Engines and radar to blame for MiG-35 failure in MMRCA contest

Flight International ^ | 04/08/11 | Vladimir Karnozov

[sukhoi-30mki]

Engines and radar to blame for MiG-35 failure in MMRCA contest

By Vladimir Karnozov

Radar and engine performance shortcomings were to blame for the MiG-35 failing to make the shortlist in India's medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) contest.

The revelations are contained in feedback from India to Russia's arms export agency, Rosboronexport.

The MiG-35's radar, the Zhuk-MAE active electronically scanned array (AESA), from Russia's Phazotron, failed to achieve the required acquisition and tracking ranges. And its Klimov RD-33MK engines also fell short of the Indian performance criteria.

Speaking to the media on 3 August, Vladimir Barkovsky, chief of MiG's engineering centre, said: "The Klimov and Chernyshev [engine companies] briefed [India] at length about their capabilities and intentions to improve their offering, but unfortunately their arguments were not taken into account."

Despite this, the same RD-33MK met Indian navy requirements and powers the newly-built MiG-29K/KUB fighters being delivered to the service.

Barkovsky also defended the Zhuk-MAE AESA radar, pointing out that the prototype nature of the model fitted to the MiG-35 meant that it did not meet the tender specifications, particularly regarding range.

He said: "We told the tender committee that this particular unit is experimental, and that in future we will make a larger radar antenna [capable of being used at a longer range]."

Barkovsky pointed out that the Eurofighter Typhoon is yet to be fitted with a working AESA radar.

"While the Russians demonstrated their radar fitted to the real fighter and working, [Eurofighter] demonstrated their radar on a helicopter," he said.

"The positive outcome of the Indian tender is that we made a huge effort on the radar development and demonstrated what nobody expected of us, and thus surprised many, including some in our home country." Barkovsky added.

The company will continue the MiG-35 project, he said, and look for other export customers.

[sukhoi-30mki]

[org.whodat]

A trillion dollar POS.

[null and void]

Not arguing, but curious why you say that.

[pfflier]

Engines and radar to blame for MiG-35 failure

This pretty much describes MiGs in general.

Lots of 'em, cheap. But they are MiGs since 1980, the most defeated aircraft in the world.

[cunning_fish]

I bet you better have to apply your critizism on airforces using them.
Porsches and Corvettes are losing to Crown Vics all time as well. It has nothing to do with their performance, isn’t it?

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

But they are MiGs since 1980, the most defeated aircraft in the world

In light of this conclusion and the fact that these and the Sukhoi fighters are the best the opposition has to offer, I can't really see the need to waste taxpayer dollars on either the F-22 or the F-35, can you?

All wee need to do until they do come up with something better is to just keep building new F-15s, F-16s and F-18s to replace the existing fighters that have worn out.

[STD]

Crappy engines, defective radar to blame for fighter bombers that don’t work. It must all be the bi-sexual Vlad Putin’s to blame!

[paddles]

“In a related story the MiG-35 was used to fly the chief designer of the aircraft to Moscow where he was summarily shot.”

[pfflier]

No, the airframes are poorly constructed. No degree of high quality maintenance can overcome initial poor quality in the long run.

[pfflier]

I can't really see the need to waste taxpayer dollars on either the F-22 or the F-35, can you?

Yes I can see investment in gen 4 technology. In light of current events we only have the F-22 as a gen 4 fighter.

Sukhois are just entering the arena. If we develop nothing further and the Russians continue to develop their technology based on experience with the PAK T-50's at some point they will gain a technological advantage we cannot surmount and they will capture the world market.

Then they will talk about the inferior American junk, the F-15 and the F-16, and how we once had the F-22 but were too stupid to build it in sufficient numbers or market it.

[Still Thinking]

Barkovsky also defended the Zhuk-MAE AESA radar, pointing out that the prototype nature of the model fitted to the MiG-35 meant that it did not meet the tender specifications, particularly regarding range. He said: "We told the tender committee that this particular unit is experimental, and that in future we will make a larger radar antenna [capable of being used at a longer range]."

So you're saying the other entrants have more matured designs than you do, which is why they don't want your plane. Duh! "You should choose ours -- it's the one that isn't done yet!"