UKR - Mikojan-Gurevič MiG-29MU1 [kód NATO: Fulcrum-C]

The MiG-29MU1 (MiG-29MU1 / Мікоян і Гуревич-29 модернізація українська 1) is a Ukrainian modernization of the MiG-29 (izdelije 9-13), which aimed to extend the aircraft's technical service life to 35-40 years, to increase the capability to detect air targets in the forward and rear hemispheres, to increase the accuracy of target acquisition and self-positioning (implementation of a satellite navigation system) and, last but not least, to implement in the aircraft the monitoring of the current technical parameters of the aircraft, engine and other on-board systems, which will allow to change the way they are maintained. The modernisation also includes changes in the communication system so that the aircraft complies with ICAO requirements.


The individual modernisation works are planned to be carried out as part of the planned overhauls of the aircraft. The upgraded aircraft shall have a target detection capability in the forward hemisphere at a minimum range of 100 km and in the aft hemisphere at a minimum range of 45 km. The aircraft allows the use of Ukrainian R-27ER1 and R-27ET1 anti-aircraft missiles with a range of 95 km (90 km), with the possibility of implementing newer, under development types with even longer range.


The origins of the modernization date back to 2005-2007, when Ukraine sold surplus MiG-29 aircraft (12 combat and 2 trainer) to Azerbaijan and the Lviv State Aircraft Repair Plant carried out overhauls and modifications on them as required by the receiving party, including improvements to the on-board radar parameters.
On 28.02.2007, the Ministry of Defence approved the allocation of 7.7 million hryvnias for the continuation of the development, which involved, in addition to the Lviv plant, other defence industry enterprises (e.g. Orizon-Navigacia, Fazotron Ukraina, Novator, Arsenal and others). Due to budget constraints, it was decided to split the modernisation programme into two steps, referred to as MU1 and MU2, with the first stage completed in 2009 and the upgraded aircraft officially accepted into service on 23 December 2009. By 2011, the upgrades on the three aircraft that were subjected to military trials in the 40th Tactical Air Brigade (one aircraft was later transferred to the 204th Tactical Air Brigade) were relayed to the 40th Tactical Air Brigade. In 2012, another upgraded aircraft was delivered to the 114th Tactical Air Brigade, and in the same year the MiG-29MU1 ("White 02") was presented to the public at the Aviasvit-XXI exhibition. After the modernization of the above-mentioned quartet of aircraft, the modernization of other MiG-29 aircraft was suspended in 2012-2015, despite the fact that according to the approved official materials dedicated to the development of defense for 2012-2017, it was supposed to continue and the next 2 aircraft reached the troops only in 2016. At the beginning of 2017, all the upgraded aircraft were concentrated in the 40th Tatar Air Brigade at Vasilkov airfield.

In 2018, 3 aircraft were upgraded by the manufacturer, in 2019 a total of 2 aircraft, and in 2020 it was one aircraft, which by the end of 2020 meant (if I counted correctly) that there were 12 MiG-29MU1 aircraft in service.

Source: details.ua

ua.interfax.com.ua

ukroboronprom.com.ua

ukroboronprom.com.ua

Journals Vzlet, Defense Express, Nauka i obobrona, Zarubezhnoe военnoe obozrenie, Lotnictwo
uk.wikipedia.org

One of the upgraded MiG-29MU1 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force was involved in a rather curious accident on 10.03.2021, during which it was destroyed. The accident occurred in the evening at Vasilkov airbase. One of the members of the ground staff of the 40th Tactical Air Brigade (Captain Š., born in 1974) in a Volkswagen Touran passenger car crashed into the rear of an aircraft parked on a stand. After the collision, a fire broke out, which, despite the intervention of the fire brigade, caused serious damage to the aircraft. The driver of the passenger car, who was driving under the influence of alcohol (0.2 per mille), sustained injuries in the collision and was taken to hospital. The destroyed aircraft with tact. No 2960731239) was manufactured in December 1990 and was part of the 114th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the USSR Air Force, which was stationed in Czechoslovakia and from there was redeployed to Ukraine. In 2014, the aircraft (with fuselage number 104) was part of the Ukrainian Falcons aerobatic group with home base at Kirovskoye airfield (Crimea), where it fell into the hands of Russian forces. It was returned to Ukraine in May 2014 along with other equipment and in 2017-2018 was upgraded to MiG-29MU1 standard as part of an overhaul at the Lviv State Aircraft Repair Plant and subsequently assigned to the 40th Tactical Air Force Brigade.

Source: plus.obozrevatel.com
uk.wikipedia.org

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