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Mikoyan MiG-29

The Mikoyan MiG-29 (Микоян МиГ-29; NATO reporting name: Fulcrum) is a twin-engine fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union. Developed by the Mikoyan design bureau as an air superiority fighter during the 1970s, the MiG-29, along with the larger Sukhoi Su-27, was developed to counter new U.S. fighters such as the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle and the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. The MiG-29 entered service with the Soviet Air Forces in 1983.

While originally oriented towards combat against any enemy aircraft, many MiG-29s have been furnished as multirole fighters capable of performing a number of different operations, and are commonly outfitted to use a range of air-to-surface armaments and precision munitions. The MiG-29 has been manufactured in several major variants, including the multirole Mikoyan MiG-29M and the navalised Mikoyan MiG-29K; the most advanced member of the family to date is the Mikoyan MiG-35. Later models frequently feature improved engines, glass cockpits with HOTAS-compatible flight controls, modern radar and infrared search and track (IRST) sensors, and considerably increased fuel capacity; some aircraft have also been equipped for aerial refueling.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the militaries of multiple ex-Soviet republics have continued to operate the MiG-29, the largest of them being the Russian Aerospace Forces. The Russian Aerospace Forces wanted to upgrade its existing fleet to the modernised MiG-29SMT configuration, but financial difficulties have limited deliveries. The MiG-29 has also been a popular export aircraft; more than 30 nations either operate or have operated the aircraft. As of 2024 Flight Global estimates that 809 MiG-29s, of all types, are in service with air forces, making it the 5th most common active fighter.

Origins
In the mid-1960s, the United States Air Force (USAF) encountered difficulties over the skies of Vietnam. Supersonic fighter bombers that had been optimized for low altitude bombing, like the F-105 Thunderchief, were found to be vulnerable to older MiG-17s and more advanced MiGs which were much more maneuverable. In order to regain the limited air superiority enjoyed over Vietnam, the US refocused on air combat using the F-4 Phantom multirole fighter, while the Soviet Union developed the MiG-23 in response. Towards the end of the 1960s, the USAF started the "F-X" program to produce a fighter dedicated to air superiority, which led to the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle being ordered for production in late 1969.

At the height of the Cold War, a Soviet response was necessary to avoid the possibility of the Americans gaining a serious technological advantage over the Soviets, thus the development of a new air superiority fighter became a priority. In 1969, the Soviet General Staff issued a requirement for a Perspektivnyy Frontovoy Istrebitel (PFI, roughly "Advanced Frontline Fighter"). Specifications were extremely ambitious, calling for long range, good short-field performance (including the ability to use austere runways), excellent agility, Mach 2+ speed, and heavy armament. The Russian aerodynamics institute TsAGI worked in collaboration with the Sukhoi design bureau on the aircraft's aerodynamics.

By 1971, however, Soviet studies determined the need for different types of fighters. The PFI program was supplemented with the Perspektivnyy Lyogkiy Frontovoy Istrebitel (LPFI, or "Advanced Lightweight Tactical Fighter") program; the Soviet fighter force was planned to be approximately 33% PFI and 67% LPFI. PFI and LPFI paralleled the USAF's decision that created the "Lightweight Fighter" program and the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon and Northrop YF-17. The PFI fighter was assigned to Sukhoi, resulting in the Sukhoi Su-27, while the lightweight fighter went to Mikoyan. Detailed design work on the resultant Mikoyan Product 9, designated MiG-29A, began in 1974, with the first flight taking place on 6 October 1977. The pre-production aircraft was first spotted by United States reconnaissance satellites in November of that year; it was dubbed Ram-L because it was observed at the Zhukovsky flight test center near the town of Ramenskoye.

The workload split between TPFI and LPFI became more apparent as the MiG-29 filtered into front line service with the Soviet Air Forces (Russian: Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily [VVS]) in the mid-1980s. While the heavy, long range Su-27 was tasked with the more exotic and dangerous role of deep air-to-air sweeps of NATO high-value assets, the smaller MiG-29 directly replaced the MiG-23 in the frontal aviation role.

Introduction and improvements
In the West, the new fighter was given the NATO reporting name "Fulcrum-A" because the pre-production MiG-29A, which should have logically received this designation, remained unknown in the West at that time. The Soviet Union did not assign official names to most of its aircraft, although nicknames were common. Unusually, some Soviet pilots found the MiG-29's NATO reporting name, "Fulcrum", to be a flattering description of the aircraft's intended purpose, and it is sometimes unofficially used in Russian service.

The MiG-29 was widely exported in downgraded versions, known as MiG-29 9-12A for Warsaw Pact and MiG-29 9-12B for non-Warsaw Pact nations, with less capable avionics and no capability for delivering nuclear weapons.

In the 1980s, Mikoyan developed the improved MiG-29S to use longer range R-27E air-to-air missiles. It added a dorsal 'hump' to the upper fuselage to house a jamming system and some additional fuel capacity. The weapons load was increased to 4000 kg with airframe strengthening. These features were included in new-built fighters and upgrades to older MiG-29s.

Refined versions of the MiG-29 with improved avionics were fielded by the Soviet Union, but Mikoyan's multirole variants, including a carrier-based version designated MiG-29K, were never produced in large numbers. Development of the MiG-29K carrier version was suspended for over a decade before being resumed; the type went into service with the Indian Navy's INS Vikramaditya, and Russian Navy's Admiral Kuznetsov class aircraft carrier. Mikoyan also developed improved versions MiG-29M and MiG-29SMT.

There have been several upgrade programmes conducted for the MiG-29. Common upgrades include the adoption of standard-compatible avionics, service life extensions to 4,000 flight hours, safety enhancements, greater combat capabilities and reliability.

Replacement
On 11 December 2013, Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin revealed that Russia was planning to build a new fighter to replace the MiG-29. The Sukhoi Su-27 and its derivatives were to be replaced by the Sukhoi Su-57, but a different design was needed to replace the lighter MiGs. A previous attempt to develop a MiG-29 replacement, the MiG 1.44 demonstrator, failed in the 1990s. The concept came up again in 2001 with interest from India, but they later opted for a variant of the Su-57. Air Force commanders have hinted at the possibility of a single-engine airframe that uses the Su-57's engine, radar, and weapons primarily for Russian service. This has since been revealed to be the Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate.

Design

Sharing its origins in the original PFI requirements issued by TsAGI, the MiG-29 has broad aerodynamic similarities to the Sukhoi Su-27, but with some notable differences. The MiG-29 has a mid-mounted swept wing with blended leading-edge root extensions (LERXs) swept at around 40°; there are swept tailplanes and two vertical fins, mounted on booms outboard of the engines. Automatic slats are mounted on the leading edges of the wings; they are four-segment on early models and five-segment on some later variants. On the trailing edge, there are maneuvering flaps and wingtip ailerons.

The MiG-29 has hydraulic controls and a SAU-451 three-axis autopilot but, unlike the Su-27, no fly-by-wire control system. Nonetheless, it is very agile, with excellent instantaneous and sustained turn performance, high-alpha capability, and a general resistance to spins. The airframe consists primarily of aluminum with some composite materials, and is stressed for up to 9 g (88 m/s²) maneuvers. The controls have "soft" limiters to prevent the pilot from exceeding g and alpha limits, but the limiters can be disabled manually.

Powerplant and range

The MiG-29 has two widely spaced Klimov RD-33 turbofan engines, each rated at 50 kN dry and 81.3 kN in afterburner. The space between the engines generates lift, thereby reducing effective wing loading, hence improving maneuverability. The engines are fed through intake ramps fitted under the leading-edge extensions (LERXs), which have variable ramps to allow high-Mach speeds. Due to their relatively short combustor, the engines produce noticeably heavier smoke than their contemporaries. As an adaptation to rough-field operations, the main air inlet can be closed completely and the auxiliary air inlet on the upper fuselage can be used for takeoff, landing and low-altitude flying, preventing ingestion of ground debris. Thereby the engines receive air through louvers on the LERXs which open automatically when intakes are closed. However the latest variant of the family, the MiG-35, eliminated these dorsal louvers, and adopted the mesh screens design in the main intakes, similar to those fitted to the Su-27.

The MiG-29 has a ferry range of 1500 km without external fuel tanks, and 2100 km with external tanks. The internal fuel capacity of the original MiG-29 (Fulcrum-A) is 4300 L distributed between six internal fuel tanks, four in the fuselage and one in each wing. The internal fuel capacity of the MiG-29 (Fulcrum-C) is 4540 L due to a larger #1 fuselage tank. For longer flights, this can be supplemented by a 1500 L centreline drop tank on the Fulcrum-A and two 1150 L underwing drop tanks on later production batches. In addition, newer models have been fitted with port-side inflight refueling probes, allowing much longer flight times by using a probe-and-drogue system.

Cockpit
The cockpit features a conventional centre stick and left hand throttle controls. The pilot sits in a Zvezda K-36DM ejection seat.

The cockpit has conventional dials, with a head-up display (HUD) and a Shchel-3UM helmet mounted display, but no HOTAS ("hands-on-throttle-and-stick") capability. Emphasis seems to have been placed on making the cockpit similar to the earlier MiG-23 and other Soviet aircraft for ease of conversion, rather than on ergonomics. Nonetheless, the MiG-29 does have substantially better visibility than most previous Soviet jet fighters, thanks to a high-mounted bubble canopy. Upgraded models introduce "glass cockpits" with modern liquid-crystal (LCD) multi-function displays (MFDs) and true HOTAS.

Sensors
The baseline MiG-29 9.12 has a Phazotron RLPK-29 radar fire control system which includes the N019 Sapfir 29 look-down/shoot-down coherent pulse-Doppler radar and the Ts100.02-02 digital computer.

