MiG-29 Fulcrum for DCS World – Specs, Weapons, Dogfighting Graphs, vs F‑16 (Ultimate Red Air Guide).
Eagle Dynamics has just dropped the first teaser video for the upcoming MiG-29 Fulcrum module, and the hype is real. While the aircraft isn’t available yet, the announcement alone has sent shockwaves through the DCS community.
This is a huge milestone for fans of modern air combat, especially those who have long been asking for more fully clickable Red Air fighters to balance out the skies against the F-16, F/A-18, and F-15.
Who Are Eagle Dynamics?
Eagle Dynamics (ED) is the powerhouse behind Digital Combat Simulator World (DCS World). Founded in 1991, ED has delivered some of the most advanced and detailed flight simulations ever created.
From the legendary A-10C Warthog to the F/A-18C Hornet and AH-64D Apache, every module raises the bar for realism. Now, with the MiG-29 Fulcrum, they are bringing a long-requested Red Air icon into the high-fidelity line up.
The Real-World Story – Why the MiG-29 Was Built
The MiG-29 first flew in 1977, entering service in the early 1980s. It was developed in direct response to the West’s new lightweight fighters, particularly the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Where the F-15 Eagle was designed to dominate the skies with power and radar reach, the F-16 brought agility and cost efficiency. The Soviet answer was the MiG-29 Fulcrum – a high-agility, front-line fighter designed to counter Western jets in close combat while also operating from austere airstrips.
Developed alongside the Su-27 Flanker, the MiG-29 represented the tactical fighter side of the Soviet airpower equation, while the Flanker served as the long-range heavyweight.
Aircraft Performance & Flight Characteristics
Download the charts:
- Sustained Turn Rate vs Speed
- Instantaneous Turn Rate vs Speed
- Turn Radius vs Speed (6G vs 9G) – one-circle vs two-circle cue
Note: These curves are illustrative for educational discussion and are not official ED or manufacturer data. They model typical EM shapes and relative strengths to help readers understand tactics until module data is published.
The MiG-29 remains one of the most respected dogfighters of its generation. Key performance features include:
- Engines: Twin Klimov RD-33 afterburning turbofans producing over 18,000 lbs thrust each.
- Top Speed: Around Mach 2.25 (2,400+ km/h at altitude).
- Range: ~1,500 km clean, ~2,100 km with drop tanks.
- G-Limits: Rated at 9G, with mechanical override available beyond the limiter – giving skilled pilots an edge in a desperate fight.
- Maneuverability: Optimized for both one-circle and two-circle fights depending on speed and energy state. Best sustained turn performance is around 850–950 km/h.
Unlike many Western fighters of its era, the MiG-29 is still mechanically controlled rather than fully fly-by-wire. This makes it more demanding to fly at the edge of the envelope, but also gives pilots a raw, connected feel.
One-Circle vs. Two-Circle Fighting
- One-Circle: The MiG-29 excels in tight, nose-to-nose engagements. With its high angle-of-attack capability and powerful nose authority, it can quickly bring its weapons to bear in a knife fight.
- Two-Circle: At higher speeds, the Fulcrum’s energy bleed is more pronounced compared to the F-16, but when flown correctly around 850–950 km/h, it can sustain turns effectively and remain competitive.
This makes the MiG-29 a VFR dogfighter, much like the Viper. It thrives in visual engagements, where situational awareness, energy management, and quick reactions decide the fight.
Performance Charts – MiG-29 vs F-16
Below are generalized performance trends (exact numbers vary by model and weight):
Instantaneous Turn Rate (ITR):
- MiG-29: ~22–24°/sec at ~850 km/h
- F-16C: ~20–22°/sec at ~800 km/h
Sustained Turn Rate (STR):
- MiG-29: ~17–18°/sec at ~900 km/h
- F-16C: ~19–20°/sec at ~800 km/h
Climb Rate:
- MiG-29: ~330 m/s
- F-16C: ~315 m/s
Thrust-to-Weight Ratio (Clean):
- MiG-29: ~1.09
- F-16C: ~1.05
Takeaway: The MiG-29 edges the F-16 in raw thrust and instantaneous turn rate, making it lethal in snap maneuvers. The F-16 holds the advantage in sustained turn fights due to better energy retention.
Weapons & The Helmet Mounted Sight Advantage
One of the biggest shocks to NATO pilots when they first trained against Fulcrums was the Shchel-3UM helmet mounted sight (HMS) combined with the R-73 (AA-11 Archer) missile.
This deadly pairing allowed MiG-29 pilots to simply look at a target and fire – something Western jets didn’t catch up to until much later with the introduction of JHMCS and AIM-9X.
Quick Reference – MiG‑29 Air‑to‑Air Weapons (illustrative open‑source figures)
| Weapon | Guidance | Typical Range Band | Off‑Boresight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R‑73 / AA‑11 | IR seeker | ~0.3–20 km | up to ~60° | High agility; optimized for HMS cueing in WVR. |
| R‑27R / AA‑10A | Semi‑active radar | ~2–50+ km | N/A | Requires target illumination; good head‑on shots. |
| R‑27ER / AA‑10C | Semi‑active radar (extended range) | ~3–80+ km | N/A | Higher kinematics than R‑27R. |
| R‑27T / AA‑10B | IR seeker | ~2–50 km | Limited | Silent shots without RWR warnings if IR lock achieved. |
| R‑27ET / AA‑10D | IR (extended range) | ~3–70 km | Limited | Heavier; better at high‑energy shots. |
| R‑60 / AA‑8 | IR | ~0.3–8 km | Narrow | Legacy WVR option. |
| GSh‑30‑1 (30 mm) | Gun | Effective <1.2 km | N/A | 150 rds; high ROF, excellent for snapshots. |
Ranges are scenario‑dependent (altitude, aspect, closure, target manoeuvres, countermeasures) and are provided only as rough bands for mission planning.
One of the biggest shocks to NATO pilots when they first trained against Fulcrums was the Shchel-3UM helmet mounted sight (HMS) combined with the R-73 (AA-11 Archer) missile.
This deadly pairing allowed MiG-29 pilots to simply look at a target and fire – something Western jets didn’t catch up to until much later with the introduction of JHMCS and AIM-9X.
Typical MiG-29 loadouts include:
- R-73 (AA-11 Archer):
If you want, I can also:
Author
Brendon McAliece (Aka Gunnie) is a military veteran with 23 years working on Jet Fighters, their weapons systems and ejection seat/module systems as well as munitions and R&D. Involved with flight simulation since the 1980s, he has flown all the major flight simulators over the years.
He is an Australian expat who has lived in Malaysia, UK, Saudi Arabia and more recently Thailand. He is a multi-lingual blogger who loves to share his life experiences here on LetsFlyVFR.com and DreamingGuitar.com, with his lifestyle and Travel experiences Blog plus his Dreaming Coffee website.
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