The Russian Navy has received the first four series-produced MiG-29K/KUB all-weather carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
RIA Novosti cited a spokesman as saying that Russia has taken delivery of two MiG-29K single-seat and two MiG-29KUB twin-seat carrier-based fighter aircraft from MiG.
In February 2012, the Russian Defense Ministry awarded a contract to MiG to develop and deliver 20 MiG-29K and four MiG-29KUB fighter aircraft by 2015.
The Russian Navy’s northern fleet will deploy the aircraft onboard the Nikolayev South Shipyard-constructed Kuznetsov-class heavy aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, based in Murmansk.
Currently, the Admiral Kuznetsov operates Sukhoi Su-33 naval fighter aircraft.
The MiG-29K, the naval version of the MiG-29 land-based fighter, is armed with RVV-AE and R-73E air-to-air missiles, Kh-31A and Kh-35E anti-ship missiles, Kh-31P anti-radar missiles, guided aerial bombs, rockets and aerial bombs.
The aircraft is powered by two RD-33MK engines equipped with smokeless combustion chamber and a new full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system.
Capable of accommodating a crew of 1,960, the aircraft carrier features hull-mounted search and attack sonar to detect torpedoes and submarines and provides a maximum range of 8,500 miles at a speed of 18kt.
The Admiral Kuznetsov is armed with 30mm twin gun and radar / optronic director and Kashstan air defence gun / missile system to provide defence against precision weapons including anti-ship and anti-radar missiles, aircraft and small sea targets.
In addition, the vessel is armed with an Udav-1 anti-submarine system with 60 anti-submarine rockets to divert and destroy incoming torpedoes.
The ship’s radars include a D/E-band air and surface target acquisition radar, an F-band surface search radar, G/H-band flight control radar, I-band navigation radar and four K-band fire control radars for the Kashstan air defence gun / missile system.
