Aviation week is covering the new aircraft, but to me, the building of a carrier is more interesting.
MiG is beginning flight testing (subscription required)
Aviation Week & Space Technology
07/02/2007, page 18MiG is beginning flight testing of the latest iteration of the MiG-29K carrier-borne derivative of the Fulcrum, which is destined for the Indian navy.
The two-seat variant, the MiG-29KUB, flew for the first time in January. Under a contract with India, signed in 2004, 12 single-seat and four two-seat aircraft were ordered as part of the $1.5-billion deal covering the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. The single-seat MiG-29K uses the same forward fuselage section as the two-seat aircraft, including the canopy. The second cockpit, however, is replaced with an additional fuel tank.
Credit: ALEXEY KOMAROV
The MiG-29 could yet find its way into the Russian navy inventory, which only includes the Su-33 in the combat role. Commander-in-Chief Adm. Vladimir Masorin says its future carrier requirement is for a ship “with some 50,000 tons displacement. We assume the carrier will accommodate 30 aircraft, both fixed-wing and rotorcraft.” The new class of nuclear-powered ship would replace the Admiral Kuznetsov after 2015.
By comparison, the Charles de Gaulle displaces 40,600 tons, their future Carrier will displace about 65,000 tons, and the Nimitz class super carriers displace about 102,000 tons.
The Nimitz has a complement of about 75 aircraft.
I’m wondering if they will continue with the ski jump, or go with catapults.