MOSCOW. Feb 6 (Interfax-AVN) - The MIG aircraft corporation and the Russian Air Force have signed a joint resolution on the technical shape of the MIG-29 Fulcrum fighters in the inventory of regular Air Force units that are undergoing modernization, a competent source in the corporation told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
The MIG corporation has suggested the full upgrade of the MIG-29 to the MIG-29SMT level, the source said. The parties have agreed on the composition of on-board equipment for the modernized fighters, but the exact volume of modernization is not disclosed, he said.
According to the source, the first MIG-29 plane to undergo modernization on the program coordinated with the Air Force is to start tests in summer this year.
The MIG-29SMT has a new architecture of the board and the cabin's information and control field. It is fitted with the modified radar sighting system with the Zhuk-M on-board radar, as well as with an optic location station, an on-helm target indication system and other cutting-edge equipment. All systems and elements of the MIG-29 upgrade to the MIG-29SMT variant have been tested on selected planes.