The MiG-29 was one of the finest fighters developed by the Soviet Union before its collapse in the later part of the Twentieth Century and was operated in large numbers by the Russian military afterwards. There were various plans for aircraft to replace the MiG-29 but none of them ever developed even to the prototype stage. Russian budgets were very strapped and virtually no money was available for new aircraft development. Military Industrial Group "Moscow Aircraft Production Organization-M" did develop a export version of the MiG-29 that went by the designation MiG-35 with more powerful vectored thrust engines, improved electronics, fly by wire flight controls (The original MiG-29 used hydraulic systems), a different wing including the addition of canards, and a fuselage which is extended an extra three feet for additional fuel for greater range. The final change was made by installing the engines about one meter further back than in the MiG-29. The main customers for the fighter included China, India, and North Korea with a host of smaller nations also purchasing smaller numbers of the fighter.

When Communist leaders regained control of Russia, there was an immediate increase in military spending including in the air forces. By this time, most of the MiG-29 fighters remaining were unserviceable and could not be refitted. As well, all of the programs for new aircraft had been canceled. In order to save the time needed for development, it was decided that an already existing aircraft would be used for the basis of any new fighters manufactured. The MiG-35 (a derivative of the MiG-29) was selected and with relatively minor redesigns became the main fighter of the Soviet air force under the designation MiG-39. A fighter developed from the Su-27 was also put into production but in much smaller numbers than the MiG-39.

The changes in the MiG-39 compared to the MiG-35 are relatively minor. The new fighter had more powerful and fuel efficient engines, electronics were further improved, and the fighter was built using the new alloys and composites which were coming available when the fighter was begin developed. As a result of the new materials, the fighter could withstand far more damage than previous aircraft. The engines were of conventional design being before the advent of fusion turbines but the engines produce almost fifty percent more powerful than the original engines in the MiG-35. The new engines also have the super cruise feature, which was in many United States fighters in the same period, which allows travel above mach one without engaging afterburners. There is much debate about the engines for military analysts. Some military analysts believed the fighter's engines were stolen from American designs while others believe that the new engines were developed with the assistance of French industry. The United States and NATO considered the fighter to be for the most part simply a modified MiG-29, even though the appearance is greatly changed compared to the original MiG-29, so kept the code name Fulcrum.

Production of large numbers of the fighter was soon begun. While not the equal of the newest American fighters, it was still a deadly fighter and it was also much cheaper than American fighters. As a result, many nations became interested in purchasing the new fighter. The Soviet Government was also far less choosy about who they would sell their aircraft to than America or Europe. Nations interested included China, India, Malaysia, Iran, and Argentina. The fighter was sold around the world and China and India both started licenced production of the fighter. A naval version of the fighter was also developed which served as the main fighter on Soviet carriers until replaced by the Su-47. India also expressed an interest in the naval version of the fighter but the ability of the India carrier to operate the fighter was marginal and an improved version of the Yak-141 was adopted instead. With the introduction of rail guns, the 30 mm cannon carried in the MiG-39 was replaced with twin rail guns in most aircraft although the 30 mm cannot was retained in some. With the introduction of fusion turbines, development of a replacement fighter utilizing the new engines became important. There was some development on a fusion powered aircraft based on the MiG-39 but the Su-47 reached prototype stage before the MiG-39 derived design and was adopted. The MiG-39 continued to be produced for export and those remaining in service were retained until the MiG-58 Firebolt was introduced. At that time, most remaining MiG-39 were sold but a handful were retained for training purposes.

