The key engineering and manufacturing innovations implemented in MiG-29K/KUB fighters include:
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Advanced airframes with composite-material content of approx. 15%;
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Flexible wings with advanced high-lift devices providing improved takeoff and landing performance;
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Digital integrated fly-by-wire control systems with quadruple redundancy;
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Considerably-reduced radar signatures;
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Increased payloads arranged on eight external hard points;
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Increased fuel-system capacities and in-flight refueling systems;
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The ability to refuel other airplanes when equipped with PAZ-1MK refueling systems.
Like the other airplanes in their unified family, MiG-29K/KUB fighters offer improved operational availability, serviceability, and high reliability in terms of their components, systems and assembly units. The MiG-29K/KUB has a more than doubled flight life and almost 2.5-fold lower cost per fight hour as compared to older versions. MiG-29K/KUBs are operated without overhauls.
Their power generation is comprised of RD-33MK afterburning turbofan engines with increased thrust, equipped with smokeless combustion chambers and a new full-authority electronic-control system (FADEC type). The engines are of modular design and offer increased reliability and service life.
The avionic equipment on MiG-29K/KUBs is built on the principle of open architecture based on the MIL-STD-1553B standard.
The fighter is equipped with Zhuk-ME multi-functional multi-modal pulsed Doppler side-scanning airborne radars produced by the Fazotron-NIIR Corporation. The radar is fitted with a slot array antenna. Compared to its older generations, the Zhuk-ME radar has a greater range of azimuth coverage angles, doubled location range, lower weight, and higher reliability. The Zhuk-ME radar provides for the tracking of up to 10 aerial targets and the simultaneous firing of missiles at four of these targets.
The MiG-29K/KUB is equipped with an up-to-date multichannel infrared search-and-track station and target designator system for passive seekers of anti-radar missiles.
The airplane allows for the installation of containers with infrared and laser-aiming equipment used for the highlighting of ground targets.
The open architecture of the avionics system allows for the on-board installation of new equipment and weapons from Russian and foreign manufacturers at the customer’s request.
MiG-29K/KUB airplanes are equipped with a Karat built-in integrated automatic monitoring-and-recording system, an airborne video-recording system, a computerized system for uploading flight missions to the avionic system, as well as an independent power-generating system for ground testing equipment without the need to start main engines.
The weapon system includes air-to-air and air-to-surface guided missiles, glide bombs, rockets, aerial bombs, and an integral 30-mm gun. New weapons may be included in the weapon system at the customer’s request.
The single-seat and two-seat versions have an identical set of equipment and weapons, and feature a high degree of design unification.
A functionally-complete set of training equipment has been developed for the MiG-29K/KUB, which includes a full flight simulator with motion system.