Mikoyan MiG-AT

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
MiG-AT
Advanced trainer / Light attack aircraft
National originRussia
ManufacturerMoscow Aircraft Production Association
DesignerMikoyan Design Bureau
StatusCancelled
Number built2
History
First flight21 March 1996[1]

The Mikoyan MiG-AT (

Aero L-29 and L-39 of the Russian Air Force. Designed by the Mikoyan Design Bureau and built by the Moscow Aircraft Production Association, the MiG-AT made its first flight in March 1996. It is the first joint aircraft development programme between Russia and France and the first military collaborative project between Russia and the West to reach first flight.[1] The design lost out to the Yakovlev Yak-130 in 2002 in the competition for a government contract, and had also been unsuccessfully marketed to countries such as India, Greece, and those of the Commonwealth of Independent States.[1][2]

Design and development

The design effort on the MiG-AT began when Soviet authorities looked to replace the country's ageing fleet of

Turbomeca and Sextant Avionique (later Thales Avionics), who would provide the aircraft engines and avionics, respectively.[3]

Following the freezing of the MiG-AT's final design in early 1994, the

MiG-29UB and an L-39 acting as chase planes.[1][5]: 44  The aircraft reached a height of 1,200 m (4,000 ft) and a speed of 400 km/h (250 mph).[6] The second prototype joined the flight test programme in October 1997; by then, the first aircraft had accumulated more than 200 test flights.[7][8] Mikoyan had originally planned to conduct the test programme using three flying prototypes and a static aircraft and also to construct about fifteen additional aircraft for its joint international marketing effort with Snecma.[5]
: 45 

The MiG-AT is more conventional than the competing Yak-130. It has a low-set, straight wing, engines mounted on either side of the fuselage and a mid-mounted tail. The first aircraft had avionics that had been jointly developed by Sextant Avionique and

fourth-generation jet fighters.[1] The second prototype differed from the first in having Russian avionics and hardpoints for the carriage of armament.[8]

MiG-AT at MAKS-2007 airshow

The aircraft is powered by two

Alpha Jet. Under a 1995 agreement between French and Russian authorities, the Russian side reserved the right to locally produce and develop a higher thrust derivative of the engine.[5]: 45  In November 1996, a contract was signed for the production of ten Larzac engines for the initial pre-production aircraft, which did not come into fruition.[8] At the same time, the Soyuz Design Bureau [ru] was working on a Russian alternative to the Larzac, named the RD-1700 [ru], rated at 3,750 lbf (16.7 kN) at take-off.[8] Both aircraft prototypes later served as a separate test beds for the RD-1700 and NPO Saturn AL-55I engine.[9][10]

As the tender for a military trainer progressed, operational experience in the air force and pressure from foreign participating companies shifted the original requirements for a purely trainer aircraft to one that encompassed a light combat capability.

Vladimir Mikhailov stated that the Yak-130 had been chosen over the MiG-AT as the air force's new trainers,[11]: 21  only for the media to subsequently report that both aircraft had been chosen.[12][13] The Yak-130, however, was said to be superior as it could serve the dual role of a trainer and combat jet,[14] and in the end, on 10 April 2002, it was announced that the Yak-130 had indeed been selected over the MiG-AT.[15] Mikoyan protested the decision, in particular the expanded requirements for a lightweight combat trainer, and the weapons load requirement that was apparently too great for such physically-inadequate designs.[11]: 23  By then, the two prototypes had amassed 750 flights.[14]

An aspect of the Mikoyan's original 1993 agreement with the French companies was that the latter would assist in the marketing of the MiG-AT outside the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).[5]: 45  In particular, the agreement was intended to add credibility to the project,[16] and to draw on Snecma's international business network. Aside from the CIS, Russia would market the aircraft to countries that had traditionally purchased the country's aircraft, including India and Malaysia.[5]: 45  The aircraft was demonstrated to officials and pilots of such countries as Algeria, Greece, India and the United Arab Emirates.[11]: 21  Despite the loss in 2002 to the Yakovlev design, Mikoyan proceeded with discussions with prospective overseas partners and continuing flight-test programme. In February 2004, the design received its Russian military certification, and it was expected that Algeria would be the first to place an order for the aircraft.[17]