Model Numbers:MiG-39Standard Fighter (NATO Code Name Fulcrum M) 
MiG-39NNavalized Fighter
Vehicle Type: Twin Engine Multi-Role Fighter
Crew: One

M.D.C. by Location:
[1] Forward Canard Wings (2):20 each
[2] Wings (2):80 each
[3] Rudders (2):40 each
Cockpit:80
[4] Engines (2):100 each
Landing Gear (3):5 each
[5] Main Body:140

Notes:
[1] Destroying one or both Canard Wings will result in reducing bonuses to dodge by two and removing the 10% bonus to piloting the aircraft.
[2] Destroying a Wing will cause the plane to crash
[3] Destruction of rudders will still allow the fighter to be controlled by the varying of power levels of the engines but fighter has a penalty of -10 to dodge, and a -30% penalty to all piloting rolls. Destruction of both of the elevators will leave the plane uncontrollable and pilot must eject to survive.
[4] The destruction of one engine will reduce the fighters top speed by half and give the pilot a -2 penalty to dodge as well as giving a 10% penalty to piloting. Destruction of both engines will cause the aircraft to crash. Pilot may attempt a emergency landing or pilot can choose to eject.
[5] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the Aircraft down completely, rendering it useless and causing it to crash if in flight.

Speed:
Driving on Ground (Taxiing): Only possible for take offs and landings as well as for parking and storage. Speed is 40 mph (64 kph) when traveling and not on take off or landing. Because of the vectoring of the thrusters, the fighter can take off in a short distance.
Flying: The MiG-39 Fulcrum has a top speed of Mach 2.5 (1,853.6 mph/2,983.1 kph). Because of the fighter's super cruise engines and the fighter can run at afterburner for extended periods (assume in game terms up to thirty minutes). The Fighter can also cruise up to Mach 1.1 (815.6 mph/1,312.6 kph) but fighter's cruise speed depends on mission and situation. Maximum altitude is 59,050 feet (18,000 meters)
Maximum Effective Range: 2,428.2 nautical miles (2796.2 miles/4,500 km) on internal fuel. The fighter can carry 4 fuel tanks that extend range by about 215.8 nautical miles (248.5 miles/400 km) each. The fighter has approximately 25% better range when the fighter is carrying no ordnance. The MiG-39 Fulcrum can be refueled in the air.

Statistical Data:
Height: 15.5 feet (4.73 meters)
Wingspan: 37.5 feet (11.42 meters)
Length: 56.7 feet (17.28 meters)
Weight: 24,691.8 pounds (11,200 kg) empty and 54013.3 pounds (24,500 kg) fully loaded
Power System: Conventional, Two Klimov RD-828 high efficiency super cruise turbofans, uses aviation fuel
Cargo: Minimal (Storage for small equipment), does not include hard points
Black Market Cost: 4.5 million credits (Can sometimes sell for double that price). Can be found scattered around the world having been sold by the Soviet government. It is also operated by some mercenaries.

Weapon Systems:

