Russo-Ukrainian War: Mikoyan MiG-29, 204th. Tactical Aviation Brigade

Source: Reddit

     A Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name Fulcrum) belonging to the 204th. Tactical Aviation Brigade “Oleksandr Pokryshkin”.  The unit actually has two honorifics, the first being “Sevastopol”, which it received in 1996. As such, the unit is sometimes referred to as the 204th. Sevastopol Tactical Aviation Brigade “Oleksandr Pokryshkin”. The brigade first formed in 1992, following Ukrainian independence, when personnel of the former Soviet 62nd. Mixed Aviation Regiment swore an oath to Ukraine. This unit had been based in Sevastopol, hence the honorific.

     The unit's other honorific, received in 2018, is that of Soviet World War Two ace Alexander Ivanovich Pokryshkin who ended the war with 45 individual victories. Some of the kills were earned while flying over Ukraine starting in July 1943. His tally during this time included a Messerschmitt Bf 109 (flown by German ace Hans Ellendt), two Junkers Ju 88A-4 bombers (and one claimed), and two Junkers Ju 87D-5 dive bombers.

     At present, the brigade is commanded by Colonel Meretin Viktor Petrovych. The unit has two squadrons, the 1st. and 2nd. Aviation Squadrons which are made up of three flights. Regarding the current Russo-Ukrainian War, a notable aircraft loss of the unit involved Lieutenant Colonel Vadim Voroshilov, who uses the callsign “Karaya” (which, incidentally, was the same as used by Major Erich Hartmann, the most successful fighter ace in World War Two with 352 aerial kills). On October 12, 2022, Voroshilov was involved in night combat over Vinnytsia Oblast where he engaged Shahed-136 and Geran-2 (the Russian version) drones. However, the explosion of a Geran-2 following a successful engagement sent debris into the nose of his MiG-29 (a Fulcrum-C variant) that shattered the canopy and started a cockpit fire. Voroshilov managed to steer his stricken away from the city of Vinnytsia before ejecting. The plane came down near Turbiv, Vinnytsia Oblast. Some buildings were damaged by debris and power was knocked out but there were no civilian injuries. Voroshilov, following ejection, used his smartphone to take a selfie and that, despite having a bloody face, showed that he was alive.

For more information on the Mikoyan MiG-29, visit:

https://photosofmilitaryhistory.blogspot.com/2025/04/russo-ukrainian-war-mikoyan-mig-29.html

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum

Source: Reddit

     A Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name Fulcrum) of the 40th. Tactical Aviation Brigade “Ghost of Kyiv” sporting an impressive tally of bombing missions, 69 in all. The MiG-29 is the most numerous fighter in the Ukrainian Air Force and the majority of them are operated by the 40th. The most numerous version in Ukrainian service is the MiG-29 (Product 9.13) Fulcrum C which appeared in 1989.

     The MiG-29 is powered by two Klimov RD-33 turbofan engines fitted with afterburners and each engine is capable of 11,110 pounds of thrust without afterburner and 18,340 pounds of thrust at full afterburner. This provides for a maximum speed of 1,520 miles per hour (just at Mach 2). The airframe is rated for +9 g forces. With 998 gallons of onboard fuel (excluding drop tanks), the MiG-29 has a maximum combat range of 560 miles when loaded out with six AAMs (Air-to-Air Missiles). With just internal fuel and no munitions, the range is 890 miles. Ferry range, with three drop tanks, is 1,802 miles. Rate of climb is 1,082 feet per second which means the MiG-29 can attain it's 60,000 foot service ceiling in a little under a minute.

     The only onboard armament is a single Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 30mm autocannon which is provided with 150 rounds. A short recoil operated weapon, the GSh-30-1 has a maximum rate of fire of 1,800 rounds per minute with an effective range of 1.1 miles. The autocannon can fire ammunition to allow the pilot to engage ground targets but in the Russo-Ukrainian War, such an attack is too great a risk with the prevalence of MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defense Systems) and other anti-air weapons. As such, it is likely Ukrainian MiG-29s carry ammunition suitable for air combat and such rounds have distance-armed, delayed action fuzes.

     The MiG-29 has seven hardpoints, one underneath the fuselage and three per wing. All together, the MiG-29 can carry 8,818 pounds of war load. Common AAMs used by Ukraine include the Vympel R-73 (NATO reporting name AA-11 Archer) and the older Vympel R-27 (NATO reporting name AA-10 Alamo). Interestingly, because of the lack of air-to-air combat between Ukrainian and Russian fighter jets, many R-73 missiles are being repurposed as SAMs (Surface-to-Air Missiles) for use by air defense ground forces. Befitting the bomber role, the MiG-29 can carry four of the common Soviet-era FAB-250 550 pound bomb or the larger FAB-500 1,100 pound bomb. Likewise, Russia is making heavy use of both types of bombs against Ukrainian targets. In some instances, the Russians have created wing packages that allow the bombs to glide, extending their range. However, the Ukrainians are using primarily non-Soviet munitions but offering similar glide capacity. The first is the JDAM-ER fitted to GBU-62 bombs. The Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range is a kit that turns a regular free-fall 1,000 pound GBU-62 bomb into a guided weapon. The kit consists of a tail unit affixed to the rear of the bomb that contains an inertial navigation system, GPS module, steerable fins, and a autopilot. Around the bomb's body is a series of strakes that provide a measure of lift to extend the glide range. At a optimal release altitude, the JDAM-ER can attain a range of 46 miles. Another tool in the Ukrainian Air Force's arsenal is the similar French AASM 250 HAMMER (see the link below for more information).

     Other systems of the MiG-29 include a Phazotron NO19E Rubin airborne radar for target tracking and engagement (maximum search range of 93 miles), OEPrNK-29 series optronic Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system (9 mile range), digital fly-by-wire flight controls, SPO-15LM Beryoza RWR (Rear Warning Radar), Gardeniya-F1U jammer, SRZP-1 IFF (Identification, Friend or Foe), SRO-1P transponder, SN-29 navigation system, SUO-29M weapon selector, ILS-31 HUD (Heads-Up Display), FKP-EU gun camera, and the Schchel-3UM-1 helmet-mounted target designator.

As a side note, the MiG-29 Fulcrum C is nicknamed the “Gorbatov”, or “Hunchback”, due to the expanded and extended spine of the airframe to accommodate additional fuel capacity. It is also sometimes called the “Fatback”.

     From the opening of the Russo-Ukrainian War in February 2022 to date, the 40th. Tactical Aviation Brigade has lost ten MiG-29 fighters during combat sorties at the cost of eight pilots. The most notable non-combat unit loss was Major Andrii Pilshchykov, call sign “Juice”, who was killed during a mid-air collision with another jet during training on August 25, 2023. He was flying a Aero L-39M1 Albatross trainer. Pilshchykov was a very public advocate for the push for Ukraine to receive General Dynamics F-16 fighters and he was also a philanthropist in obtaining equipment to outfit Ukrainian pilots.

For more information on the AASM 250 HAMMER, visit:

https://photosofmilitaryhistory.blogspot.com/2025/01/russo-ukrainian-war-aasm-250-hammer-asm.html