hmmm. Not sure exactly where that is, looking at the scale plans…

Translation:

“three weeks ago the Director-General of our corporation made a decision about unwinding of further works by aircraft 1.44”. In the opinion of assistant director inzhenerny center, the realization of this project will be for Russia less costly and simpler than the creation of new destroyer, since all technical developments for aircraft 1.44, connected/bonded with the engine, by aerodynamics, by main aircraft systems, did not become obsolete. Only the radio-electronic equipment, which swiftly develops in recent years, needs replacement. According to Andrey Karasev, to engineering center is posed the problem of renewing the tests of aircraft 1.44 prior to the end of 2004 in the opinion of Andrey Karasev, the circumstance that the concept of heavy destroyer is chosen basic for Russian VVS, there must not cross the great work, accomplished at the firm “MiG” on the creation of the aircraft of the fifth generation.”

Sounds like they are restarting 1.42/44 development as a simpler and cheaper rival to the PAK-FA.

I think people are forgetting that nowadays Klimov (makers of the RD-93) are part of MAPO MiG. So maybe “design assistance from MIG” really means no more than design assistance from Klimov.

It is definitely an SMT destined for Yemen.

Are Yemen having their MiG-23s upgraded as well?

The two seat front fuselage does look like it has the sharp leading edge- perhaps MiG-29M2?

OK people- some clarification is needed here.

Typical Kh-59 range is about 40km. It is limited by the rocket engine, not the guidance system. The guidance system for Kh-59 and Kh-59M is identical.

Target position must be established before the flight, and its coordinates programmed in the PRNK memory unit of the Su-24.

When the aircraft gets to about 40km from the target, the missile is fired towards the known target position. It flies under autopilot/inertial guidance. The Su-24 is free to turn around, go where it likes, due to to 360 degree view of the APK-9 pod.

The Su-24’s navigator, via the APK-9 datalink pod, is able to “see” the seeker’s view on the CRT display. Once the missile is within visual range of the target, the navigator can manually lock on the seeker to the target, but if the target is too low contrast to get a lock-on he can simply keep the crosshairs on the target and fly the missile manually into the target.

Kh-59 testing on the MiG-27K (with APK-8 pod) was quite advanced, with flight tests, but never finished. It never entered service on this platform.

Nor did it enter service on the Su-17M4 or MiG-27M/D.

Kh-59M simply replaced the rocket engine with a turbojet/turbofan engine, which significantly increased range. 115-120km is about the limit of the guidance system.

Well I have two degrees, but who is counting?

I think you’ll find PiBu is a well known author on Russian aircraft.