List of Mikoyan MiG-29 operators

This is a list of Mikoyan MiG-29 operators.

Current operators

 Algeria

Algeria has 105 aircraft in service. 65 MiG-29s, four MiG-29UBT and 36 MiG-29SMT were to be delivered between 2007 and 2008. However, in March 2008, in an unprecedented move, Algeria decided to return to Russia 15 of the MiG-29SMT aircraft delivered in 2006-07, citing the "inferior quality" of certain components and units.^[1]

• 113e Escadron de Chasse based at Tindouf operates MiG-29S (9.13S) upgraded to MiG-29SMT standard.
• 143e Escadron de Chasse based at Ouargla operates MiG-29S (9.13S) and MiG-29UB (9.51) upgraded to MiG-29SMT standard.
• 153e Escadron de Chasse based at Béchar-Oukda/Leger operates MiG-29S (9.13S) upgraded to MiG-29SMT standard.
• 193e Escadron de Chasse based at Bou Sfer operates MiG-29S (9.13S) and MiG-29UB (9.51) upgraded to MiG-29SMT standard.

 Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan Air Force has 13 aircraft in service.^[2]

 Bangladesh

Bangladesh has 8 aircraft in service. 16 single-seat MiG-29SE multi-role variants were ordered, however procurement was cancelled after 8 aircraft were delivered.

Bangladesh Air Force

• 8th Squadron based at Bashar operates 6 MiG-29SE (9.12A) and 2 MiG-29UB (9.51).

 Belarus

• Belarus Air Force has 50 aircraft in service.

 Bulgaria

Bulgaria has 15 MiG-29A in service, including 4 MiG-29UB. Also 4 MiG-29A in reserve. One aircraft disjointed in Bulgarian military factory. One crashed in 1994.

Bulgarian Air Force

• 2/3 Iztrebitelna Avio Eskadrila based at Graf Ignatievo operates MiG-29A and MiG-29UB (9.51).

 Cuba

• Cuban Air Force has 14 aircraft but only three of them remain in flying condition.

 Eritrea

Eritrea received 8 aircraft in 1998, of these five remain in service.

 India

The Indian Air Force has 69 aircraft in service and undergoing upgrades. The Indian Naval Air Arm has 12 MiG-29K and 4 MiG-29KUB in service.^[3] 45 MiG-29K fighters on order.^[4]

Indian Air Force

• 28 Squadron
• 47 Squadron
• 223 Squadron

Indian Naval Air Arm

• INAS 303

 Iran

18 single seat MiG-29 and 6 MiG-29UB trainers were delivered from Soviet Union during 1990-1991 period. Iran took over 4 ex-Iraqi aircraft (inc one MiG-29UB), flown over in 1991. Currently 25 are in service.

Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force

• 11 TFS based at Tehran and Mehrabad Int'l operates MiG-29 (9.12B) and MiG-29UB (9.51).
• 23 TFS based at Tabriz operates MiG-29 (9.12B) and MiG-29UB (9.51).

 Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan has 40 aircraft in service.

 Malaysia

Malaysia originally received 18 Mig-29s, only 12 are operational due to lack of spare parts and are to be replaced by 2015.

Malaysian Air Force

• 19 Sqn Cobra based at RMAF Kuantan operates MiG-29S (9.13S) and MiG-29UB (9.51) under (local designation MiG-29N).

 North Korea

North Korea has 15-40 MiG-29 aircraft in service.

Korean People's Air Force

• 57th Air Regiment based at Onchon-up

 Peru

Peru acquired 18 aircraft from Belarus in 1996, 16 MiG-29 (9.13) and 2 MiG-29UB (9.51) (one purchased new by Belarus to Russia to replace the unit rejected by the Peruvian Air Force for technical issues). Two aircraft were lost in accidents in 1997 and 2001 respectively. Three additional MiG-29SE (9.13SE) were purchased from Russia in 1998 to replace the lost aircraft.

In 12 August 2008 a contract of US$106 million was signed with RAC MiG for a custom-made SMT-based upgrade of eight MiG-29 called MiG-29SMP.^[5] Four MiG-29SMP (3 single-seaters and 1 twin-seater) were displayed in maneuvers during the Peruvian Air Force anniversary celebrations in 23 July 2012.^[6]

Peruvian Air Force

• Escuadrón Aéreo Nº 612 based at Chiclayo operates MiG-29/MiG-29SE/MiG-29SMP (9.13/9.13SE) and MiG-29UBP (9.51).^[5]

 Poland

Poland bought 12 aircraft (nine MiG-29 9.12A and three MiG-29UB 9.51) from the Soviet Union between 1989 and 1990. Next ten ex-Czech aircraft (nine MiG-29A and one MiG-29UB) were exchanged with Czech Republic for 11 Polish PZL W-3 Sokół helicopters in 1996. Last 22 were handed over by Germany in 2003. Currently Poland has 44 aircraft (36 MiG-29A and eight MiG-29UB) but only 32 aircraft are operational in two units.

