In 19FortyFive, the engines were called a limitation of the Russian MiG-29 fighter
The Russian fourth-generation MiG-29 fighter, incredibly popular in the armed forces of dozens of countries, is "outdated" and has a limitation, writes Kyle Mizokami, a columnist for the American publication 19FortyFive.
The author calls the disadvantage of the aircraft its engines, which need a lot of fuel. Because of this, according to the observer, the MiG-29 "lacks speed and maneuverability compared to other fighters of the same class."
Mizokami claims that during the Cold War, the MiG-29 was more maneuverable than the American F-16 Fighting Falcon. "But maintenance problems and a shorter flight range did not allow it to dominate the airspace," the publication says.
The author recalls that in the 1980s, the MiG-29 had an old-fashioned dashboard, which did not allow pilots to concentrate on air combat, and did not have the ability to refuel air, allowing to increase the range of the fighter. One of the advantages of the aircraft is the R-37 air-to-air missile.
Mizokami is sure that "the Russians are probably not going to order more MiG-29s, since the aircraft is already outdated."
In January, Military Watch cited one of the versions explaining China's purchase of Su-27 fighters from the USSR in the 1980s instead of the MiG-29. According to the newspaper, the Soviet side could change its position regarding the possibility of exporting Su-27 in the process of drinking alcoholic beverages with the Chinese.