  1. Forward Mounted Guns (1 or 2): A fixed forward weapon is mounted on the base of the fighter's port wing if the 30 mm cannon is carried and the base of both wings if the rail guns are carried. It serves as the one of last line of defense against enemy planes and missile volleys, although some pilots use it for strafing runs against ground targets when they are out of missiles. Many pilots do not like being exposed to ground weapons fire so it is an uncommon practice.
    1. One DP GSh-301 30 mm cannon: Mounted on the original version of the MiG-39 but replaced by a rail gun in later models and many older fighters were refitted with the rail gun as well. The standard ammunition has been replaced by high density ramjet ammunition which inflicts heavy damage and enables the fighter to hold its own against other fighter weapons.
      Maximum Effective Range: 6,560 feet (2,000 meters / 2 kilometers).
      Mega Damage: 1D6x10 for a short burst of 10 round burst and 2D6x10 for a long burst of 20 round burst, 3D6 for each round.
      Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the pilot (usually 4 or 5).
      Payload: 100 rounds (10 short bursts or 5 long bursts)
    2. Standard 20 mm Railguns (2): Replaces the 30 mm cannon on later models of the MiG-39 and refitted on many of the earlier fighters. The rail gun has the same range as the conventional cannon but has a much higher payload. Rail gun fires standard 20 mm rail gun rounds at a very high speed and is very effective against both other aircraft and ground targets.
      Maximum Effective Range: 6,560 feet (2,000 meters / 2 kilometers).
      Mega Damage: 1D4x10 for a half-burst of 10 rounds, 2D4x10 for a full burst of 20 rounds or for both cannons firing linked 10 round bursts, and 4D4x10 for a full burst from both cannons firing linked.
      Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the pilot (usually 5 or 6).
      Payload: 200 rounds (20 half-bursts/10 full bursts) per gun, 400 rounds total.
  2. External Hard Points (10): The MiG-39 has a total of ten hard points with four hard-points on each wing and two hard-points on the fuselage of the aircraft. Each hard points must carry the same type of ordnance but different hard points may carry different ordnance types but ordnance is normally carried in symmetrical pairs. Both unguided and guided bombs can be carried by the aircraft. Fuel tanks can be carried on fuselage and inner wing hard points. Fuselage hard points cannot carry mini-missile pods and towed decoys.
    1. Bombs and Missiles: The only restriction is that a hard point must carry all the same type of missiles or bombs. Both unguided and guided bombs can be carried. In two pilot versions, short range missile racks are controlled by either the pilot or the weapons officer.
      Maximum Effective Range: Varies by missile type for missile and varies by altitude bombs are dropped at (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
      Mega Damage: Varies by missile or bomb type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
      Rate of Fire: Missile can be fire and bombs can be dropped one at a time per hard point. Multiple hard points can be linked as one attack but must be the same size (light, medium, or heavy) and style of ordnance (all missiles or bombs in a volley)
      Payload: 4 short range missiles or light bombs, 2 medium range missiles or medium bombs, or 1 long range missile or heavy bomb (all ordnance on a hard point must be the same size and type of ordnance) each hard point.
    2. Mini-Missile Pod: Large capacity mini-missile pod. The mini missile pods are normally carried for ground strafing, anti-troop, and anti-emplacement attacks. Normal missile used are armor piercing, plasma, or fragmentation mini-missiles. In two pilot versions, mini missile pods are controlled by the pilot.
      Maximum Effective Range: Varies with missile types, mini-missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
      Mega-Damage: Varies with mini-missile types (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
      Rate of Fire: Each pod can fire one at a time or in volleys of 2, 4, 8, or 16 and can be linked with other mini missile pods for greater number of missiles (Counts as one attack no matter how many missiles in volley)
      Payload: each pod carries 16 mini-missiles.
    3. Towed Decoys (4): The pod takes place of all ordnance on the Hard Point. The aircraft can carry a special pod that carries four advanced towed decoy drones. These drones are dragged about 328 feet (100 meters) behind the aircraft on a thin cable. Each is a specially designed radar lure that creates a radar image to mimic the aircraft. If decoys are not destroyed, they can be recovered and repaired. Rifts Earth decoy systems are assumed to not operate against Phase World weapons due to technological difference.
      M.D.C.: 5
      Effects: The decoy has an 65% chance of fooling ordinary non military radars and non smart guided missiles, the decoy has a 35% chance of fooling military level radars (like those of the Coalition), and the decoy has a 10% chance of fooling advanced military radars (Like those of the New Navy and Triax) and smart missiles.
      Maximum Effective Range: Not Applicable although the decoy is deployed 328 feet (100 meters) from the aircraft
      Rate of Fire: One can be deployed at a time and requires 15 seconds to deploy (Reel Out) another decoy
      Payload: 4 Decoys each pod.
  3. Anti-Missile Chaff/Flare Dispenser (1): Use the same effects as the TRIAX model. However, each time the system is engaged, the system fires off one chaff and 1D4 flares. Rifts Earth decoy systems are assumed to not operate against Phase World missiles due to technological difference. Reduce effects by 20% against smart missiles (Add +20% to rolls for smart missiles.)
    Effect: Also note that the chaff cloud will also blind flying monsters that fly through cloud. They will suffer the following penalties: reduce melee attacks/actions, combat bonuses, and speed by half.
    Duration: 1D4 melee rounds.
    Payload: 20 chaff, 40 flares. Each time the system is engaged, the system fires off one chaff and 1D4 flares.

Special Equipment:
The fighter has all the standard features of a standard fighter (same as standard robot minus loudspeaker and microphone) plus these special features listed below.:

Combat Bonuses:

[New Navy, New Sovietskiy, and TRIAX are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]

By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

Copyright © 2003 & 2004, Kitsune. All rights reserved.

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