Between 2001 and 2005 all aircraft were upgraded with domestic SC-10D2 Supraśl IFF, Rockwell Collins AN/ARN-153 (TCN 500) TACAN and ANV-241 MMR VOR/ILS receivers, Trimble 2101AP civilian GPS receiver, Thomson-CSF SB-14 radar warning receiver, RS 6113-2 VHF/UHF radio with R-862 control panel and new anti-collision lights.^[7] Their service life was extended up to 4000 flight hour or until 2028. In 2011-2014 period 16 aircraft from the 1. elt received second modernization package, consisting of MFCD 5"x7" multi-function display, MDP mission computer, Up-Front Control Panel (UFCP), Honeywell Enhanced GPS Inertial navigation system (EGI) with SAASM, MIL-STD-1553B data bus and Rockwell Collins AN/ARC-210 (Talon RT-8200) VHF/UHF radio, exploitation was changed from flight hours to based on technical status.^[8][9]

Polish Air Force

• 1. Pułk Lotnictwa Myśliwskiego based at Mińsk Mazowiecki operated MiG-29 (9.12A) and MiG-29UB (9.51) between 1989 and 2000. Unit was reorganized to 1. ELT.
• 1. eskadra lotnictwa taktycznego based at Mińsk Mazowiecki operates MiG-29 (9.12A) and MiG-29UB (9.51) from 2001.
• 41. eskadra lotnictwa taktycznego based at Malbork operates MiG-29 (9.12A) and MiG-29UB (9.51) from 2005.

 Russia

Russia has 580 in service total, 266 with air force^[10] plus 110 with navy (150 in reserve, 50 for training).^[11]

Russian Air Force

• 783rd Training Centre - Armavir
• 14th Fighter Aviation Regiment - Kursk
• 28th Fighter Aviation Regiment - Andreapol (air base)
• 237th Air Technology Demonstration Centre of Guards - Kubinka
• 19th Fighter Aviation Regiment - Millerovo
• 31st Fighter Aviation Regiment - Zernograd
• 120th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment
• 102nd Military Base in Gyumri - 18 MiG-29

Russian Naval Aviation^[12]

 Serbia

Serbia inherited four MiG-29B and one MiG-29UB from Yugoslavia.^[13] Refurbished and returned to service in 2009. One MiG-29 crashed in 2009.

Serbian Air Force

• 101st squadron based at 204th Air Base (Batajnica Airbase) operates MiG-29 (9.12B) and MiG-29UB (9.51).

 Slovakia

Slovakia has 21 aircraft in service since 1993, 13 are operational. In 2005–2006 aircraft were upgraded to MiG-29SD (locally designated AS - S for Slovak) and MiG-29UBS with NATO/ICAO standard.

Slovak Air Force

• 1 Stíhacia Letka based at Sliač operates MiG-29 (9.12A) and MiG-29UB (9.51).

 Sudan

Sudan has 22-23 aircraft in service. According to Sudanese Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Mohammed Hussein, Sudan bought 12 MiG-29 from Russia in 2004 (despite the UN arms embargo^[14] and other 12 in 2008 (probable Russian surplus via Belarus). One MiG-29 was shot down in May 2008 by heavy machine gun fire during a CAS mission;^[15] Sudanese Air Force

 Syria

Syria has an unknown number of aircraft in service. Sources say a number between 22 and 84. MiG-29SM (SyAF) For the Syrian Air Force, and based on the MiG-29SM, except the Syrian MiG-29SM uses the 9.12 airframe. RAC MiG developed a special variant for Syria.^[16] In 2007 Syria reportedly signed a deal for 24 Mig-29m2s that was delayed, in 2011 Syrian signed a deal for an other 24 Mig-29m2 ^[17][18]

Syrian Air Force

• 697 Squadron based at Tsaykal
• 698 Squadron based at Tsaykal
• 699 Squadron based at Tsaykal

 Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan has 20 aircraft in service.

 Ukraine

Ukraine inherited hundreds of MiG-29 air-frames at the dissolution of the USSR.^[19] A small fraction of them are in service.

