[simpits-tech] PT Quest about MIG29

[Mike Brogley]

Ah, the power of Google.

In addition to any previous MiG-29s that the U.S. government acquired 
through "other means" and not publicly acknowledged (plus any the German 
government have over here from those they inherited from the East German 
airforce), in 1997 the U.S. bought 21 nuclear delivery capable MiG-29s 
from Moldova so they would not go to any country whose name starts with 
the letter "I". From the Federation of American Scientists web site:

    The US Department of Defense of the United States of America and the
    Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova reached an agreement
    to implement the Cooperative Threat Reduction accord signed on June
    23, 1997, in Moldova. The Pentagon pounced on the planes after
    learning Iran had inspected the jets and expressed an interest in
    adding them to their inventory. Although Iran already flies the
    less-capable Fulcrum A, it doesn't own any of the more advanced
    C-models. Of the 21 Fulcrums the United States bought, 14 are the
    frontline Fulcrum C's, which contain an active radar jammer in its
    spine, six older A's and one B-model two-seat trainer. This
    agreement authorized the United States Government to purchase
    nuclear-capable MiG-29 fighter planes from the Government of
    Moldova. This is a joint effort by both Governments to ensure that
    these dual-use military weapons do not fall into the hands of rogue
    states. From Oct. 20 to Nov. 2, 1997, loadmasters and aerial port
    experts squeezed two MiGs apiece, sans wings and tails, into the
    cargo holds of C-17 Globemaster III transports from Charleston Air
    Force Base, S.C. The Charleston airlifters delivered the MiGs to the
    National Air Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson AFB near
    Dayton, Ohio. If the NAIC can discover how the Fulcrum works, Air
    Force pilots might gain an edge if they face the Fulcrum in future
    combat.

Direct link:

http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/airdef/mig-29.htm

I remember duelling leaks at the time, with the dissimilar aircraft 
training community salivating over an entire squadrom of MiG-29s for 
adversary Red-Flag/Top-Gun work, and the bureaucrats stomping their feet 
firmly saying no way will we fly these ourselves. There is obviously a 
supportability issue - though the Luftwaffe seems to not be having many 
problems. I'm sure the MiG folks would love a US-currency spares and 
support contract from the U.S. DoD.
--
Mike

Brian Sikkema wrote:

>Yes, but I'm not sure if they ever use them (ie for Agressor work).
>
>I don't know if we had any before this, but I do remember a few years back
>the US bought up I believe 6 of them. The funny part is, we didn't buy them
>because we wanted them, we bought them to keep them out of enemy hands. I
>can't remember who was selling them, but we just wanted to make sure they
>didn't go to anyone we didn't want to have them.
>
>I also remember that when we got them there was talk of using them for an
>Agressor squadron, but I don't know if it ever happened. I'm also not sure
>if they were A's or C's. I'd have to look it up.
>
>Brian
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Frank Riedel" <frank at rezultat.dk>
>To: "Simulator Cockpit tech list" <simpits-tech at simpits.org>
>Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2003 10:03 AM
>Subject: [simpits-tech] PT Quest about MIG29
>
>
>  
>
>>Hi all
>>Do USA airforce have MIG 29 ??
>>
>>Frank
>>
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>page.  Thanks!
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