USAF-Operated MiG-29 Fulcrums

Yeah, the U.S. did buy those Mig-29, as quoted from:

• http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/airdef/mig-29.htm and
• http://www.zap16.com/mil%20fact/mig-29.htm

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.

* On 10th October 1997 the United States Government signed an agreement with the Republic of Moldova to purchase 21 MiG-29 aircraft. Personnel from the National Air Intelligence Center (NAIC) at Wright Patterson AFB, OH tested and studied all elements of the MiG-29 Fulcrums.

WOW

I wonder if anyone will consider sending these aircraft to aggressor squadrons? What better aircraft to use in dissimilar air combat training than the frontline fighters you are likely to face?

I'd love to see these birds end up at TOPGUN. In fact, as many MiGs as there are floating around the world, we could probably maintain them at a lower cost than our own aggressor aircraft.

Of course, pilots and maintenance crews would need to be trained on the aircraft. But I think they could manage.

I had been told that the ex-Moldovian MiG-29's were in very poor condition when they arrived in the US. They'd basically been 'left out to rot' with no maintenance of preservation due to their government's financial status and priorities.

I would assume that they wouldn't be used as aggressor aircraft due to costs, both operationally and maintenance wise and, truthfully, because the aircraft that they would be fighting should outperform them in almost every way.

During the 80's the Soviet's (at that time) brought MiG-29's to the US on a couple of occasions - during one I had a good oppotrunity to talk to the MiG factory pilot who was flying it (I was an AF F-16 Crew Chief at the time, and yes, I did report the 'contact to OSI). He told me that as an airshow aircraft the MiG-29 was probably the best in the world (this was before the Su-27 started showing up) but that he didn't think it was much of a combat aircraft. Poor visibility, poor avionics, too much smoke , but worst of all he said that by the time he reached the runway for takeoff 'my fuel light was ready to come on'.

Mike Kopack
PS - JR, I still don't think they'll let you have one...

PS - JR, I still don't think they'll let you have one...

And we all know just how JR LOVES his MiGs! Extra crispy!

He he he....

I like MiGs, Dead Ones... Just like it says on my business card.

I saw a show on Discovery called "Inside Area 51". A group of men camped outside of Area 51 and filmed whatever they could, and ended up filming MiG-29s being flight-tested. How many does the USAF have?

Google is your friend. http://www.wpafb.af.mil/naic/mig29s.html

Here's a similar thread: http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopi ... art-0.html
another link on the same subject: http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_281.shtml

Moldovan Fulcrums are not the only ones. In July 1988 two Syrian pilots landed their MiG-29s (downgraded export models) in Turkey. In may 1989 a Russian pilot landed his Fulcrum also in Turkey. During Desert Storm the US forces captured an intact MiG-29 at Talil AB and the nose section of a damaged one. After OIF, in 2003 US personnel recovered and brought to USA another Fulcrum and the only remaining Iraqi Su-24 Fencer, among other interesting stuff...

Don't forget the former East Germany which also had some MiG-29's for a while.

Those DDR Fulcrums got rolled into the Luftwaffe after reunification. The wing (73rd?) at Laage still has 'em.

LinkF16SimDude wrote:Those DDR Fulcrums got rolled into the Luftwaffe after reunification. The wing (73rd?) at Laage still has 'em.

Sorry, you are wrong. They sold them to Poland. They have just one in the Luftwaffenmuseum in Berlin-Gatow because the 29+03 is no more flyable.
The 73rd wing at Laage AB is flying now only the Eurofighter. You can believe me. I served more than ten years in that wing and I had to go when the MiG´s are gone. It was a great time. I will never forget the deployments to the United States.

Jensen,

Thanks for joining in the conversation

I remember being fascinated with all the Eastern Bloc gear back in the day (and somewhat still am!). Would you care to elaborate about the deployments to the United States?

Thanks!

if the US has Fulcrum, why not use them for DACT?