The N019 radar was not a new design, but rather a development of the Sapfir-23ML architecture used on the MiG-23ML. During the initial design specification period in the mid-1970s, Phazotron NIIR was tasked with producing a modern radar for the MiG-29. To speed development, Phazotron based its new design on work undertaken by NPO Istok on the experimental "Soyuz" radar program. Accordingly, the N019 was originally intended to have a flat planar array antenna and full digital signal processing, for a detection and tracking range of at least 100 km against a fighter-sized target. Prototype testing revealed this could not be attained in the required timeframe and still fit within the MiG-29's nose. Rather than design a new radar, Phazotron reverted to a version of the Sapfir-23ML's twisted-polarization cassegrain antenna and traditional analog signal processors, coupled with a new NII Argon-designed Ts100 digital computer to save time and cost. This produced a working radar system, but inherited the weak points of the earlier design, plaguing the MiG-29's ability to detect and track airborne targets at ranges available with the R-27 and R-77 missiles.

The N019 was further compromised by Phazotron designer Adolf Tolkachev's betrayal of the radar to the CIA, for which he was executed in 1986. In response to all of these problems, the Soviets hastily developed a modified N019M Topaz radar for the upgraded MiG-29S aircraft. However, VVS was reportedly still not satisfied with the performance of the system and demanded another upgrade. The latest upgraded aircraft, MiG-29M, offered the N010 Zhuk-M, which has a planar array antenna rather than a dish, improving range, and a much superior processing ability, with multiple-target engagement capability and compatibility with the Vympel R-77 (or RVV-AE).

Armament

Armament for the MiG-29 includes a single GSh-30-1 30 mm cannon in the port wing root. This originally had a 150-round magazine, which was reduced to 100 rounds in later variants, which only allows a few seconds of firing before running out of ammo. Original production MiG-29 aircraft cannot fire the cannon when carrying a centerline fuel tank as it blocks the shell ejection port. This was corrected in the MiG-29S and later versions.

Three pylons are provided under each wing (four in some variants), for a total of six (or eight). The inboard pylons can carry either a 1150 L fuel tank, one Vympel R-27 (AA-10 "Alamo") medium-range air-to-air missile, or unguided bombs or rockets. Some Soviet aircraft could carry a single nuclear bomb on the port inboard station. The outer pylons usually carry R-73 (AA-11 "Archer") dogfight air to air missiles, although some users still retain the older R-60 (AA-8 "Aphid"). A single 1500 L tank can be fitted to the centerline, between the engines.

The US has supplied AGM-88 HARM missiles to Ukraine. It appears that they are fired from MiG-29s. It was only disclosed after Russian forces showed footage of a tail fin from one of these missiles. U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl has said this: "I would just point to two things. One, you know, a lot was made about the MiG-29 issue several months ago, not very much has been noticed about the sheer amount of spare parts and other things that we've done to help them actually put more of their own MiG-29s in the air and keep those that are in the air flying for a longer period of time. And then also, in recent PDA [Presidential Drawdown Authority] packages we've included a number of anti-radiation missiles that can be fired off of Ukrainian aircraft. They can have effects on Russian radars and other things." Soviet era aircraft don't have the computer architecture to accept NATO standard weapons. The interface would be difficult; however with a "crude modification", such as an e-tablet, it would be possible.

Operational history
While the MiG-29's true capabilities could only be estimated from the time it first appeared In 1977 until the mid-1980s, a combination of persistent intelligence and increasing access afforded by the Soviet foreign sales effort allowed a true appreciation of its capabilities. Early MiG-29s were very agile aircraft, capable of rivaling the performance of contemporary F-18 and F-16 aircraft. However, their relatively low fuel capacity relegated them to short-range air defense missions. Lacking HOTAS and an inter-aircraft data link, and requiring a very intensive "heads-down" approach to operating cockpit controls, the early MiG-29 denied pilots the kind of situational awareness routinely enjoyed by pilots operating comparable US aircraft. Analysts and Western pilots who flew examples of the MiG-29 thought this likely prevented even very good pilots from harnessing the plane's full combat capability. Later MiG-29s were upgraded to improve their capabilities. The Soviet Union exported MiG-29s to several countries. Because 4th-generation fighter aircraft require the pilots to have extensive training, air-defense infrastructure, and constant maintenance and upgrades, MiG-29s have had mixed operational history with different air forces.

Soviet Union and successor states
The MiG-29 was first publicly seen in the West when the Soviet Union displayed the aircraft in Finland on 2 July 1986. Two MiG-29s were also displayed at the Farnborough Airshow in Britain in September 1988. The following year, the aircraft conducted flying displays at the 1989 Paris Air Show where it was involved in a non-fatal crash during the first weekend of the show. The Paris Air Show display was only the second display of Soviet fighters at an international air show since the 1930s. Western observers were impressed by its apparent capability and exceptional agility. Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, most of the MiG-29s entered service with the newly formed Russian Air Force.

Russia
In July 1993, two MiG-29s of the Russian Air Force collided in mid-air and crashed away from the public at the Royal International Air Tattoo. No one on the ground sustained any serious injuries, and the two pilots ejected and landed safely.

The Russian Air Force grounded all its MiG-29s following a crash in Siberia on 17 October 2008. Following a second crash with a MiG-29 in east Siberia in December 2008, Russian officials admitted that most MiG-29 fighters in the Russian Air Force were incapable of performing combat duties due to poor maintenance. The age of the aircraft was also an important factor as about 70% of the MiGs were considered to be too old to take to the skies. The Russian MiG-29s have not received updates since the collapse of the Soviet Union. On 4 February 2009, the Russian Air Force resumed flights with the MiG-29. However, in March 2009, 91 MiG-29s of the Russian Air Force required repair after inspections due to corrosion; approximately 100 MiGs were cleared to continue flying at the time. The Russian Aerospace Forces started an update of its early MiG-29s to the more current MiG-29SMT standard, but financial difficulties prevented delivery of more than three MiG-29 SMT upgrade to the Russian Aerospace Forces. Instead, the 35 MiG-29SMT/UBTs rejected by Algeria were bought by the Russian Aerospace Forces. Russia placed an order for 16 new-build MiG-29SMTs on 15 April 2014, with delivery expected by 2017.

On 4 June 2015, a MiG-29 crashed during training in Astrakhan. A month later, another MiG-29 crashed near the village of Kushchevskaya in the Krasnodar region with the pilot safely ejecting. A series of accidents in the Russian Aerospace Forces that happened in 2015 were caused mostly by overall increase of flights and training.

On 20 April 2008, Georgian officials claimed a Russian MiG-29 shot down a Georgian Hermes 450 unmanned aerial vehicle and provided video footage from the ill-fated drone showing an apparent MiG-29 launching an air-to-air missile at it. Russia denies that the aircraft was theirs and says they did not have any pilots in the air that day. Abkhazia's administration claimed its own forces shot down the drone with an L-39 aircraft "because it was violating Abkhaz airspace and breaching ceasefire agreements." UN investigation concluded that the video was authentic and that the drone was shot down by a Russian MiG-29 or Su-27 using an R-73 heat seeking missile.

On 16 July 2014, a Ukrainian Su-25 was shot down, with Ukrainian officials stating that a Russian MiG-29 shot it down using a R-27T missile. Russia denied these allegations.

During the first half of September 2017, the Russian Aerospace Forces deployed some MiG-29SMT multirole combat aircraft to Khmeimim Airbase, near Latakia, in western Syria, becoming the first time the modernized version of the baseline Fulcrum jet was deployed to take part in the Syrian Air War. The MiG-29SMT were involved in bombing missions and secondary strategic bombers escort duties.

Two Russian MiG-29s operated by Wagner Group crashed near Sirte, Libya on 28 June 2020 and on 7 September 2020.

Ukraine

In April 2014, during the Russian invasion of Crimea, 45 Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29s and 4 L-39 combat trainers were reportedly captured by Russian forces at Belbek air base. Most of the planes appeared to be in inoperable condition. In May, Russian troops dismantled them and shipped them back to Ukraine. On 4 August 2014, the Ukrainian government stated that a number of them had been put back into service to fight in the war in the east of the country.

During the initial days of the war in Donbas in April 2014, the Ukrainian Air Force deployed some jet fighters over the Donetsk region to perform combat air patrols and show of force flights. Probably due to the limited number of jet fighters available, a MiG-29 belonging to the Ukrainian Falcons display team was spotted armed with a full air-to-air load and performing a low altitude fly by.

In the evening of 7 August 2014, a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29MU1, bort number 02 Blue, was shot down by an antiaircraft missile fired by pro-Russian rebels near the town of Yenakievo, and exploded in midair. The pilot ejected safely.

On 17 August 2014, another Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29, bort number 53 White, tasked with air to ground duties against separatists' positions was shot down by pro-Russian rebels in the Luhansk region. The Ukrainian government confirmed the downing. The pilot ejected safely and was recovered by friendly forces.

As of 2018, the Lviv State Aircraft Repair Plant began domestically upgrading the MiG-29 to have multirole capability, known as the MiG-29MU2. Development was expected to be completed by 2019 and enter production in 2020. The first upgraded MiG-29 was delivered to the Ukrainian Air Force in July 2020. In August 2020, Ukraine began negotiations with Elbit Systems to help modernize the MiG-29 fleet.

On 29 May 2020, Ukrainian MiG-29s took part in the Bomber Task Force in Europe with American B-1B bombers for the first time in the Black Sea region. In September 2020, B-52 bombers from the 5th Bomb Wing conducted vital integration training with Ukrainian MiG-29s and Su-27s inside Ukraine's airspace.

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Su-27s and MiG-29s were used as air superiority fighters, with ten MiG-29s reported lost on the ground and in the air.

