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World Aviation Defense & Security News - Russia
 
 
 
Russia's MiG-35S multirole fighter aircraft could enter service in 2018
 
MiG-35S fighter planes will begin to enter service as of 2018, the commander of Russia’s Air and Space Forces, Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev, told the media on Wednesday, August 12. "The MiG-35S is being developed under a contract with the Defense Ministry. Research and development is to be completed in 2017. After government certification tests it will be authorized for service. Thirty planes of this type or more will be purchased," Bondarev said.
     
MiG-35S fighter planes will begin to enter service as of 2018, the commander of Russia’s Air and Space Forces, Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev, told the media on Wednesday, August 12. "The MiG-35S is being developed under a contract with the Defense Ministry. Research and development is to be completed in 2017. After government certification tests it will be authorized for service. Thirty planes of this type or more will be purchased," Bondarev said. Russian Air Force MiG-35 fighter aircraft
     
The Mikoyan MiG-35 is a further development of the MiG-29M/M2 and MiG-29K/KUB technology. The fighter has vastly improved avionics and weapon systems, notably the new AESA radar and the uniquely designed Optical Locator System (OLS), relieves the aircraft from relying on ground-controlled interception (GCI) systems and enables it to conduct independent multi-role missions.

MiG-35 is compatible with Russian and foreign-origin weapons applications and an integrated variety of defensive systems to increase combat survivability. The MiG-35 is fitted with the newly rolled-out Phazotron Zhuk-AE active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. The Phazotron Zhuk-AE AESA radar offers a wider range of operating frequencies, providing more resistance to electronic countermeasures (ECM), more detection range, more air and ground targets detected, tracked and able to be engaged simultaneously. The radar is thought to have detection range of 160 km (86 nmi) for air targets and 300 km (160 nmi) for ships.

An aircraft variant is powered with the RD-33OVT engine, which comes with thrust vectoring nozzles, and can direct thrust in two directions or planes. The newly designed Optical Locator System, OLS-35, allows the MiG-35 to detect targets and aim weapon systems. But, unlike radar, OLS has no emissions, meaning it cannot be detected. The OLS on the MiG-35 is considered to help pilots to spot even the USAF's stealth planes. OLS includes a complex of powerful optics with IR vision that makes it impossible for any plane to hide.

The final version of MiG-35 was officially displayed for the first time at Aero India 2007.