a new design, based on the system used in the MiG-23, and thus limited the MiG-29’s ability to detect and track airborne targets at ranges available with the R-27 and R-77 missiles. After the specifications for the N019 were leaked to the CIA by Adolf Tolkachev, the Soviet Air Force developed the N019 Zhuk-M radar that had a planar array antenna rather than a dish. This improved the radar’s range and processing ability, giving the MiG-29S multi-target engagement capability and compatibility with the Vympel R-77 or RVV-AE (AA-12 “Adder”).
The Polish Air Force, or Wojska Lotnicze (WL), bought 12 aircraft from the Soviet Union between 1989 and 1990. The next ten were ex-Czech aircraft (nine MiG-29A and one MiG-29UB) were exchanged with Czech Republic for 11 Polish PZL W-3 Sokół helicopters in 1996. Between 2001 and 2005 all aircraft were upgraded with domestic SC-10D2 Supraśl IFF, Rockwell Collins AN/ARN-153 (TCN 500) TACAN and ANV-241 MMR VOR/ILS receivers, Trimble 2101AP civilian GPS receiver, Thomson-CSF SB-14 radar warning receiver, RS 6113-2 VHF/UHF radio with R-862 control panel and new anti-collision lights. Their service life was extended up to 4000 flight hours or until 2028.
This aircraft, one of the ten MiG-29As acquired from the Czech Air Force, is from the 1st Fighter Aviation Regiment (“Warszawa”) stationed at Mińsk Mazowiecki Air Base. It still carries the Czech Air Force’s 11th Fighter Regiment tiger stripe on the vertical stabilizer. The design of the Fulcrum’s fuselage has a drooping nose to facilitate a better view for the pilot. For the model, I used hinge plates to cant the nose downwards to capture the original aircraft’s profile.
04 Mikoyan MiG-29A Fulcrum-A (WL)
The baseline MiG-29B has a Phazotron RLPK-29 radar fire control system that includes the N019 Safir look-down/shoot-down coherent pulse-Doppler radar and the Ts100.02-02 digital computer. The N019 radar was not a new design, based on the system used in the MiG-23, and thus limited the MiG-29’s ability to detect and track airborne targets at ranges available with the R-27 and R-77 missiles. After the specifications for the N019 were leaked to the CIA by Adolf Tolkachev, the Soviet Air Force developed the N019 Zhuk-M radar that had a planar array antenna rather than a dish. This improved the radar’s range and processing ability, giving the MiG-29S multi-target engagement capability and compatibility with the Vympel R-77 or RVV-AE (AA-12 “Adder”).
The Polish Air Force, or Wojska Lotnicze (WL), bought 12 aircraft from the Soviet Union between 1989 and 1990. The next ten were ex-Czech aircraft (nine MiG-29A and one MiG-29UB) were exchanged with Czech Republic for 11 Polish PZL W-3 Sokół helicopters in 1996. Between 2001 and 2005 all aircraft were upgraded with domestic SC-10D2 Supraśl IFF, Rockwell Collins AN/ARN-153 (TCN 500) TACAN and ANV-241 MMR VOR/ILS receivers, Trimble 2101AP civilian GPS receiver, Thomson-CSF SB-14 radar warning receiver, RS 6113-2 VHF/UHF radio with R-862 control panel and new anti-collision lights. Their service life was extended up to 4000 flight hours or until 2028.
This aircraft, one of the ten MiG-29As acquired from the Czech Air Force, is from the 1st Fighter Aviation Regiment (“Warszawa”) stationed at Mińsk Mazowiecki Air Base. It still carries the Czech Air Force’s 11th Fighter Regiment tiger stripe on the vertical stabilizer. The design of the Fulcrum’s fuselage has a drooping nose to facilitate a better view for the pilot. For the model, I used hinge plates to cant the nose downwards to capture the original aircraft’s profile.