In August 2022, a senior U.S. defense official disclosed that the Ukrainians have integrated the AGM-88 HARM missile onto their "MiG aircraft" with video evidence of AGM-88 missiles fired by upgraded Ukrainian MiG-29s released by the Ukrainian Air Force few days later. For a weapon that relies on digital display to fire, the question of how it has been integrated into the MiG-29's analogue displays remains unanswered. The footage shows a commercial GPS having been installed along with a tablet of some kind.

On 13 October 2022, a Ukrainian MiG-29 crashed during a combat mission. Its pilot is claimed to have destroyed a Shahed-136 drone with his cannon, and it is believed the debris from the drone collided with the aircraft and forced the pilot to eject. Ukrainian sources claim that the pilot shot down five drones and two cruise missiles shortly before the crash. The downed MiG-29 was wearing a livery similar to that of the Ukrainian Falcons display team. According to the Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigation: "the jet collided with debris from a destroyed drone, which caused massive damage to it to the point where it crashed near a village in northeast Vinnytsia. The pilot managed to eject and is currently receiving treatment in the hospital."

On 20 September 2023, a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 was struck by a ZALA Lancet drone at the Dolgintsevo air base near Kryvyi Rih. A second drone was used as a spotter, recording the first Lancet's impact.

India

India was the first international customer of the MiG-29, outside of the Warsaw Pact. The Indian Air Force (IAF) placed an order for 44 aircraft (40 single-seat MiG-29 9.12Bs and four twin-seat MiG-29UBs) in 1984, and the MiG-29 was officially inducted into the IAF in 1987. In 1989, an additional 26 aircraft were ordered, and 10 more advanced MiG-29 9.13s were bought in 1994. Since then, the aircraft has undergone a series of modifications with the addition of new avionics, subsystems, turbofan engines and radars.

Indian MiG-29s were used extensively during the 1999 Kargil War in Kashmir by the Indian Air Force to provide fighter escort for Mirage 2000s attacking targets with laser-guided bombs.

The MiG-29's good operational record prompted India to sign a deal with Russia in 2005 and 2006 to upgrade all of its MiG-29s for US$888 million. Under the deal, the Indian MiGs were modified to be capable of deploying the R-77/RVV-AE (AA-12 'Adder') air-to-air missile. The missiles had been tested in October 1998 and were integrated into the IAF's MiG-29s. The IAF has also awarded the MiG Corporation another US$900 million contract to upgrade all of its 69 operational MiG-29s. These upgrades will include a new avionics kit, with the N019 radar being replaced by a Phazotron Zhuk-M radar. The aircraft is also being equipped to enhance beyond-visual-range combat ability and for air-to-air refuelling to increase endurance. In 2007, Russia also gave India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) a licence to manufacture 120 RD-33 series 3 turbofan engines for the upgrade. The upgrade will also include a new weapon control system, improved cockpit ergonomics, air-to-air missiles, high-accuracy air-to-ground missiles and guided bombs. The first six MiG-29s will be upgraded in Russia while the remaining 63 MiGs will be upgraded at the HAL facility in India. India also awarded a multi-million-dollar contract to Israel Aircraft Industries to provide avionics and subsystems for the upgrade.

In March 2009, the Indian Air Force expressed concern after 90 MiG-29s were grounded in Russia. After carrying out an extensive inspection, the IAF cleared all MiG-29s in its fleet as safe in March 2009. In a disclosure in Parliament, Defence Minister A. K. Antony said the MiG-29 is structurally flawed in that it has a tendency to develop cracks due to corrosion in the tail fin. Russia has shared this finding with India, which emerged after the crash of a Russian Air Force MiG-29 in December 2008. "A repair scheme and preventive measures are in place and IAF has not encountered major problems concerning the issue", Antony said. Despite concerns of Russia's grounding, India sent the first six of its 78 MiG-29s to Russia for upgrades in 2008. The upgrade program will fit the MiGs with a phased array radar (PESA) and inflight refuelling capability.

In January 2010, India and Russia signed a US$1.2 billion deal under which the Indian Navy would acquire 29 additional MiG-29Ks, bringing the total number of MiG-29Ks on order to 45. The MiG-29K entered service with the Indian Navy on 19 February 2010.

The upgrades to Indian MiG-29s will be to the MiG-29UPG standard. This version is similar to the SMT variant but differs by having a foreign-made avionics suite. The upgrade to latest MiG-29UPG standard is in process, which will include latest avionics, Zhuk-ME Radar, engine, weapon control systems, DRDO/DARE developed D-29 electronic warfare system greatly enhancing multirole capabilities and survivability. The first three aircraft were delivered in December 2012, over two years behind schedule.

An IAF MiG-29 crashed near Jalandhar in Punjab on 8 May 2020 with its pilot ejected safely after the aircraft failed to respond. A court of inquiry has been ordered in the incident.

In 2020, India ordered 21 MiG-29s at an affordable price. These aircraft will be manufactured from airframes built in late 1980s but never assembled. Mikoyan will upgrade these aircraft before delivery to the Indian Air Force. In the process, India becomes the last export customer of the original airframe of MiG-29. Russia has sent a commercial proposal for 21 MiG-29 aircraft to be refurbished for the Indian Air Force.

Yugoslavia and Serbia

Yugoslavia was the first European country outside the Soviet Union to operate the MiG-29. The country received 14 MiG-29 9.12As and two MiG-29UBs from the USSR in 1987 and 1988. The MiG-29s were put into service with the 127th Fighter Aviation Squadron, based at Batajnica Air Base, north of Belgrade, Serbia.

Yugoslav MiG-29s saw little combat during the breakup of Yugoslavia, and were used primarily for ground attacks. Several Antonov An-2 aircraft used by Croatia were destroyed on the ground at Čepin airfield near Osijek, Croatia in 1991 by a Yugoslav MiG-29, with no MiG-29 losses. At least two MiG-29s carried out an air strike on Banski Dvori, the official residence of the Croatian Government, on 7 October 1991.

The MiG-29s continued their service in the subsequent Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Because of the United Nations arms embargo against the country, the condition of the MiG-29s worsened as aircraft were not maintained according to rules and general overhaul scheduled for 1996 and 1997 was not conducted.

Six MiG-29s were shot down during the NATO intervention in the Kosovo War, four by USAF F-15s, one by a USAF F-16, and one by a Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16. However, one aircraft, according to its pilot, was hit by friendly fire from the ground. Another four were destroyed on the ground. One Argentine source claims that a MiG-29 shot down an F-16 on 26 March 1999, but this kill is disputed, as the F-16C in question was said to have crashed in the US that same day.

The Air Force of Serbia and Montenegro continued flying its remaining five MiG-29s at a very low rate after the war. In the spring of 2004, news appeared that MiG-29 operations had ceased, because the aircraft could not be maintained, but later the five remaining airframes were sent to Russia for overhaul. In July 2009, a Serbian Air Force MiG-29 crashed over Belgrade. The small Serbian MiG-29 fleet along with other jets were grounded for four months during the summer of 2014 due to a battery procurement issue.

In November 2016, Russia had agreed to donate six of its MiG-29s free of charge, if Serbia would pay the repair costs of $50 million for them. At the end of January 2017, Serbian defense minister Zoran Đorđević said that Belarus also agreed to donate eight of its MiG-29s to Serbia on a no-pay basis. In early October 2017, Russia completed the delivery of all the six MiG-29s. The aircraft were transferred to Serbia on board an Antonov An-124 transport aircraft. On 25 February 2019, Belarus formally handed four MiG-29s to the Serbian military during a ceremony held at the 558th Aircraft Repair Plant in Baranavichy. This increased the Serbian Air Force's fleet to 14 MiG-29s. Serbia plans to spend about €180–230 million on modernization of its entire MiG-29 fleet. As of 2021, the Serbian Air Force operates 14 MiG-29s.

Germany

East Germany bought 24 MiG-29s (20 MiG-29As, four MiG-29UBs), which entered service in 1988–1989 in 1./JG3 "Wladimir Komarow" in Preschen in Brandenburg. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 and reunification of Germany in October 1990, the MiG-29s and other aircraft of the East German Air Forces of the National People's Army were integrated into the West German Luftwaffe. Initially the 1./JG3 kept its designation. In April 1991 both 1./JG3's MiG-29 squadrons were reorganised into the MiG-29 test wing ("Erprobungsgeschwader MiG-29"), which became JG73 "Steinhoff" and was transferred to Laage near Rostock in June 1993.

The Federation of American Scientists claims the MiG-29 is equal to, or better than the F-15C in short aerial engagements because of the Helmet Mounted Weapons Sight (HMS) and better maneuverability at slow speeds. This was demonstrated when MiG-29s of the German Air Force participated in joint DACT exercises with US fighters. The HMS was a great help, allowing the Germans to achieve a lock on any target the pilot could see within the missile field of view, including those almost 45 degrees off boresight. However, the German pilots who flew the MiG-29 admitted that while the Fulcrum was more maneuverable at slow speeds than the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-14 Tomcat, and F/A-18 Hornet and its Vympel R-73 dogfight missile system was superior to the AIM-9 Sidewinder of the time, in engagements that went into the beyond visual range arena, the German pilots found it difficult to multi-task locking and firing the MiG-29's Vympel R-27 missile (German MiG-29s did not have access to the more advanced Vympel R-77 that equips more advanced MiG-29 versions) while trying to avoid the longer range and advanced search and track capabilities of the American fighters' radars and AIM-120 AMRAAM. The Germans also stated that the American fighters had the advantage in both night and bad weather combat conditions. The Luftwaffe's assessment of the MiG-29 was that the Fulcrum was best used as a point defense interceptor over cities and military installations, not for fighter sweeps over hostile airspace. This assessment ultimately led Germany to not deploy its MiG-29s in the Kosovo War during Operation Allied Force, though Luftwaffe pilots who flew the MiG-29 admitted that even if they were permitted to fly combat missions over the former Yugoslavia they would have been hampered by the lack of NATO-specific communication tools and identification friend or foe systems.

