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The MiG-29UB sacrifices full combat capability to seat the 2nd crew. The cockpit is moved forward, leaving the nose volume reduced, so the radar is deleted and the 2 seater carries only a passive radar receiver, no transmitter.
The first enhancements came with an eye on increasing fuel capacity, with a raised spine/dorsal fairing, which was designated MiG-29S ( Fulcrum C ).
Here you can tell the difference, the Fulcrum A has a slimmer, single-slope/straight sloped spine, while the Fulcrum C has a fatter, curved spine.
A much revised upgrade was the MiG-29M, which added analog fly-by-wire, more powerful and fuel efficient engines, larger wings and stabilators, better radar, 2 additional wing pylons , more fuel after deleting the intake louvres. Unfortunately, the collapse of the USSR ended this upgrade path.
The navalized MiG-29 , the K model , inherited the new wing and control surfaces from the MiG-29M, along with stronger undercarriage, arrester hook and folding wings. Engines were uprated too, with 8800kgf thrust in afterburner.
The MiG-29K , designated Fulcrum D, also was victim of the collapse, Russia choosing to develop only the Su-33 with its limited cash, and was held in storage until the cash from India's order of the MiG-29K with the aircraft carrier Gorshkov.
The Russians went with smaller upgrades, which spawned the MiG-29SMT, with an even larger, fatter spine for more avionics equipment and more fuel.
Can you see the fat, ugly raised spine? Such a departure from the sleek MiG-29 Fulcrum A.
Another view of the ugly looking but useful hunchback spine of the MiG-29SMT. Fuel capacity went from 4365 to ~5100 litres in the SMT.
The next major upgrade was the revised MiG-29M - now designated MiG-29M1 for single seat and MiG-29M2 for two seat variants. Based on the MiG-29M, the upgrade has new radar with multiple target tracking, increased range and reliability, more ECM jammers, digital fly by wire, smart weapons for ground attack. Eventually, this was marketed at the MiG-35 , without any orders so far.
MiG-35 is simply the MiG-29M2 , following Sukhoi's lead in redesignating models for major upgrades.
Last but not least, RSK MiG built and displayed at several airshows, a MiG-29 with thrust vectoring nozzles, call the OVT. Unlike the Su-30MKI, which has 2D ( pitch control) only thrust vectoring, the MiG-29 OVT has 3D vectoring, it can vector the nozzles at any angle in the X-Z plane, by up to 15º off the axis. This variant has not yet reached production.
Summarizing :
MiG-29 Fulcrum A : first series production , sleek slimline dorsal spine, mainly fighter/interceptor role, ground attack capability limited to unguided rockets and bombs. Max 3000kg ordnance load. Radar search range ~100km.
MiG-29UB Fulcum B : two seat trainer variant of the Fulcrum A. Lacks radar transmitter.
MiG-29S Fulcrum C : raised dorsal spine, gets better radar and ECM, marginally more fuel, 4500kg ordnance load
MiG-29SMT : upgraded MiG-29S , larger/fatter dorsal spine , ~5100 litre fuel capacity, improved N01M radar, full ground attack capability with guided missiles and bombs.
MiG-29M : prototype only
MiG-29K Fulcrum D : developed from the MiG-29M , gets larger wing and flaps, larger stabilator, upper louvre intakes discard, more fuel, approx 5100 litres, gets 2 extra wing pylons with max ordnance load 5500kg, navalization changes being arresting hook, folding wings and stronger undercarriage. Upgraded engine with higher life and more thrust , 8800-9000kg in reheat. Reduced ammunition from 150 to 100 rounds. Radar search range ~130km. Range 2000km on internal fuel , ~3300km with 3 drop tanks
MiG-29KUB : 2 seat variant of the MiG-29K
MiG-29M1 : single seat variant based on MiG-29K production changes, 5500kg ordnance, range 2000km on internal fuel , ~3300km with 3 drop tanks
MiG-29M2 : two seat variant based on MiG-29KUB
MiG-29OVT : prototype with 3D thrust vectoring nozzles. Nozzles can move at 30º/sec, upto 15º off engine shaft axis.
