Flying the MiG-35

The pilot’s perspective

The MiG-35 multirole light fighter, considered as ‘flagship’ of the ‘MiG’ Corporation aircraft family today, is also the most flexible opportunity for development of cooperation between Russia and India in this area. In this article, Chief Pilot of the ‘MiG’ Corporation, Hero of Russia Mikhail Belyaev talks about attributes of the MiG-35 and his impressions of flying one of the most modern Russian combat aircraft.


The MiG-35 is an excellent aircraft, with excellent aerodynamic characteristics and high thrust-to-weight ratio which makes it possible for the pilot to always be at the peak of performance and optimally select options while on combat missions. The aircraft is controlled using HOTAS with all critical switches on the powerplant control levers and the aircraft control column. All data is displayed on the HUD, full colour cockpit MFDs and the pilot’s helmet mounted display (HMD). With this the pilot has all the information needed without looking inside the cockpit during flight missions. During development of the MiG-35, its designers took advantage of experience accumulated over the past decades. friendly interface”, new and contemporary technologies were used to optimise pilot interaction with the avionics. Maximum possible extent of tactical data is provided to the pilot to control his aircraft without being distracted by subordinate switches and buttons. Firstly, flight mission effectiveness must be ensured. We reduced the number of essential actions, so as to reduce the time for situation assessment. The pilots interaction with avionics – the interface – has been logically worked on, with a large multi-function display dominant in the aircraft cockpit. This gives great advantages to the pilot for carrying out various combat flight missions, be they: air-to-air, air-to-surface and air-to-sea, or reconnaissance. Virtually the entire range of weapons used in Russian inventory can be employed, as also integration of foreign systems by Indian forces in cooperation with MiG.

Extreme climatic testing

After design and development of the aircraft, including all required equipment, a very large number of flight tests are performed, in various climatic conditions with temperatures ranging from -50oC to +60oC in increased humidity. The MiG-35 prototype underwent tests, first in normal conditions of Russia, then in the more extreme southern and northern latitudes. The experience we accumulated during development of earlier aircraft types confirmed the MiG-35 demonstrated very reliable results within the entire range of climatic conditions: from the very cold artic north, down to warmer southern latitudes close to the equator and also high humidly sea conditions. The MiG-35 would perform perfectly throughout the varied Indian conditions from the blazing heat to freezing cold, and in sandy desert conditions, all well proved in flight tests. Another important aspect of tests concerns air combat simulation. In modern air warfare, there is a need for high level of situational awareness, close interaction and constant data exchange between friendly forces participating in the action. We have worked on making interaction of the pilot with systems in the cockpit in such manner that the pilot, while looking out of the cockpit for most of the time, accurately monitors the situation and is fully aware of the tactical situation. For this, the designers firstly, increased size of cockpit canopy which now gives the pilot an almost 360 degrees view. Secondly, it is possible for the pilot to change inclination angle of the ejection seat, because of which comfortable position is ensured for viewing outside. The MiG-35’s canopy design provides maximum view for close air combat or, as our foreign colleagues call it, “dog fights” when the pilot’s full attention is on the outside. During flight tests, we continuously checked and proved the entire designed performance of the MiG-35’s on-board systems and weapons, both guided and unguided, at ranges from minimum admissible to maximum possible against air, ground and also sea targets.

The pilot-aircraft interface Despite the scope of data being received by the pilot having significantly increased and missions that aircraft should perform becoming more complex, we tried to maintain the previous level of simplicity, convenience and comfort for the pilot when flying the aircraft and during combat missions. Due to the ‘succession principle’, we have raised to the higher levels all earlier attributes of the MiG-29 family. Indian pilots are very familiar with MiG aircraft and will surely vouch for this. In the development of new generation fighters, it is impossible to not be a part of this network–centric warfare. And of course, MiG designers are working not only on autonomous operation of individual aircraft, but also network linking with others. Because of this, even in a single seat aircraft, the pilot is fully aware of the tactical situation around him: where he is, where friends and foes are, but primarily how would the mission be performed in the most effective way. It is always difficult to design relatively small and light aircraft with limited cockpit space to become powerful fighters. This is where design school mastery comes into play, which makes the pilot’s plays in the cockpit comfortable, and aircraft controls convenient and straight forward. The MiG-35 certainly has all the attributes to take its place in the series considered as amongst the world’s best fighters. It is hoped very much that the MiG-35 will be also assessed as such by Indian pilots and thus continue in the glory of its predecessors.


Courtesy: MiG