Beginning in 1993, the German MiGs were stationed with JG73 "Steinhoff" in Laage near Rostock. During the service in the German Air Force, one MiG-29 ("29+09") was destroyed in an accident on 25 June 1996 due to pilot error. By 2003, German Air Force pilots had flown over 30,000 hours in the MiG-29. In September 2003, 22 of the 23 remaining machines were sold to the Polish Air Force for the symbolic price of €1 per item. The last aircraft were transferred in August 2004. The 23rd MiG-29 ("29+03") was put on display at Laage.

Libya
In 2020 it was reported that MiG-29 aircraft was flown by forces aligned with Khalifa Haftar in Libya. On 11 September 2020, United States Africa Command stated that two MiG-29s, operated by Russian speaking personnel, crashed in Libya due to unknown reasons, the first on 28 June 2020, the second on 7 September 2020. It was announced that MiG-29s and Su-24s are to be delivered to the Libyan Air Force from Russia.

Peru

The Peruvian Air Force acquired 21 MiG-29S fighters from Belarus in 1997, as part of a package that also included 18 Su-25 attack aircraft. The following year an additional 3 MiG-29 aircraft were acquired from Russia. At the same time, Peru contracted with Mikoyan to upgrade 8 aircraft to the MiG-29SMP standard, with an option to upgrade the remainder of the Peruvian inventory. The Peruvian MiG-29s are based at FAP Captain José Abelardo Quiñones González International Airport in northern Peru, equipping Escuadrón Aéreo 612 (Fighter Squadron 612 "Fighting Roosters").

Poland

The first 12 MiG-29s delivered to Poland were nine MiG-29As and three MiG-29UBs in 1989–1990. The aircraft were based at Mińsk Mazowiecki and used by the 1st Fighter Aviation Regiment, which was reorganized in 2001 as 1 Eskadra Lotnictwa Taktycznego (1. elt), or 1st Tactical Squadron (TS). In 1995–1996, 10 used examples were acquired from the Czech Republic (nine MiG-29As, one MiG-29UB). After the retirement of its MiG-23s in 1999, and MiG-21s in 2004, Poland was left for a time with only these 22 MiG-29s in the interceptor role.

Of the 22 MiG-29s Poland received from the German Air Force in 2004, a total of 14 were overhauled and taken into service. They were used to equip the 41st Tactical Squadron (41. elt), replacing its MiG-21s. As of 2008, Poland was the biggest NATO MiG-29 user. Poland had 31 active MiG-29s (25 MiG-29As, six MiG-29UBs) as of 2017. They are stationed with the 1st Tactical Squadron at the 23rd Air Base near Mińsk Mazowiecki and the 41st TS at the 22nd Air Base near Malbork.

There have been unconfirmed reports that Poland has at one point leased a MiG-29 from its own inventory to Israel for evaluation and the aircraft has since been returned to Poland, as suggested by photographs of a MiG-29 in Israeli use. Three Polish MiG-29As were reported in Israel for evaluation between April and May 1997 in the Negev Desert. On 7 September 2011, the Polish Air Force awarded a contract to the WZL 2 company to modernise its MiG-29 fleet to be compatible with Polish F-16s.

Four MiG-29s from 1. elt participated in the Baltic Air Policing mission in 2006, while 41. elt aircraft did so in 2008, 2010 and 2012. Polish MiG-29s played the aggressor role in the NATO Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) joint training program in Albacete in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

On 18 December 2017, a MiG-29 crash-landed in a forest near the 23rd Air Base while performing a landing approach. The pilot did not eject, but survived the crash with minor injuries. This was the first crash of a MiG-29 during its nearly three decades long operational history in the Polish Air Force. On 6 July 2018, another MiG-29 crashed near Pasłęk, with its pilot dying in an ejection attempt. Technical issues are suspected to have played a role in the crash. Another crash followed on 4 March 2019. This time the pilot ejected and survived.

On 8 March 2022, Poland announced a willingness to transfer their operational fleet of MiG-29 aircraft to the US via the Ramstein Air Base, in exchange for aircraft of a similar role and operational capability, with the intent of transferring the MiG-29s to Ukraine to use in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

On 16 March 2023, Polish President Andrzej Duda announced that Poland would transfer four operational MiG-29s to Ukraine, with the understanding that additional aircraft would be delivered after servicing and preparation. Poland is the first NATO country to provide Ukraine with fighter aircraft.

On 13 April, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced that Germany had approved the transfer of five MiG-29s to Ukraine. German approval was necessary because these aircraft belonged to the German Democratic Republic, which were then transferred to Poland in 2004.

Iraq

Iraq received a number of MiG-29 fighters and used them to engage Iranian equivalent opponents during the later stages of the Iran–Iraq War.

By August 1990, at the time of the Invasion of Kuwait, the Iraqi Air Force had received 39 MiG-29 (9.12B) Fulcrum-As. Iraq was reportedly unsatisfied that they did not receive the R-73 and R-27T missiles that Coalition intelligence had assessed as a great threat, instead receiving R-60MK missiles. As a result, they did not order anymore aircraft. Iraq was reportedly able to modify their MiG-29s to carry both drop tanks and the TMV-002 Remora ECM pod.

MiG-29s saw combat in the 1991 Persian Gulf War with the Iraqi Air Force. Five MiG-29s were shot down by USAF F-15s. Some Russian sources reported that one British Panavia Tornado, ZA467, was shot down in northwestern Iraq by a MiG-29 UK sources claim this Tornado to have crashed on 22 January on a mission to Ar Rutbah. Other Iraqi air-to-air kills are reported in Russian sources, where the US claims other cases of combat damage, such as a B-52 which the US claims was hit by friendly fire, when an AGM-88 high-speed, anti-radiation missile (HARM) homed on the fire-control radar of the B-52's tail gun; the bomber returned to base and was subsequently renamed "In HARM's Way". It is believed that an F-111 Aardvark was hit by a missile fired by a MiG-29 but it was able to return to base. A MiG-29 from the 4th or 5th TFS also had a less fortunate kill against a friendly aircraft, a MiG-23ML using a R-27R missile on the 17th of January, 1991. This case of fratricide was not the first of this type, but a MiG-29 of the 5th TFS shot down another MiG-29 of the same unit using an R-60MK in April of 1988, though the circumstances are not entirely known.

Iraq's original fleet of 37 MiG-29s was reduced to 12 after the Gulf War. One MiG-29 was damaged, and seven were reportedly flown to Iran. The remaining 12 aircraft were withdrawn from use in 1995 because the engines needed to be overhauled but Iraq could not send them off for that work.

After the American-led 2003 invasion of Iraq and disbandment of the Ba'athist Iraqi Army in May of the same year, the remaining Soviet-made and Chinese-made fighters of the Iraqi Air Force had been decommissioned.

Syria
Syrian Arab Air Force MiG-29s have sometimes encountered Israeli fighter and reconnaissance aircraft. Two Israeli F-15Cs reportedly shot down two MiG-29As on 2 June 1989 under unclear circumstances.

Further reports claim that on 14 September 2001 two Syrian Air Force MiG-29s were shot down by two Israeli F-15Cs while the MiGs were intercepting an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft off the coast of Lebanon. However, both Syria and Israel deny that this occurred.

Syrian MiG-29s entered the Syrian Civil War in late October 2013, attacking Free Syrian Army insurgents with unguided rockets and bombs in Damascus.

A Syrian MiG-29SM crashed on 7 March 2020 near Shayrat Airbase. Marking the first crash of the plane in the Syrian Air Force since 2001. According to avia.pro the aircraft may have been shot down by MANPADS operated by the Syrian Opposition.

North Korea

The Korean People's Air Force is believed to operate about 18 MiG-29 which are assigned to the 55th Air Regiment based at Sunchon Air Base. In addition to 13 MiG-29 (9.12B) Fulcrum-As and 2 Fulcrum-B trainers that were delivered in 1987, North Korea also became the only Cold War export customer and licensed manufacturer of the Fulcrum-C. Called the MiG-29S-13 (9.13B) Fulcrum-C, they were delivered to North Korea from the USSR/Russia between 1991 and 1992 in knock down parts. Only three S-13s were completed due to Russia refusing to supply more parts to North Korea. The first locally built Fulcrum-C flew on 15 April 1993. These were first encountered and photographed by the USAF in March 2003 when a pair of KPAF MiG-29s intercepted an USAF RC-135S Cobra Ball reconnaissance aircraft.

Sudan

There have been occasional claims regarding the use of Sudanese Air Force MiG-29s against insurgent forces in Darfur. However, whereas Mi-24 combat helicopters as well as Nanchang A-5 or, more recently, Su-25 ground-attack aircraft have been spotted and photographed on Darfurian air fields, no MiG-29s have been observed. On 10 May 2008, a Darfur rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) mounted an assault on the Sudanese capital. During this action, the JEM shot down a Sudanese Air Force MiG-29 with 12.7 and 14.5 mm heavy machine gun fire while it was attacking a convoy of vehicles in the Khartoum suburb of Omdurman. The aircraft was piloted by a Russian mercenary. He was killed in action as his parachute did not open after ejecting. On 14 November 2008 Sudanese Ministry of Defence admitted that Sudan had received 12 MiG-29 from Russia. An anonymous Russian source claimed that the aircraft had been delivered before 2004.

During the brief 2012 South Sudan–Sudan border conflict, on 4 April 2012, Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) claimed the downing of a Sudanese MiG-29 using antiaircraft guns. The Sudan government denied the claim. On 16 April 2012, the SPLA issued a second claim about the downing of a Sudanese MiG-29. It was not clear if this second claim referred to the previous one.

On 15 April 2023, a Sudanese MiG-29 was captured on film firing missiles over Khartoum during a skirmish with paramilitary forces.

