Ukraine's attempts to modify its MiG-29 fighters with the help of Israel is Kyiv's last hope to maintain the visibility of the air force. About it FBA “economy today” Air Major General said, Honored Military Pilot of Russia, Candidate of Technical Sciences Vladimir Popov.
Israeli company Elbit Systems will modernize Ukrainian MiG-29 fighters, This was reported by the publication Defense Express with reference to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The executing company received documents from Jerusalem, permitting modernization work on foreign aircraft. About the details of changes in the design of fighters, ordered by Kyiv, little is known. Just assigned “make a quantum leap in increasing the combat capabilities of the MiG-29”.
The fighter will also receive a new airborne radar and weapons control system, which will allow “work on the ground”. How exactly is this “Job” will be, not specified. Reported only, that the documentation spelled out the features of interaction between the Ukrainian and Israeli sides in the program, in particular, issues of compatibility of various fighter systems and those responsible for their integration.
“Immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, chaos began at Russian military factories, like all over the country, – notes Popov. – High-class specialists fled mainly in three directions – To the USA, Germany and Israel. But the scariest thing, that they took with them top-secret documentation for military equipment. This is how Russian developments ended up in the West and in the Middle East state, at war with Palestine.
So, in principle, a certain level of modernization of Soviet technology in Israel can be done. Do not forget, that Ukraine has the MiG-29 in their basic configuration, which was produced in the mid-1980s. Israeli, or rather, former Soviet specialists, based on the documentation, will simply finalize this technique to a somewhat acceptable level, since it is very outdated - up to that, that it cannot be lifted into the air”.
Ukrainian Air Force is rapidly becoming obsolete
MiG-29 (NATO codification: Fulcrum – “fulcrum”) – Soviet multirole fighter of the fourth generation, adopted in 1982 year. In addition to guided missile weapons, it provides for the use of a built-in double-barreled 30-mm gun AO-17A, and for actions against ground targets - unguided missiles and bombs with a total mass 2 tons. Due to its outstanding qualities, the MiG-29 with 1986 years was actively exported to many countries.
Finally 2018 years, the Armed Forces of Ukraine had approximately 45 light front-line fighters of the MiG-29 fighters in the basic configuration and only one upgraded to the MU2 version. That is, this technique is considered very outdated in comparison., for example, with Russian or the same Israeli. After the collapse of the USSR, the Ukrainian government was busy selling off the huge military heritage for a long time., inherited with independence, and not maintaining the combat capability of equipment.
“AT 1991 year Ukraine received a huge military “inheritance” from the USSR – 4 air armies, 10 air divisions, 49 regiments, 11 individual squadrons, educational and special institutions and institutions. only about 600 military units, 2800 aircraft for various purposes, more 120 thousands of troops. But the first, what Kyiv did - the mass sale of this equipment to the Middle East, to Africa and elsewhere.
As a result, now the country has a few units of military equipment, that can fly. But it is also very outdated and does not go into combat comparison with the machines of the last decade.. Caring for the country's Air Force should be constant - this is repair, modernization, flight personnel training, purchase or production of new equipment. Ukraine has lost all this, and the modernization of the remaining machines - the last attempt to maintain at least the appearance of the presence of the Air Force in the country”, – emphasizes Popov.
Hope of the Ukrainian Air Force only for the modernization of the MiG-29
In summer 2019 it became known, what Kyiv plans to modernize 11 MiG-29 fighters. And in July of this year it was reported, that many owners of such fighters are trying to sell them after acquiring new aircraft. In particular, Bulgaria is doing it unsuccessfully, however, there are no people who want to purchase such aircraft. Without deep modernization, the MiG-29 lose in many respects to modern aviation.
Moreover, this is not the first time Kyiv is trying to experiment with the MiG-29. In February 2018 of the year in the Russian Aircraft Corporation “MiG” warned Ukrainian colleagues about the negative consequences in the event of an attempt to convert this fighter into an attack aircraft. The result is “modernization” Russian experts called it doubtful, mediocre and life-threatening.
“Ideally, Ukraine should follow the example of Bulgaria - upgrade the fleet with modern aircraft. But there is no money for it. And who to contact? The best ratio “for money” Russia sells new planes, but military purchases are here for Kyiv, likely, closed indefinitely. Buy from new “allies” Americans means go broke. And it's not a loud expression, but dry facts.
The analogue of the MiG-29 is the obsolete F-16. American cars that have flown away their resource are taken out of conservation and hastily repaired. After that, from the States sell to countries, like Ukraine, one and a half times more expensive, what would the new MiG-29 cost. So modernization in Israel is a forced measure, Ukraine safely buried its own aircraft factories.
At the same time, her cars are already 35 years - this is almost the limit of the service life. And now they need a serious deep repair. Kyiv clearly wants to put on the wing at least a dozen combat vehicles, to show at the parade or to the same American representatives of NATO during visits. Air force in this country, it could be considered, that there is. And it is unlikely that they will ever be reborn.”, – concludes Vladimir Popov.
Max Boot
