We support our Publishers and Content Creators. You can view this story on their website by CLICKING HERE.

Total Failure: Russia’s MiG-35, marketed as a “fourth-generation++” fighter, has failed to gain traction in foreign markets or domestically.

-Essentially an upgraded MiG-29, it boasts improvements like the Zhuk-AE AESA radar, a fly-by-wire control system, and an enhanced cockpit, but its lack of stealth, limited technological advancements, and logistical issues render it uncompetitive.

-Initially intended as a rival to the F-35 or even the F-16, the MiG-35 has only six units in use, primarily with Russia’s aerobatic team.

-Failed export attempts to countries like India, Egypt, and Malaysia highlight its shortcomings. The MiG-35 epitomizes Russia’s struggle to modernize legacy Cold War-era platforms.

Russia’s MiG-35: A Disappointing Rival to the F-35 and F-16

The Russian Air Force’s MiG-35 has been a failure. It is a platform that has failed to generate interest in the foreign marketplace. To date, Russia has only built six. And those six have been used with a Russian aerobatic demonstration team, presumably to drum up foreign sales, but no one wants it.  

In a review of the aircraft, The War Zone wrote, “The MiG-35 is a far cry from the basic and strictly limited capability MiG-29.” However, despite the advancements in the cockpit, radar, sensors, and other features, it is still, in essence, a MiG-29. 

The MiG-35 was supposed to be the Russian answer to the American-built F-35. However, this assessment has been far more hype or marketing plan than any actual truth. Designed as somewhat of an answer to the F-16 than the newer stealth joint strike fighter, the airframe doesn’t measure up. 

The fact that it is just another Russian Cold War design with minimal stealth technology and has suffered from extended testing, a lack of spare parts, logistical backlogs, and concerns about the lack of advanced technology makes it an undesirable export airframe. 

Brief History of the MiG-35

The Russian aircraft industry began work on an updated MiG-29 in the 1980s, which it dubbed the MiG-35 for foreign sales. The Kremlin unveiled the aircraft at the 2007 Aero India air show in Bangalore, India. At the time, Russia was trying to sell the MiG to India. 

The Russian Air Force initially slated to buy 37 MiG-35s, but later adjusted that it would eventually need to procure more than 170 of the light fighters. In 2017, an upgraded MiG-35 was unveiled in Moscow. 

MiG-35UB pre-series at the MAKS 2017 International Aviation and Space Salon.

Upgrades include a new fly-by-wire flight control system, improved cockpit, upgraded avionics, and integrated precision-guided targeting capability for air-to-ground weapons. Pilots liked the cockpit design and the fly-by-wire flight control system. 

The first six – and to date, the only six – production aircraft were issued to the “Strizhi” or Swifts Russian aerobatic team. Reports of the Swifts conducting combat missions over Ukraine with the MiG-35 have still not been confirmed.

Egypt planned to order two dozen MiG-35s in 2014 but then decided to purchase 46 MiG-29M fighters for $2 billion instead. Russia’s attempts to sell the MiG-35 to India, Argentina, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Peru, Myanmar, and Vietnam have all been in vain thus far.

The fact that Russia has only purchased six hasn’t helped in export sales.

Design and Specs:

The MiG-35 is offered as a one- and two-seat design. The one-seat design removes the rear seat and fits an extra fuel tank.

Length: 17.3 m (56 ft 9 in)

Wingspan: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)

Height: 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in)

MiG-35

MiG-35. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Wing area: 41 m (440 sq ft)

Empty weight: 11,000 kg (24,251 lb)

Gross weight: 17,500 kg (38,581 lb)

Max takeoff weight: 24,500 kg (54,013 lb)

Max landing weight:16,800 kg (37,000 lb)

Powerplant: 2 × Klimov RD-33MK afterburning turbofan engines,

Performance

Maximum speed: 2,100 km/h (1,300 mph, 1,100 knots) at altitude

Maximum speed: Mach 2.25

Cruise speed: 804.7 km/h (500.0 mph, 434.5 knots)

Range: 2,100 km (1,300 mi, 1,100 nmi)

MiG-35 fighter. Image Credit: Russian Government.

MiG-35 fighter. Image Credit: Russian Government.

Combat range: 1,000 km (620 mi, 540 nmi)

Ferry range: 3,000 km (1,900 mi, 1,600 nmi) With three external fuel tanks

Service ceiling: 16,000 m (52,000 ft)

g limits: +9 -3

Rate of climb: 330 m/s (65,000 ft/min)

The MiG-35 has the Zhuk-AE radar active electronically scanned array (AESA) and can track 30 aircraft and multiple targets. It also carries various missiles.

The Russians tried to market the MiG-35 as a fourth-generation++ aircraft. However, given the improvements made with advanced stealth aircraft and integrated air defense systems, the lack of stealth technology would make it a hard sell.

MiG-35 fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

MiG-35 fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

About the Author

Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in other military publications.