On 25 May 2023, a Sudanese MiG-29 was filmed being shot down by the RSF over Omdurman. The pilot ejected and survived, although he was wounded and captured.

United States
In 1997, the United States purchased 21 Moldovan MiG-29 aircraft under the Nunn–Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program. Fourteen were MiG-29S models, which are equipped with an active radar jammer in its spine and are capable of being armed with nuclear weapons. Part of the United States' motive to purchase these aircraft was to prevent them from being sold to Iran. This purchase could also provide the tactical jet fighter communities of the USAF, the USN and the USMC with a working evaluation and data for the MiG-29, and possibly for use in dissimilar air combat training. Such information may prove valuable in any future conflicts and can aid in the design and testing of current and future weapons platforms. In late 1997, the MiGs were delivered to the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, though many of the former Moldovan MiG-29s are believed to have been scrapped. Some of these MiG-29s are currently on open display at Nellis AFB, Nevada; NAS Fallon, Nevada; Goodfellow AFB, Texas; and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Others

A Cuban MiG-29UB shot down two Cessna 337s belonging to the organisation Brothers to the Rescue in 1996, after the aircraft approached Cuban airspace.

According to some reports, in the 1999 Eritrean-Ethiopian War, a number of Eritrean MiG-29s were shot down by Ethiopian Su-27s piloted by Russian mercenaries. It was reported that local pilots were trained by instructors from those nations. There are also some other reports of Eritrean MiG-29s shooting down two Ethiopian MiG-21s, three MiG-23s. The claim that an Eritrean MiG-29 shot down an Ethiopian Su-25 was later debunked, since the missing Ethiopian Su-25TK was damaged in an accident in May 2000, is actually stored and used for spares at Bishoftu Air Base.

, Jane's Information Group reported the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) operated 8 MiG-29s (6B & 2UB).

After the end of the 1994 civil war, newly reunified Yemen inherited several intact MiG-29s, bought by South Yemen a few months earlier. In 1995–1996, Yemen also received two additional jets from Kazakhstan. In 2001, a major arms deal including the purchase of up to 36 upgraded MiG-29s was signed, with deliveries starting in June 2002. Equipped with N019MP radar and an advanced fire control system, they became the most advanced combat aircraft in the Yemeni Air force arsenal. They are compatible with Kh-31P and Kh-29T guided air-to-ground missiles, as well as R-77 air-to-air missiles.

Potential operators and failed bids
Before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Finland had a policy of splitting procurement of armaments between western, eastern and domestic suppliers. The MiG-29 was planned to replace the Finnish Air Force's MiG-21 fighters up to 1988, with test flights having been done.

In the second half of the 1980s, the Soviet Union offered the MiG-29 to Libya. The offer was turned down, as the weapons system and radar of the MiG-29 were assessed as similar to those of the MiG-23MLD already in service with the Libyan Arab Air Force. The MiG-29's price was also deemed much too high.

During 1989–1990, the Soviet Union delivered 49 helicopters and 125 aircraft after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan additionally requested the MiG-29 for the Afghan Air Force, although this was turned down.

In 1989, Zimbabwe ordered a squadron's worth of MiG-29s to the USSR. Some Air Force of Zimbabwe personnel travelled to Russia for conversion courses, but in 1992 the deal was cancelled, as the geopolitical situation of the region was stabilising.

In December 2008, Russia moved to expand its military influence in the Middle East when it announced it was giving Lebanon 10 fighter jets, that would have been the most significant upgrade of Lebanon's military since the civil war ended almost two decades before. A Russian defence ministry representative said it was giving secondhand MiG-29s to Lebanon for free. This was to be part of a defence cooperation deal that would have included Lebanese military personnel training in Russia. On 29 February 2010, Russia agreed to change the offer to 10 Mi-24 attack helicopters based on a Lebanese request.

In 2021 Russia offered the Argentine Air Force a batch of 15 MiG-29 fighters and another of Su-30 fighters with 12 units and seek also the sale of Yak-130 training jet and Mil Mi-17 helicopters.

Original Soviet variants

 * MiG-29 (Product 9.12)
 * Initial production version for Soviet Air Force; entered service in 1983. NATO reporting name is "Fulcrum-A". Variant possessed the Phazotron N019 Rubin radar, OEPS-29 optical-electronic sighting system and helmet mounted sight.

 * MiG-29 (Product 9.12A) 'Fulcrum-A'
 * Export variant of the 9.12 for Warsaw Pact pact countries which included a downgraded RPLK-29E radar, downgraded OEPrNK-29E optoelectronic and navigation systems and older IFF transponders. This variant also lacked the capability to deliver nuclear weapons. Delivered to East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Romania.

 * MiG-29 (Product 9.12B) 'Fulcrum-A'
 * MiG-29 variant of the 9.12 for non-Warsaw Pact pact countries which included a further downgraded radar and avionics. Delivered to India, Iraq, Syria, North Korea, Cuba, Malaysia, Myanmar and Eritrea.

 * MiG-29UB (Product 9.51)
 * Twin seat training model. Infrared sensor mounted only, no radar. NATO reporting name is "Fulcrum-B".

 * MiG-29 (Product 9.13) 'Fulcrum-C'
 * Update of the initial production version; entered service in 1986. NATO reporting name is "Fulcrum-C". Variant possessed an enlarged dorsal spine to accommodate a larger No.1 fuel tank and the installation of the L-203BE Gardenyia-1 jammer that was lacking on the initial 9.12 version. This enlarged spine earned the 9.13 version and its successors the nickname of "Fatback".

 * MiG-29 (Product 9.13B) 'Fulcrum-C'
 * Export variant of the 9.13 provided to North Korea in semi-knocked down (SKD) kits and built in Panghyon between 1991 and 1992. Like the 9.13, it has the Gardenyia-1 jammer but has downgraded avionics and no IFF. Other sources say the Gardenyia was not delivered to North Korea.

 * MiG-29S (Product 9.13S)
 * The MiG-29S was an update of the original 9.13 model retaining the NATO reporting code "Fulcrum-C" and featured flight control system improvements; a total of four new computers provided better stability augmentation and controllability with an increase of 2° in angle of attack (AoA). An improved mechanical-hydraulic flight control system allowed for greater control surface deflections. The MiG-29S can carry 1150 liter under wing drop tanks and a centerline tank. The inboard underwing hardpoints allow a tandem pylon arrangement for carrying a larger payload of 4000 kg. Overall maximum gross weight was raised to 20000 kg. This version also included new avionics and the new Phazotron N019M radar and Built-In Test Equipment (BITE) to reduce dependence on ground support equipment. Development of this version was initiated due to multiple systems being compromised to the West by Phazotron engineer Adolf Tolkachev. This was the final version of the MiG-29 produced before the collapse of the Soviet Union and only limited numbers were produced.

Upgraded variants based on original airframe

 * MiG-29S (Product 9.12S)
 * Post Soviet upgrade for older 9.12 variants incorporating the changes developed for version 9.13S.

 * MiG-29SD (Product 9.12SD)
 * Export variant of upgraded 9.12S with downgraded versions of radar and avionics.

 * MiG-29SE (Product 9.13SE)
 * Export variant of the 9.13S with slightly downgraded N-019ME radar with multiple target tracking ability and RVV-AE (R-77 missile) compatibility. The first export model MiG-29 with underwing drop tanks; the inner underwing pylons can carry over 500 kg bombs in side by side tandem pairs. Its weapons mix includes R-27T1, R-27ER1 and R-27ET1 medium-range missiles. The aircraft can be fitted with active ECM systems, weapons guidance aids, improved built-in check and training systems. The MiG-29SE can simultaneously engage two air targets.

 * MiG-29SM (Product 9.13M)
 * Similar to the 9.13, but with the ability to carry guided air-to-surface missiles and TV- and laser-guided bombs. NATO reporting code is "Fulcrum-C".

 * MiG-29SM (SyAF)
 * For the Syrian Air Force, and based on the MiG-29SM, except the Syrian MiG-29SM uses the 9.12 airframe. RAC MiG developed a special variant for Syria.

 * MiG-29G/MiG-29GT
 * East German MiG-29 / 29UB upgraded to NATO standards, with work done by MiG Aircraft Product Support GmbH (MAPS), a joint venture company form between MiG Moscow Aviation Production Association and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace in 1993.

 * MiG-29AS/MiG-29UBS
 * Slovak Air Force performed an upgrade on their MiG-29/-29UB for NATO compatibility. Work is done by RAC MiG and Western firms, starting from 2005. The aircraft now has navigation and communications systems from Rockwell Collins, an IFF system from BAE Systems, new glass cockpit features multi-function LC displays and digital processors and also fitted to be integrate with Western equipment in the future. However, the armaments of the aircraft remain unchanged. 12 out of 21 of the entire MiG-29 fleet were upgraded and had been delivered as of late February 2008.

 * MiG-29 Sniper
 * Upgrade planned for the Romanian Air Force by DASA, Aerostar and Elbit. DASA was responsible for program management, technical support and the test flight program (together with Elbit), Elbit was responsible for developing the avionics package, while Aerostar implemented the upgrades on the aircraft. The first flight occurred on 5 May 2000. The upgrades included the installation of a new modular multirole computer based on the MIL-STD-1553B data bus, upgraded Western avionics, new radio stations, hybrid navigation system composed of an inertial navigation system and coupled with GPS receiver, identification system, two 152 × MFCDs, a Head-Up Display equipped with UFCP front control panel, new RWR, new HOTAS and new ADC. The addition of a new radar and the integration of Western weapons while maintaining Russian ones were also expected. The program halted due to various reasons, along with the retiring of Romanian MiG-29s in 2003, the Romanian Government deciding to further invest in the MiG-21 LanceR program.

