The MiG-35 generation 4++ fighter (Fulcrum-F), which was supposed to provide the Russian Aerospace Forces with the necessary power, and the country with the opportunity to earn money on its export, turned out to be a complete failure. So the plane was named by the columnist of the American publication 19FortyFive Brent Eastwood.
"The MiG-35 is based on the MiG-29 design and two modifications of the MiG-29 — K and M. Fulcrum made its first flight in 2016. The MiG-35 was conceived as a multi—purpose fighter capable of gaining air supremacy, intercepting enemy fighters, striking ground targets and performing reconnaissance tasks," the author writes.
The observer recalls that the MiG-35 boasts a modern radar station (radar) and electron-optical sensors with the ability to track several air, sea and ground targets. Equipped with two RD-33MK engines, the fighter develops a maximum speed of Mach 2.25 and has a practical ceiling of 16 kilometers. Eastwood writes that the MiG-35 is equipped with modern ammunition, such as air-to-air missiles, in particular, RVV-SD and the upgraded R-77, and the X-38 air-to-ground missile.
The observer notes that earlier Argentina, Bangladesh and Malaysia tried to buy the MiG-35, for which they did not have enough funds. "The Malaysians had MiG-29s, but they could not get spare parts from Russia, and it is expensive to keep them in the air. MiG-35s are considered too expensive and difficult to maintain for the Malaysian Armed Forces," the author says.
Eastwood notes that the MiG-35 "also has no combat experience, as it is a relatively new aircraft."
"Potential customers should be concerned about the cost of aircraft maintenance without readily available spare parts. Another problem for the future of the MiG-35 is the appearance of the Su-57 and Su-75 — stealth fighters that can surpass the MiG-35. Thus, the MiG-35 has a difficult future ahead of it — it is not ready either for domestic use or for the export market," the author concludes.
In July 2021, Dmitry Shugaev, director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), said that Russia had received two applications from foreign partners for the supply of Mig-35 fighters from 2019.