Ukrainian Air Force

• 204th Fighter Aviation Brigade
• 9th Fighter Aviation Brigade
• 114th Fighter Aviation Brigade
• 40th Fighter Aviation Brigade

 United States

The United States bought 21 aircraft from Moldova.^[20] Different private owned companies and individuals bought MiG-29's from former USSR republics.^[21]

 Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has 30 aircraft in service.

 Yemen

Yemen has 44 aircraft in service. Five or six of them were bought from Moldova. Since 2005 the standard was MiG-29SMT, replacing SE version (14 SE and UB delivered in 2001, after sent to MIG to be updated). Together with those 14 aircraft updated, RSK-MiG sold 6 new examples. Later there was eventually another batch delivered (20-30 examples were discussed in 2008)^[22]

Yemen Air Force

Former operators

 Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia had 18 MiG-29A and 2 MiG-29UB from 1989. All were passed on (in 1:1 ratio) to Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Czechoslovakian Air Force

 Czech Republic

Czech Republic received nine MiG-29A and one MiG-29UB. Aircraft are no longer in service, being exchanged with Poland for 11 PZL W-3 Sokół helicopters in 1996.

Czech Air Force

 East Germany

East Germany received 24 aircraft delivered in 1988-1989, including 4 MiG-29UBs. They were based at Preschen. Upon the German Reunification in 1990 all were passed to the West German Air Force.

Air Forces of the National People's Army

 Germany

Germany inherited 24 aircraft from East Germany in 1990 and upgraded them to NATO compatibility. One was lost, and one was kept for display when the remaining 22 were transferred to Poland in 2003, following the arrival of the Eurofighter Typhoon which replaced them.

German Air Force

• JG73 "Steinhoff" based at Laage operated MiG-29 (9.12A) and MiG-29UB (9.51) under local designation MiG-29G.

 Hungary

Hungary received 28 MIG-29s in 1993 as debt compensation from Russia. The last of them was retired in December, 2010. Eight of them were put up for sale with the bidding starting at 18 Million USD. The bidders have to submit offers by 15 September 2011^[23][24]

Hungarian Air Force

• 2. Vadászrepülö Század was based at Kecskemét was operating MiG-29 (9.12A) and MiG-29UB (9.51).
• 59th Wing, Dongó Squadron was based at Kecskemét was operating MiG-29 (9.12A) and MiG-29UB (9.51).

 Iraq

Iraq received 41 aircraft. 16 were destroyed in Gulf War, 4 evacuated to Iran. Remaining squadron (with 18 aircraft) withdrawn from service in 1995 due to engine TBO expiry.

Iraqi Air Force

 Israel

Israeli Air Force

2 aircraft, borrowed from an undisclosed European air force (according to on-line fotos, aircraft from the Polish Air Force were used) for evaluation. Flown by 601 Squadron, the Israeli Air Force's flight test center.^[25]

 Moldova

Moldova had 34 aircraft inherited from USSR. Six of them were sold to Yemen, 21 bought by USA, 1 MiG-29S sold to Romania. Last six remaining MiG-29S were overhauled in Ukraine recently. Yemen Return Six MiG-29S.The remaining Moldovan MiGs are grounded due to lack of spare parts.

Moldovan Air Force

 Romania

Romania received 20 MiG-29A delivered from USSR starting in 1989 plus 1 MiG-29S from Moldova. Currently 18 aircraft were placed in storage after funding was cut for upgrade programme.^[26]

Romanian Air Force

 Soviet Union

Upon its dissolution in 1991 the Soviet Union had approximately 1000 aircraft in service. Upon the break-up they were passed to Belarus (50), Ukraine (220), Kazakhstan (40), Uzbekistan (30), Turkmenistan (20). The remaining 600+ were passed to Russia. Many were subsequently sold off to third party states and/or written off.^[27]

Soviet Air Force

 Yugoslavia

Yugoslavia received 14 MiG-29B's and 2 MiG-29UB's from the Soviet Union in 1987 and 1988. During operation Allied Force, two MiG-29s were shot down, while another six and one MiG-29UB were destroyed on the ground by NATO,^[28] One MiG-29 was also lost in a noncombat related accident. Since the dissolution of Yugoslavia the remaining four MiG-29s and single MiG-29UB were passed on to Serbia.

Yugoslav Air Force

• 127th squadron operated 14 MiG-29Bs and 2 MiG-29UB.

Missed deals

Lebanon was to receive 10 modernized MiG-29s from Russia in 2008. The deal was changed in 2010 to 10 Mil Mi-24 gunship helicopters instead (AFP, Interfax).

See also

• Mikoyan MiG-29
• Mikoyan MiG-33
• Mikoyan MiG-35

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mikoyan MiG-29.