 * MiG-29SMT (Product 9.17)
 * The MiG-29SMT is an upgrade of first-generation MiG-29s (9.12 to 9.13) using enhancements on the MiG-29M. Additional fuel tanks in a further enlarged spine provide a maximum internal flight range of 2100 km. The cockpit has an enhanced HOTAS design, two 152 × colour liquid crystal MFDs and two smaller monochrome LCDs. The MiG-29A lacked an advanced air-to-ground capability, thus the SMT upgrade adds the upgraded Zhuk-ME radar with air-to-ground radar detection and integrates air-to-ground guided weapons. It also has upgraded RD-33 ser.3 engines with afterburning thrust rated at 8300 kgf each. The weapons load was increased to 4500 kg on six underwing and one ventral hardpoints, with similar weapon choices to the MiG-29M. It can also accommodate non-Russian origin avionics and weapons.

 * MiG-29BM
 * The MiG-29BM (probably Belarusian Modernised, possibly Bolyshaya Modernizaciya – large modernization) is an upgrade conducted by the ARZ-558 aircraft repair plant in Baranovichi, Belarus. It is a strike variant of the MiG-29 and the Belarusian counterpart to the Russian MiG-29SMT. It includes improvements to weapons, radar, as well as adding non-retractable air-air refueling ability. They entered service in 2003 and it is estimated, that ten or so were modernized to BM standard. The Bangladesh Air Force upgraded its MiG-29s similar to BM standard.

 * MiG-29UBT (Product 9.51T)
 * SMT standard upgrade for the MiG-29UB. Namely users, Algeria and Yemen.

 * MiG-29UPG
 * The UPG was a new modification intended for the MiG-29s used by the Indian Air Force. The Indian UPG version is similar to the SMT variant but differs by having a foreign-made avionics suite integrated within it. The weapons suite is the same as the SMT and K/KUB versions. It made its maiden flight on 4 February 2011. The version includes the new Zhuk-M radar, new avionics, an IFR probe, as well as new enhanced RD-33 Series 3 turbofan engines, and the DRDO/DARE D-29 Electronic Warfare System. The modernization is part of a $900 million contract to upgrade the 69 fighter fleet.

 * MiG-29SMP / MiG-29UBP
 * The SMP/UBP are upgrades for the Peruvian Air Force MiG-29 fleet. In August 2008 a contract of US$106 million was signed with RAC MiG for this custom SM upgrade of an initial batch of eight MiG-29, with a provision for upgrading all of Peru's MiG-29s. The single-seat version is designated SMP, whereas the twin-seat version is designated UBP. It features an improved ECM suite, avionics, sensors, pilot interface, and a MIL-STD-1553 databus. The interfaces include improved IRST capabilities for enhanced passive detection and tracking as well as better off-boresight launch capabilities, one MFCD and HOTAS. The N019M1 radar, a heavily modified and upgraded digital version of the N019 radar, replaces the standard N010 Zhuk-M of the MiG-29SMT. The upgrade also includes a structural life-extension program (SLEP), overhauled and upgraded engines, and the addition of an in-flight refuelling probe.

 * MiG-29MU1
 * A Ukrainian modernization of the MiG-29.

 * MiG-29MU2
 * A further Ukrainian modernization of the MiG-29, focused on air to ground munitions.

Second-generation variants with modified airframe

 * MiG-29M / MiG-33 (Product 9.15)

 * Advanced multirole variant, with a redesigned airframe, mechanical flight controls replaced by a fly-by-wire system and powered by enhanced RD-33 ser.3M engines. NATO reporting code is "Fulcrum-E".

 * MiG-29UBM (Product 9.61)
 * Two-seat training variant of the MiG-29M. Never built. Effectively continued under the designation 'MiG-29M2'.

 * MiG-29M2 / MiG-29MRCA
 * Two-seat version of MiG-29M. Identical characteristics to MiG-29M, with a slightly reduced ferry range of 1800 km. RAC MiG presented in various air shows, including Fifth China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (CIAAE 2004), Aero India 2005, MAKS 2005. It was once given designation MiG-29MRCA for marketing purpose and now evolved into the current MiG-35.

 * MiG-29OVT
 * The aircraft is one of the six pre-built MiG-29Ms before 1991, later received thrust vectoring engine and fly-by-wire technology. It served as a thrust-vectoring engine testbed and technology demonstrator in various air shows to show future improvement in the MiG-29M. It has identical avionics to the MiG-29M. The only difference in the cockpit layout is an additional switch to turn on vector thrust function. The two RD-133 thrust-vectoring engines, each features unique 3D rotating nozzles which can provide thrust vector deflection in all directions. However, despite its thrust-vectoring, other specifications were not officially emphasized. It is usually used as an aerobatic demonstrator and has been demonstrated along with the MiG-29M2 in various air shows around the world for potential export.

 * MiG-29K (Product 9.31)

 * Naval variant based on MiG-29M, the letter "K" stands for "Korabelnogo bazirovaniya" (deck-based). It features folding wings, arrestor gear, and reinforced landing gear. Originally intended for the Admiral Kuznetsov class aircraft carriers, it had received series production approval from the Russian Ministry of Defence but was grounded in 1992 due to shift in military doctrine and financial difficulties. The MiG Corporation restarted the program in 1999. On 20 January 2004, the Indian Navy signed a contract of 12 single-seat MiG-29K and four two-seat MiG-29KUB. Modifications were made for the Indian Navy requirement. Production MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB share a two-seater size canopy. The MiG-29K has radar absorbing coatings to reduce radar signature. Cockpit displays consist of wide HUD and three (seven on MiG-29KUB) colour LCD MFDs with a Topsight E helmet-mounted targeting system. It has a full range of weapons compatible with the MiG-29M and MiG-29SMT. NATO reporting code is "Fulcrum-D".

 * MiG-29KUB (Product 9.47)
 * Identical characteristic to the MiG-29K but with tandem twin seat configuration. The design is to serve as trainer for MiG-29K pilot and is full combat capable. The first MiG-29KUB developed for the Indian Navy made its maiden flight at the Russian Zhukovsky aircraft test centre on 22 January 2007. NATO reporting code is "Fulcrum-D".

 * MiG-35

 * A development of the MiG-29M/M2 and MiG-29K/KUB. NATO reporting code is "Fulcrum-F".

Operators

 * 🇩🇿 Algeria
 * Algerian Air Force – 26 MiG-29s in service in January 2014. 14 MiG-29M/M2s on order.  As of 2023 there are 39 MiG-29 fighters and 1 UB trainer available, with 5 on order.
 * 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
 * Azerbaijani Air Forces – 12 MiG-29s and 3 UB trainers operational in 2023.
 * 🇧🇩 Bangladesh
 * Bangladesh Air Force – 6 MiG-29SEs (9.12SE) and 2 MiG-29UBs in service as of 2021. Four MiG-29SEs were upgraded for life extension in Belarus. Rest were upgraded in 2021–2022.
 * 🇧🇾 Belarus
 * Belarusian Air Force – 33 MiG-29s in inventory as of 2024

 * 🇧🇬 Bulgaria
 * Bulgarian Air Force – 11 MiG-29s and 3 MiG-29UB used for conversion training in inventory as of 2022.

 * 🇨🇺 Cuba
 * Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force – 4 MiG-29s in inventory as of 2023

 * 🇪🇬 Egypt
 * Egyptian Air Force – 46 MiG-29Ms delivered by 2021, with some lost on the ground in Sudan.
 * 🇪🇷 Eritrea
 * Eritrean Air Force – 7 MiG-29s in service as of 2022, but none active in 2023
 * 🇮🇳 India
 * Indian Air Force – 67 MiG-29s in service as of January 2021.
 * Indian Naval Air Arm – 44 MiG-29Ks in service as of February 2021
 * 🇮🇷 Iran
 * Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force – 19 MiG-29s in operation as of 2023 according to Flight Global. Iran purchased 20 MiG-29 (9.12B) and 4 MiG-29UB aircraft in 1989. They attempted to purchase 48 more in 1992, but the deal fell through. They had received 9 from Iraq, according to RSK MiG.
 * 🇲🇳 Mongolia
 * Mongolian Air Force - 6 MiG-29UBs in service as of December 2021. That number fell to 2 operational UBs in 2023.
 * 🇲🇲 Myanmar
 * Myanmar Air Force – 31 MiG-29s(6 SE, 20 SM(mod) and 5 UB) in January 2015. 10 are upgraded to MiG-29SM(mod) standard. As of 2023, 28 fighters and 5 UB trainers remain.
 * 🇰🇵 North Korea
 * Korean People's Air Force – 18 MiG-29s (6 9.12B, 3 S-13 and 2 UB) as of July 2023.
 * 🇵🇪 Peru
 * Peruvian Air Force – 19 MiG-29s in service as of February 2021 Only 6 were available by the end of 2023.
 * 🇵🇱 Poland
 * Polish Air Force – 22 MiG-29s and 6 MiG-29UB used for conversion training in service as of 2022. 10 transferred to Ukraine in 2023.
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * Russian Aerospace Forces – 87 total consisting of 70 MiG-29/MiG-29UB, 15 MiG-29SMT and 2 MiG-29UBT in service as of 2022. less than 240 MiG-29 in service according to World Air Forces.
 * Russian Naval Aviation – 24 MiG-29Ks
 * 🇷🇸 Serbia
 * Serbian Air Force and Air Defence – 14 MiG-29s (5 MiG-29Аs, 3 MiG-29Bs, 3 MiG-29Ss, 3 MiG-29UBs) in inventory as of 2022, 11 of which are modernized to the advanced MiG-29SMT standards while 3 (MiG-29UB) are used as a conversion trainer.
 * 🇸🇩 Sudan
 * Sudanese Air Force – 10 fighters and 1 UB trainer in service as of January 2023
 * Syria
 * Syrian Arab Air Force – 20 in service with 12 more on order as of January 2017. A new Russian delivery arrived in May 2020. 29 available as of 2023.
 * 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan
 * Turkmen Air Force – 24 MiG-29s in use as of 2023
 * 🇺🇦 Ukraine
 * Ukrainian Air Force – 37 to 70 MiG-29s in use as of March 2019 As of 2023 it is estimated that 47 fighters and 8 UB trainers are operational.
 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * Used by private defense contractor RAVN Aerospace for adversary training services.
 * 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
 * Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces – 60 MiG-29s were operation as of January 2014. Only 38 MiG 29s of all type were available in 2023.
 * 🇾🇪 Yemen
 * Yemeni Air Force – 24 in service as of January 2017. All grounded because of civil war. Many were destroyed on the ground during the Saudi-led Operation Decisive Storm in 2015. 23 reported available in 2023, with 32 MiG-29s on order.

