Belarus' Mig-29 Fleet: Size And Strategic Importance

The Belarusian Air Force was formed in 1992 from the 26th Air Army of the Soviet Air Forces, which had been serving in the Byelorussian SSR. As of 2022, Belarus had 34 MiG-29s in service, with 13 of these being used for conversion training. In 2021, Belarus donated four MiG-29s to Serbia as part of a military-technical cooperation agreement between the two countries.

Belarus had 34 MiG-29s in service as of 2022

The Belarusian Air Force consists of more than 18,170 personnel and has four active airbases. The Air Force is responsible for all military aviation, as the Army maintains no aircraft of its own. The Air Force and Air Defence Forces were intended to protect population centres, cities, regions, and the administrative, industrial, and economic interests of the Republic. They are also intended to defend troops from enemy air attacks and provide fire support and guarantee combat operations of ground forces.

The Mikoyan MiG-29 "Fulcrum" is a twin-engine fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union. It is a popular export aircraft, with more than 30 nations operating or having operated the aircraft. The MiG-29 entered service with the Soviet Air Forces in 1983 and has been manufactured in several major variants, including the multirole Mikoyan MiG-29M and the navalised Mikoyan MiG-29K. The most advanced member of the family to date is the Mikoyan MiG-35.

In 2021, Belarus donated four MiG-29s to Serbia as part of a military-technical cooperation agreement between the two countries. The handover ceremony took place at the 558th Aircraft Repair Plant in Baranovichi, Belarus, on February 25, 2019. The aircraft were serial numbers 18204, 18205, 18206, and 18207. These four MiG-29s were in addition to six MiG-29s donated by Russia to Serbia in October 2017.

The Belarusian Air Force was formed in 1992 from the 26th Air Army of the Soviet Air Forces

The 26th Air Army was redesignated the Air Forces of the Belorussian Military District in 1980. On May 1, 1988, the Air Forces of the District were again renamed the 26th Air Army. The 26th Air Army included units such as the 1st Guards Bomber Aviation Division, the 50th Independent Composite Aviation Regiment, the 927th Fighter Aviation Regiment, and the 10th Independent Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment.

On June 15, 1992, the 26th Red Banner Air Army was transformed into the Air Forces of the Republic of Belarus by order of the Minister of Defence. The Belarusian Air Force took over all the assets of the 26th AA, except for the 1st Guards Bomber Aviation Division, which was transferred to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The Belarusian Air Force was established with more than 18,170 personnel, though this number is being reduced. There are now four active airbases: the 61st Fighter Air Base, the 116th Red Banner Guards Assault Air Base, the 206th Training Centre for Aircrew, and the 50th Composite Air Base.

The Belarusian Air Force maintains close links with the Russian Air Force and defence industry. It consists of three arms and several support services: the Air Forces, the Missile Air Defence Troops, the Radiotechnical Troops, and the Special Troops and Services.

The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a twin-engine fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union

Development and Purpose

The MiG-29 was developed as an air superiority fighter to counter U.S. fighters such as the F-15 Eagle and the F-16 Fighting Falcon. It was designed by the Mikoyan design bureau during the 1970s and entered service with the Soviet Air Forces in 1983. The MiG-29, along with the larger Sukhoi Su-27, was intended to address the limitations of U.S. fighters over Vietnam, which were found to be vulnerable to more agile aircraft.

Design and Features

The MiG-29 is a twin-engine fighter aircraft with two widely spaced Klimov RD-33 turbofan engines, each capable of producing significant thrust. The space between the engines generates lift, improving the aircraft's manoeuvrability. The MiG-29 has a mid-mounted swept wing with leading-edge root extensions, swept tailplanes, and two vertical fins mounted on booms outboard of the engines. It features automatic slats on the leading edges of the wings and has excellent agility, high-alpha capability, and resistance to spins.

The MiG-29's cockpit features a centre stick and left-hand throttle controls, with the pilot sitting in a Zvezda K-36DM ejection seat. While early models lacked a "hands-on-throttle-and-stick" (HOTAS) capability, later versions introduced "glass cockpits" with modern liquid-crystal displays and HOTAS compatibility.

The MiG-29 is equipped with a Phazotron RLPK-29 radar fire control system, which includes the N019 Sapfir 29 look-down/shoot-down coherent pulse-Doppler radar. The N019 radar was later improved and incorporated into the upgraded MiG-29S model, which also added a dorsal 'hump' to house a jamming system and additional fuel.

Armament

The MiG-29 is armed with a single GSh-30-1 30mm cannon in the port wing root, originally with a 150-round magazine (later reduced to 100 rounds in later variants). It has three pylons under each wing and can carry a combination of air-to-air missiles (such as the R-27 and R-73), air-to-surface missiles, unguided bombs, and rockets. Some variants can also carry a single nuclear bomb on the port inboard station.

Variants and Upgrades

The MiG-29 has been manufactured in several major variants, including the multirole Mikoyan MiG-29M and the navalised Mikoyan MiG-29K. The MiG-29M is a comprehensively upgraded, fully multirole version, while the MiG-29K is a carrier-based variant with folding wings, an arrestor hook, and reinforced landing gear.

There have been various upgrade programmes for the MiG-29, including improvements to avionics, service life extensions, safety enhancements, and increased combat capabilities. The most advanced member of the MiG-29 family to date is the Mikoyan MiG-35.

The MiG-29 has been manufactured in several major variants, including the Mikoyan MiG-29M and the Mikoyan MiG-29K

The Mikoyan MiG-29 has been manufactured in several major variants, including the Mikoyan MiG-29M and the Mikoyan MiG-29K.

Mikoyan MiG-29M

The Mikoyan MiG-29M is a multirole variant of the MiG-29. It features improved engines, a glass cockpit with HOTAS-compatible flight controls, modern radar, and infrared search and track (IRST) sensors. The MiG-29M also has considerably increased fuel capacity and can be equipped for aerial refuelling.

Mikoyan MiG-29K

The Mikoyan MiG-29K is a navalised variant of the MiG-29M. It was developed in the late 1980s and features folding wings, an arrestor hook, and reinforced landing gear for carrier operations. The MiG-29K has two widely spaced RD-33MK engines and can be equipped with a range of air-to-surface armaments and precision munitions.

The Belarusian Air Force maintains close links with the Russian Air Force and defence industry

The Belarusian Air Force took over all the assets of the 26th Air Army, except for the 1st Guards Bomber Aviation Division, which was transferred to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The Belarusian Air Force was established on June 15, 1992, when the Minister of Defence issued an order for the transformation of the 26th Air Army into the Air Forces of the Republic of Belarus.

In 2001, the Air Forces and Air Defence Troops were merged into the Air Forces and Air Defence of the Armed Forces of Belarus. The Belarusian Air Force has more than 18,170 personnel, though this number is being reduced. There are now four active airbases: the 61st Fighter Air Base (Baranovichi), the 116th Red Banner Guards Assault Air Base (Lida), the 206th Training Centre for Aircrew (Lida), and the 50th Composite Air Base (Minsk - Machulishchy).

The 61st Fighter Air Base in Baranovichi flies the MiG-29. In 2020, Belarus donated four MiG-29s to Serbia as part of a military-technical cooperation agreement between the two countries. The handover ceremony was held at Batajnica Air Base in Serbia. The four MiG-29s were construction numbers: 2960714909, 2960715133, 2960715157, and 2960718708. The first of the refurbished aircraft was flown in the third quarter of 2020.

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