MiG-35 : MiG-29M2 with more uprated avionics, now with phased array Zhuk radar, ECM. Ordnance load ~7000kg. Radar range ~160km for air targets
The first enhancements came with an eye on increasing fuel capacity, with a raised spine/dorsal fairing, which was designated MiG-29S ( Fulcrum C ).
Here you can tell the difference, the Fulcrum A has a slimmer, single-slope/straight sloped spine, while the Fulcrum C has a fatter, curved spine.
A much revised upgrade was the MiG-29M, which added analog fly-by-wire, more powerful and fuel efficient engines, larger wings and stabilators, better radar, 2 additional wing pylons , more fuel after deleting the intake louvres. Unfortunately, the collapse of the USSR ended this upgrade path.
The navalized MiG-29 , the K model , inherited the new wing and control surfaces from the MiG-29M, along with stronger undercarriage, arrester hook and folding wings. Engines were uprated too, with 8800kgf thrust in afterburner.
The MiG-29K , designated Fulcrum D, also was victim of the collapse, Russia choosing to develop only the Su-33 with its limited cash, and was held in storage until the cash from India's order of the MiG-29K with the aircraft carrier Gorshkov.
The Russians went with smaller upgrades, which spawned the MiG-29SMT, with an even larger, fatter spine for more avionics equipment and more fuel.
Can you see the fat, ugly raised spine? Such a departure from the sleek MiG-29 Fulcrum A.
Another view of the ugly looking but useful hunchback spine of the MiG-29SMT. Fuel capacity went from 4365 to ~5100 litres in the SMT.
The next major upgrade was the revised MiG-29M - now designated MiG-29M1 for single seat and MiG-29M2 for two seat variants. Based on the MiG-29M, the upgrade has new radar with multiple target tracking, increased range and reliability, more ECM jammers, digital fly by wire, smart weapons for ground attack. Eventually, this was marketed at the MiG-35 , without any orders so far.
MiG-35 is simply the MiG-29M2 , following Sukhoi's lead in redesignating models for major upgrades.
Last but not least, RSK MiG built and displayed at several airshows, a MiG-29 with thrust vectoring nozzles, call the OVT. Unlike the Su-30MKI, which has 2D ( pitch control) only thrust vectoring, the MiG-29 OVT has 3D vectoring, it can vector the nozzles at any angle in the X-Z plane, by up to 15º off the axis. This variant has not yet reached production.
Summarizing :
MiG-29 Fulcrum A : first series production , sleek slimline dorsal spine, mainly fighter/interceptor role, ground attack capability limited to unguided rockets and bombs. Max 3000kg ordnance load. Radar search range ~100km.
MiG-29UB Fulcum B : two seat trainer variant of the Fulcrum A. Lacks radar transmitter.
MiG-29S Fulcrum C : raised dorsal spine, gets better radar and ECM, marginally more fuel, 4500kg ordnance load
MiG-29SMT : upgraded MiG-29S , larger/fatter dorsal spine , ~5100 litre fuel capacity, improved N01M radar, full ground attack capability with guided missiles and bombs.
MiG-29M : prototype only
MiG-29K Fulcrum D : developed from the MiG-29M , gets larger wing and flaps, larger stabilator, upper louvre intakes discard, more fuel, approx 5100 litres, gets 2 extra wing pylons with max ordnance load 5500kg, navalization changes being arresting hook, folding wings and stronger undercarriage. Upgraded engine with higher life and more thrust , 8800-9000kg in reheat. Reduced ammunition from 150 to 100 rounds. Radar search range ~130km. Range 2000km on internal fuel , ~3300km with 3 drop tanks
MiG-29KUB : 2 seat variant of the MiG-29K
MiG-29M1 : single seat variant based on MiG-29K production changes, 5500kg ordnance, range 2000km on internal fuel , ~3300km with 3 drop tanks
MiG-29M2 : two seat variant based on MiG-29KUB
MiG-29OVT : prototype with 3D thrust vectoring nozzles. Nozzles can move at 30º/sec, upto 15º off engine shaft axis.
MiG-35 : MiG-29M2 with more uprated avionics, now with phased array Zhuk radar, ECM. Ordnance load ~7000kg. Radar range ~160km for air targets
