Russia reveals export variant of MiG-35 multirole fighter

The MiG-35 4++ generation multirole fighter. Photo c/o Military Watch Magazine.

Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation, through its subsidiary Russian Aircraft Corporation revealed the export variant of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-35 twin engine multirole fighter as part of the recently concluded MAKS 2019 airshow outside Moscow.

The MiG-35 fighter is considered a 4++ generation fighter aircraft, fitted with aircraft technologies found on 5th generation fighters including an active electronically scanned array radar, and electro-optical search and track system. It also has a helmet-mounted target designation system.

The aircraft was also designed with a modular feature to allow future integration of new electronic subsystems including non-Russian systems.

The MiG-35 is powered by two RD-33MK afterburning jet engines propelling the 24,500 kilogram aircraft to a maximum speed of Mach 2.1 and a maximum service ceiling of up to 16,000 meters.

The aircraft can be armed with missiles like the RVV-AE air-to-air, Kh-35UE anti-ship, and Kh-38MLE air-to-surface missiles, guided bombs like the KAB-500, and assortment of free-fall bombs and rocket launchers. It can also be used as a tactical aerial tanker by installing the PAZ-MK refuelling pod.


[1] Jane's Defence Weekly