Former operators

 * 🇹🇩 Chad – The Chadian Air Force received 3 MiG-29s from Ukraine in 2015. None operational as of 2024.
 *  Czechoslovakia – Received 18 MiG-29s and two MiG-29UB aircraft. Although six were capable of delivering nuclear weapons, the necessary equipment for this was removed as per the CFE treaty. All passed onto successor states.
 * 🇨🇿 Czech Republic – Inherited nine MiG-29 and one MiG-29UB. All sold to Poland in 1995 in exchange for 11 W-3A Sokol helicopters. Replaced with Saab JAS 39 Gripen.
 *  East Germany – 24 absorbed into the West German Air Force upon reunification.
 * 🇩🇪 Germany – One crashed, one on display, 22 sold to Poland in 2003 for €22 ($).
 * 🇭🇺 Hungary – 28 in inventory as of January 2011. Reportedly stored outside. The last fighter was retired in December 2010, at which point only 4 aircraft were still in operational condition. In 2011 the Hungarian government intended to sell six MiG-29 9.12 and two MiG-29UB aircraft. Replaced with JAS 39 Gripen but kept in reserve if needed. In October 2017, the Hungarian Air Force announced that 23 MiG-29s were to be auctioned off including engines and spare parts in November. The online auction had a reservation price of €8.7 million and failed to attract any bidders. This might have been because of an agreement between Hungary and Russia requiring the manufacturer's (Russia's) approval to transfer ownership of the aircraft.
 *  undefined – Received 37 MiG-29s during Saddam Hussein's era (MiG-29 9.12B and MiG-29UB); these were destroyed or written off and nine were reportedly flown to Iran.
 *  – Leased from Poland in 1997.
 * 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan - Kazakh Air and Air Defence Forces – 23 MiG-29s as of 2023. These were retired in 2023, put up for auction in October 2023, and reportedly sold in April 2024 to the US. It was speculated that these would be transferred to Ukraine as spare parts sources and/or decoys.  In a later statement, the Kazakh state-owned weapons importer and exporter Kazspetexport denied such claims, saying that foreign companies were not allowed to bid.
 * 🇲🇾 Malaysia – Retired 16 MiG-29s in 2017 for lack of spare parts and engine problem.  Replaced with Sukhoi Su-30.
 * 🇲🇩 Moldova – Not operational, six MiG-29S in storage. In the 1990s, a total of six were sold to the US for type evaluation testing.
 * 🇷🇴 Romania – 17 MiG-29 9.12A and five MiG-29UB were delivered from 1989, 1 MiG-29S received from Moldova in 1992. Retired in 2003.
 *  Serbia and Montenegro – Inherited from Yugoslavia, six destroyed in 1999.
 * 🇸🇰 Slovakia – Slovakia operated in total 24 MiG-29s. 9 MiG-29 9.12A and 1 MiG-29UB were inherited from Czechoslovakia. From 1993 to 1995 Slovakia ordered 12 additional MiG-29 9.12A and 2 MiG-29UB fighters as compensation for Russian debt. 12 aircraft were upgraded by the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG and Western companies in 2007 and 2008 to fulfill the NATO requirements, and were maintained by Russian military technicians at Sliač Air Base. They were officially withdrawn from service on 31 August 2022. Slovakia's Foreign Minister Rastislav Káčer has said that his country is prepared to transfer their fleet of MiG-29s to Ukraine. He said: "We have not yet handed [Ukraine] the MiG-29s. But we are ready to do it. We are talking with our NATO partners about how to do it," and such a package would involve "several thousand" missiles.  Slovakia transferred the first four of its MiG-29 fighter jets, from 13 to be sent to Ukraine on 24 March 2023.
 *  South Yemen – Received between 6 and 12 MiG-29s from either Moldova and Russia, or Moldova only, in 1994.
 *  Soviet Union – Passed on to successor states.

 *  undefined – 14 MiG-29 and 2 MiG-29UB, passed on to Serbia and Montenegro.

Aircraft on display
Czech Republic
 * On display at the Prague Aviation Museum in Prague.

Germany
 * 29+03 – MiG-29G on display at the Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr in Berlin. This airframe is the only remaining German MiG-29 in Germany. It was previously on display in Laage before being moved to the Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr in 2006 as part of the exhibition "50 Jahre Luftwaffe".

Hungary
 * One MiG-29 is on display with other older MiG planes and helicopters at The RepTár Museum of Szolnok, Hungary.

India
 * KB-732 – On display as a gate guardian at Ojhar Air Force Station in Nasik, Maharashtra.
 * KB-741 – On display at the Technical Type Training (TETTRA) School in Pune, Maharashtra.

Latvia
 * 9-52 – MiG-29UB on display at the Riga Aviation Museum in Riga. This airframe is the second MiG-29UB prototype. After 213 test flights around Moscow between 23 August 1982 and 10 April 1986, it was disassembled and parts of the wings and tails were re-used in prototype (9–16). The remains were shipped to Riga Military Aviation Engineers High School, and later handed over to the Riga Aviation Museum in 1994, where it is currently displayed. The remains of this prototype is in a very bad condition, with open fuselage panels and a partly broken canopy.

Poland
 * MiG-29G on display at the Muzeum Wojska Polskiego in Warsaw.
 * MiG-29GT on display at the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków. This aircraft was sold by Germany to Poland in 2002 and briefly served in the Polish Air Force.

Romania
 * 67 – On display at the National Museum of Romanian Aviation in Bucharest.

Russia
 * On display at the Central Air Force Museum in Monino. Painted as "Blue 01". This airframe is the first prototype MiG-29.
 * On display at the Central Air Force Museum in Monino. Painted as "Blue 03".
 * 2960710039 – MiG-29 9.13 On display at the Central Air Force Museum in Monino. Painted as "Blue 70".
 * 2960718121 – MiG-29 9.13 On display at the Central Air Force Museum in Monino. Painted as "Blue 51".
 * On display at the Central Air Force Museum in Monino. Painted as "Blue 18". This airframe is a MiG-29KVP.
 * 2960705560 – On display at the Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Moscow. Painted as "Blue 26".
 * On display at the Vadim Zadorozhny Technical Museum in Khimki. Painted as "Blue 04".
 * On display at the Central Armed Forces Museum in Moscow. Painted as "Red 02".

Slovakia
 * 8605 – MiG-29 9.12A on display in Museum of Aviation in Košice
 * 7501 – MiG-29 9.12A on display at Sliač Air Force Base in Sliač. Normally not accessible to public.
 * 9308 – MiG-29 9.12A on display in Vojenské historické múzeum Piešťany (Military History Museum Piešťany) in Piešťany.
 * 5817 – MiG-29 9.12A on display in Vojenské historické múzeum Piešťany
 * 5515 – MiG-29 9.12A on display in Vojenské historické múzeum Piešťany.

United States
 * 2960512124 – MiG-29 9.12 On display at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas.
 * 2960717458 – MiG-29 9.13 On display at the airpark at Naval Air Station Fallon near Fallon, Nevada.
 * 2960717473 – MiG-29 9.13 On display at the Threat Training Facility at Nellis Air Force Base near North Las Vegas, Nevada.
 * 2960516761 – MiG-29 9.12 on display in the Cold War Gallery of the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.
 * 2960516766 – MiG-29 9.12 On display at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.
 * 2960721930 – MiG-29 9.13 On display at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.
 * 50903012038 – MiG-29UB on display at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

Airworthy

 * N29UB – MiG-29UB owned by Jared Isaacman. It was previously owned by the Flying Heritage Collection in Everett, Washington. The aircraft was obtained from Eastern Europe in early 2009. The aircraft has an FAA approved maintenance program and is flyable.
 * N129XX – MiG-29UB owned by Air USA and located at the Quincy Regional Airport in Quincy, Illinois. This aircraft was purchased by Don Kirlin from Kyrgyzstan. It is available for contract training and flight testing.
 * Two MiG-29UBs in flying condition were offered for sale from Eastern Europe in spring 2009. These aircraft come from the same source as the flyable aircraft (N129UB) previously owned by the Historic Flight Foundation and now owned by Jared Isaacman.

title: Mikoyan MiG-29


text:
Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona

Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona (Juan Carlos Teresa Silverio Alfonso de Borbón y Battenberg; 20 June 1913 – 1 April 1993), was a claimant to the Spanish throne as Juan III. He was the third son and designated heir of King Alfonso XIII of Spain and Queen Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg. His father was replaced by the Second Spanish Republic in 1931. Juan's son Juan Carlos I became king when Spain's constitutional monarchy was restored in 1975.

Early life
Juan was born at the Palace of San Ildefonso. His father was forced into exile when the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed on 14 April 1931. Owing to the renunciations in 1933 of his brothers Alfonso, Prince of Asturias, and Infante Jaime, Duke of Segovia, Infante Juan became first in line to the defunct Spanish throne. He thus received the title Prince of Asturias when he was serving with the Royal Navy in Bombay.