In June 2018, vice president of the United Aircraft Corporation Sergei Korotkov announced the Russian Defence Ministry is considering a revival of the program and possibility of using the aircraft as a main platform for base training of pilots. Further, it was reported by Viktor Bondarev if the decision is taken, the aircraft may be introduced to the Russian Air Force in 2023.[18]

UAC announced in December 2023 that it plans to build a new training complex, the main element of which will be the new single-engine MiG-UTS aircraft, which is a spiritual successor of MiG-AT.[19]

Variants

  • MiG-AT – two-seat basic military trainer variant.
  • MiG-AC – proposed single-seat combat variant with shortened fuselage.[5]: 45 [20]
  • MiG-ATC – proposed trainer/light combat variant of the baseline MiG-AT with helmet-mounted target designation system for air-to-air and air-to-ground operations.[5]: 45 [20]

Specifications (MiG-AT)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004,[21] airforce-technology.com,[22]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 12.01 m (39 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 10.16 m (33 ft 4 in)
  • Height: 4.42 m (14 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: 17.67 m2 (190.2 sq ft)
  • Gross weight: 4,610 kg (10,163 lb) (training)
  • Max takeoff weight: 7,800 kg (17,196 lb) (combat)
  • Fuel capacity: 2,390 L (630 US gal; 530 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 2 ×
    SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac 04-R-20 turbofan
    engines, 14.4 kN (3,200 lbf) thrust each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 1,000 km/h (620 mph, 540 kn) at 2,500 m (8,202 ft)
  • Maximum speed: Mach 0.81
  • Range: 1,200 km (750 mi, 650 nmi)
  • Ferry range: 2,000 km (1,200 mi, 1,100 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 14,000 m (46,000 ft)
  • g limits: +8
  • Rate of climb: 81.7 m/s (16,080 ft/min)

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

  • EADS Mako/HEAT
  • Hongdu L-15
  • Sukhoi S-54 – although single-engined it was entered into the same UTS (new generation jet trainer) design competition
  • Yakovlev Yak-130 – selected UTS design
  • KB SAT SR-10 - a competing single-engine light trainer from the KB SAT design bureau

References

  1. ^
    ISSN 1423-3215. Archived from the original
    on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  2. ISSN 0889-0404
    .
  3. ^
    ISSN 0015-3710
    .
  4. ISSN 0005-2175
    .
  5. ^
    ISSN 0005-2175
    .
  6. ISSN 0005-2175
    .
  7. ISSN 0015-3710
    .
  8. ^
    ISSN 0005-2175
    .
  9. ^ "Flight tests of the AL-55I engine developed by NPO Saturn on the MiG-AT training aircraft are successfully going on" (Press release). NPO Saturn. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014.
  10. ^ Самолет МиГ-АТ опробовал турбореактивный двигатель. Izvestia (in Russian). 29 July 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  11. ^
    ISSN 1423-3215
    .
  12. ISSN 0005-2175
    .
  13. ^ Pronina, Lyuba (1 April 2002). "MiG, Yak to Split Training Craft Deal". The Moscow Times. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  14. ^ a b Pronina, Lyuba (8 April 2002). "French Tout MiG-AT Partnership". The Moscow Times. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  15. ^ "Yakovlev Yak-130 (Russian Federation), Aircraft – Fixed-wing – Civil/military". Jane's All the World's Aircraft. 20 July 2010.
  16. ^ Neher, Jacques (12 June 1993). "MiG: In From the Cold But Snecma Link Adds to West's Woes". International Herald Tribune. p. 9.
  17. ISSN 0015-3710
    .
  18. ^ Производство самолета МиГ-АТ может быть возобновлено в России (in Russian). TASS. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  19. ^ "Разработка нового учебно-тренировочного самолета МиГ-УТС началась в России". Российская газета (in Russian). 2023-12-28. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
  20. ^ a b Zhiharev, Sergey (23 March 1996). Сотрудничество ВПК России и Франции. Kommersant (in Russian). p. 4. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  21. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5
    .
  22. ^ "MiG-AT Advanced Flight and Combat Trainer Aircraft". Airforce-technology. Retrieved 26 July 2018.

The initial version of this article was based on material from aviation.ru. It has been released under the GFDL by the copyright holder.

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