Main page "Colours ot the MiG-29 (Fulcrum)"
Update: December 2023 UKRAINEУкраїна (Ukraïna) | |
In service |
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic between 1984 and 1991
Operational in 2010 were about 80, in 2018 probably about 30-35. Since 2022 there's a war in Ukraine with Russia and Ukraine Air Force fight with agression. I'm not even going to try to determine what the current state of Ukrainian aviation is. It is worth noting that most Ukrainian aircraft have pixelated camouflage. Of course, there are others without it: refurbished old stock aircraft and planes once belonging to the Ukrainian Falcons group in the distinctive yellow-blue paint scheme. Since March-May 2023 some former Polish and Slovak aircraft are in service in Ukraine - retained their colors, but received yellow-blue large identification markings on wings and tails (tactical numbers are unknown). Some aircraft from 40th Brigade wear Ghost of Kyiv emblem.
|
Deliveries |
1991: 209 МiGs-29/29UB (9-12, 9-13, 9-51) from Soviet Union legacy
In March 2014 Russian forces seized Belbek airbase at the Crimea and capture all MiGs (about 46, mostly stored, not in active service). Later Russia slowly returning MiGs.
Between March and May 2023, the Ukrainian Air Force was reinforced by MiGs-29 aircraft provided by Poland (10) and Slovakia (13). Some of them were adapted to new weapons and used in combat, some as source of spare parts. |
Modernization |
Since 2005: modernization to MiG-29MU1 standard (few aircraft) January 2018: Lviv State Air Reapir Plant has a plan to modernise some aircraft to new MiG-29MU2 standard - attack, not multi-role aircraft. |
Units |
2018 Tactical Aviation Brigades
|
Numbers |
too many |
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic |
1984-1985: first regiment in Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic equipped with MiG-29 was 145th IAP in Ивано-Франковск (Ivano-Frankovsk). 1986: second regiment was 100th IKIAP formed in 1986 in Novo-Fyedorovka* (near Saki, Crimea), to prepare the pilots to carrier deck landings. Of course only approaches to ship are performed, and landings was realised on a runway in NITKA** facilities, when a ramp to simulate the deck of the carrier was built. In 1898 1065th CBP was formed in Saki with three squadrons (1st: 20 Su-27, 2nd: 18 MiG-29/UB, 3rd: 8 Su-25/UB and 7 Su-25UTG).
Third regiment equipped in 1987 with MiG-29 was 92nd IAP in Мукачево (Mukachevo). Some MiGs were delivered in 1987 to training 343rd IIAP, Багай-Барановка (Сенная) (Bagay-Baranovka, Syennaya) and in 1990 to academy in Kharkov/Kharkiv (to ground training only). In May 1991 in Starokonstantinovsk were deployed 85 GvIAP withdrawed from Merseburg in German Democratic Republic. |
Ukraine |
Former Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic became independent Ukraine 24th August 1991 when USSR splits.
1993: 145th VAP (винищувальний авіаційний полк, in Ukrainian fighter air regiment) in Івано-Франківськ (Ivano-Frankivsk) was disbanded and replaced in site by 114th regiment withdrawed from Milovice in Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. 1993: 92nd VAP was dislocated from Mukachevo to Васильків (Vasilkiv).
1995: 100th regiment was disbanded. Its aircraft were delivered to various units (Su-27 to 831st VAP), MiGs-29 to 62nd VAP in Бельбек (Belbek). One squadron left in Saki, its aircraft have then a Ukrainian Navy flags painted on fuselage, instead previous Soviet Navy flags.
In 2000 some MiGs were delivered to College in Vasilkiv, Air Force Institute in Kharkiv and museum in Kiev. In 2003 85th VAP in Старокостянтинів (Starokonstyantiniv) was disbanded. In 2004, last (so far) Ukrainian regiment equipped with MiG-29 became a Brigade at Озерне (Ozyernye, Ozerne). |
Aerobatic teams |
First Ukrainian display team on MiGs-29 was a short-lived team without official name, formed in 1992, equipped with 1 x MiG-29 (number 01) and 1 x MiG-29UB (number 02), from unknown unit, maybe 92th regiment. UkrAF MiG-29 Demonstration Team was called The Tridents by aviation magazine when it appeared in Canada (for the rest of the tour they were called Tridents or Ukrainian Tridents). They visit 17 city during '92 North American tour; '93 tour was not allowed by the authorities, so the team "died". Later one of the Trident team pilots colonel Viktor Rossoshansky organized a new team under the name of Ukrainian Falcons (many thanks to Taras for informations).
In years between 1997 and 2002 was active the aerobatic group Українські Соколи (Ukrainian Falcons) with MiGs in special paintings (initially with L-39). Team was disbanded after tragic Su-27UB's crash during airshow in 2002 in Lviv airfield Sknilov.
|
Withdraw of the |
In August 2008 Ukrainian prime-minister Timoshenko decided to withdraw some oldest MiGs from air force inventory (almost all or even all a 9-12 version) - in total 63 MiG-29/UB, which are stored from years:
In 2010 in airfields and repair plant still are stored many aircraft (not only MiGs-29!) in various Soviet and Ukrainian camouflages (painted usually in regiments, not in repair plants). |
Various paintings and camouflages |
Many of Ukrainian MiGs were painted not in repair plant, but in local regiments's ТЭЧ технико-эксплуатационная часть (Technical Maintenance Unit). That's why they are completely different from standard MiG-29 pattern. Here's some examples, drawings are somewhat schematic (accuracy of shapes about 80 to 90 percents).
|
Overhauls |
OVERHAULSSince 1992 overhauls of the Ukrainian MiGs (and engines) were realised mainly in Львівський Державний авіаційно-ремонтний завод "ЛДАРЗ" (Lviv State Air Repair Plant "LDARZ") and in "MiGremont" in Zaporizhzhya or sometimes in "Odesaviarem-servis", Odessa.
Since about 2008 (or earlier) MiGs overhauled in LDARZ are painted in much more conventional manner, with lightgrey background and blotches in nice blue colour (on each aircraft shapes of blotches and a tint of lightblue colour are very slightly different). Two variants of that paintings are applied. In both variants radars are white or grey, numbers white or blue, depends on the unit (tactical brigade). Until Summer of the 2010 almost 20 MiGs were overhauled. Accuracy of the following drawings is high.
Summary (August 2010)
1st variant with white radar cones:
2nd variant with grey radar cones:
|
Upgrade MiG-29MU1 |
MiG-29MU1Since 2008 few MiGs (until Summer 2010 only two #11 and #29) were slightly modernized in Lviv LDARZ to so called MiG-29MU1 standard, incl. satellite navigation systems SN-3307. A little cupola on spine it's a part of the satellite navigation and targeting system - a visual sign of MU1 upgrade. Engines RD-33 are overhauled in Луцький ремонтний завод «МОТОР» (Repair Plant "ENGINE") in Lutsk. How many MiGs overhauled between 2012 and 2020 were upgraded to MU1 standard? No precise information: more than ten? |
Camouflage |
DIGITAL CAMOUFLAGESince 2012 Ukrainian MiGs are painted in new scheme - so called digital camouflage. Lower surfaces are greyblue, upper in four colours (five different colours in total).
|
Colours of the MiG-29 (МиГ-29). Worldwide aircraft Mikoyan & Gurevich MiG-29 (Fulcrum) camouflage and painting schemes MiG-29 MiG-29S MiG-29UB MiG-29M MiG-29M2 MiG-29UBT MiG-29SD MiG-29N MiG-29NUB MiG-29K MiG-29KUB MiG-29AS MiG-29G MiG-29GT MiG-29BM MiG-29SM MiG-29SE MiG-29SMT MiG-29UPG MiG-29SMP MiG-29OVT MiG-35 All aircraft drawings Mariusz Wojciechowski 2005-2023, Słupsk (Poland) mariusz@mariwoj.pl Everyone can use a drawings for free, if leaving author's name and logo |