In March 1935, he was appointed honorary sub-lieutenant and passed his naval exams in gunnery and navigation, which would have entitled him to a lieutenant’s commission in the Royal Navy if he gave up his Spanish nationality. This, however, he refused to do.

Marriage
He met his future wife at a party hosted by Victor Emmanuel III of Italy on the day before his sister (Infanta Beatriz) was to be married. He married Princess María de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (1910–2000), known in Spain as Doña María de las Mercedes de Borbón Dos-Sicilias y Orleans, in Rome on 12 October 1935.

Just before the birth of the Infante Juan Carlos, the Count of Barcelona decided to go hunting, with the doctor telling him and his wife that the future king would not be born for weeks. When he was told of the birth, he drove to the hospital so quickly that he broke an axle spring.

Children
They had four children:

 * Infanta Pilar, Duchess of Badajoz (30 July 1936 – 8 January 2020), who married Luis Gomez-Acebo y de Estrada, Viscount de la Torre, on 6 May 1967, and had five children
 * Juan Carlos I of Spain (born 5 January 1938), who married Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark on 14 May 1962, and had three children
 * Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria and Duchess of Hernani (born 6 March 1939), who married Don Carlos Zurita y Delgado on 12 October 1972, and had two children
 * Infante Alfonso of Spain (3 October 1941 – 29 March 1956)

They lived in Cannes and Rome, and, with the outbreak of World War II, they moved to Lausanne to live with his mother, Victoria Eugenie. Afterwards, they resided at Estoril, on the Portuguese Riviera.

Claim to the Spanish throne
In 1931, Juan was subject to dynastic negotiations between the Alfonsists and the Carlists, concluded in so-called Pact of Territet; it has never been implemented. Juan became heir apparent to the defunct Spanish throne after the renunciations of his two older brothers, Alfonso and Jaime, in 1933. To assert his claim to the throne, following his father's death (in 1941) he used the title of Count of Barcelona, a sovereign title associated with the Spanish crown.

In 1936, his father sent him to participate in the Spanish Civil War but he was arrested near the French border, and sent back by General Emilio Mola.

On 19 March 1945, he announced a manifesto in Lausanne, demanding he replace Francisco Franco: "Today, six years after the Civil War, the regime established by General Franco, inspired from the start by the totalitarian systems and the Axis powers, so contrary to the character and tradition of our people, is fundamentally incompatible with the circumstances, which the present war is creating in the world. The foreign policy followed by the regime is compromising the future of the nation. Spain runs the risk of being dragged into a new fratricidal conflict and of finding itself totally isolated from the world. The present regime, however hard it tries to adapt to the new situation, is responsible for this double danger. Moreover, a new republic, however moderate in its beginnings and its intentions, will not be long in shifting to one of the extremes, thus strengthening the other and finishing up in a new civil war. Only the traditional monarchy can be an instrument of peace and concord to reconcile Spaniards; it alone can obtain respect from abroad, by means of an effective state of law, and realize a harmonious synthesis of that order and freedom upon which is based the Christian concept of the state. Millions of Spaniards of the most varied ideologies are convinced of this truth and see in the monarchy the only saving institution."

When General Franco declared Spain a monarchy in 1947, he characterized it as a "restoration". However, Franco was afraid that Juan would roll back the Spanish State because he favoured constitutional monarchy, which would restore parliamentary democracy. As a result, in 1969, Franco passed over Juan in favour of Juan's son, Juan Carlos, who Franco believed would be more likely to continue the dictatorship after his death. Juan Carlos later surprised many by his support of democratising Spain. Franco and Juan did not have a good relationship, with the latter constantly pressing Franco to restore the monarchy. Relations soured further when Juan called Franco an "illegitimate usurper".

Juan formally renounced his rights to the Spanish throne eight years after being displaced as recognised heir to the throne by Franco, and two years after his son, Juan Carlos, had become king. In return, his son officially granted him the title of Count of Barcelona, which he had claimed for so long.

After his death in 1993, he was buried with honours due a king, under the name Juan III (his title if he had become king) in the Royal Crypt of the monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, near Madrid. His wife survived him by seven years.

He was fond of the sea, and joined the Naval School at San Fernando, Cádiz, and had tattoos of a marine theme from his time in the British Royal Navy. He was appointed an Honorary Admiral in the Royal Navy on 31 July 1987.

Honours
• undefined:

• * Knight of the Golden Fleece, 16 May 1927

• * Grand Cross of Naval Merit, with White Decoration, 17 July 1978

• * Grand Cross of Military Merit, with White Decoration, 5 February 1993

• * Grand Cross of Aeronautical Merit, with White Decoration, 5 February 1993

• 🇬🇷 Greek Royal Family:

• * Grand Cross of the Redeemer, 13 May 1962

• * Grand Cross of Saints George and Constantine, 13 May 1962

• Portugal:

• * Portuguese Royal Family: Grand Cross of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa, 8 December 1983

• * Portuguese Republic: Grand Cross of the Order of Christ, 31 January 1986

•  Italian Royal Family:

• * Knight of the Annunciation, 24 November 1946

• * Grand Cross of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, 24 November 1946

• * Grand Cross of the Crown of Italy, 24 November 1946

• * Two Sicilian Royal Family: Grand Cross of the Constantinian Order of St. George, 12 March 1960

• 🇲🇨 Monaco: Grand Cross of the Order of Saint-Charles, 11 May 1962

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona


text:
Talk:Persian Gulf

Ancient names for the Persian Gulf
Currently, the page makes a single reference to the usage of 'the Bitter Sea' by the 'Assyrians'. Setting aside that this is incredibly vague, it doesn't address the fact that the Sumerians and the early Semitic Mesopotamians called the Persian Gulf 'the Lower Sea'. This is the most common nomenclature in early Mesopotamian texts. The name contrasts the Persian Gulf with the Mediterranean, which the early Mesopotamians called 'the Upper Sea'. A thousand years later, in Neo-Assyrian tests, the Gulf is called 'the Eastern Sea'. This should be relevant to include, I think.

Source: https://www.jstor.org/stable/4311029 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A02:A458:447B:1:1D7B:7DDB:93A1:E043 (talk) 14:38, 18 September 2023 (UTC)

FAQ template to talk page
Should we replace the not-a-forum tag with a FAQ explaining the naming dispute and that the name "Arabian Gulf" won't be replaced in the article? NotAGenious (talk) 13:30, 6 July 2023 (UTC)

Ice Age exposure as land
Modern geography has shown that the global sea level during the ice age was over 400 feet (120 meters lower as recently as 8000 BC. This means that the entire Gulf was dry land, a continuation of the Tigris+Euphrates river valley. Little research to date has explored potential cities and settlements in this area, though it may well have been a far more important area of inhabitation than the well known ancient cities. This topic is worth mentioning. Gar37bic (talk) 14:53, 23 July 2023 (UTC)
 * Yes, if supporting reliable sources can be cited with any addition. DeCausa (talk) 21:08, 23 July 2023 (UTC)
 * Yes - can you point to RS on this? Lukewarmbeer (talk) 07:34, 23 October 2023 (UTC)

New interactive zoomable map
@DeCausa Hi, the OpenStreetMap map is interactive and zoomable and very well shows map of Persian Gulf. Why did you revert my edit? This map is different from all existing maps. I really believe that if you want to remove one of two maps, you should remove the jpg map and not the OpenStreetMap map.

It is very clear and even more clear than the jpg. All water borders are shown in this new map. Also islands of Persian Gulf are shown better and more clearly. These details only can be shown by OpenStreetMap.

This ability is specially well-used by mobile users. They rapidly zoom by two fingers. Hooman Mallahzadeh (talk) 16:52, 6 December 2023 (UTC)
 * Firstly, you increased the maps from one to 5 in the Infobox (only 4 of which worked with captions) which is way over the top and unnecessary. Secondly, the OpenStreetmap is unnecessary and inferior in comparison to the existing satellite image. The latter gives a good view of the geographic and oceanographic setting. It shows the nature of the surrounding terrain as well as shallow and deeper water, with excellent and clear detail of the coastline such as islands and inlets. A not insignificant factor is that it is aesthetically pleasing. TheOpenStreet map, on the other hand, is an unattractive and featureless slab of grey with irrelevant features such as the location of Riyadh and Shiraz. The coastline is unclear and crudely drawn. The body of water is featureless block of blue. It imparts little information about the Gulf other than its basic shape. The same is not true of the satellite map. DeCausa (talk) 18:07, 6 December 2023 (UTC)
 * @DeCausa You are right that no more than 5 maps is allowed, but pushpin maps are overlapped when showing and only one of them is shown at any time, but we can ignore it totally by removing pushpin maps.
 * I really insist on displaying OpenStreetMap map.
 * Yes Persian Gulf is very beautiful from satellite! But we should only show this gulf, without any extra information. Existing satellite image has extra information in it:
 * Coulds are not necessary specially near Dubai there exists clouds
 * The color of waters is extra information
 * In my opinion, mountains of Iran is unrelevant to Persian Gulf too.
 * We only should show
 * Borders of gulf
 * Islands of gulf by name
 * Importand countries by name
 * Additionally, I really think that the details represented in OpenStreetMap are much more useful than the details represented from Seattleite. In fact, we should "model" this gulf. In modeling process, we do not need exact borders with full details. So inaccurate border lines as in OpenStreetMap is more useful than exact borders.
 * Finally, satellite image lacks any text of for explaining main items. Unlike OpenStreetMap maps. Hooman Mallahzadeh (talk) 18:59, 6 December 2023 (UTC)
 * @DeCausa In my opinion, svg maps had become deprecated, and we can use "rich metadata maps" as in OpenStreetMap maps. These new maps are much more helpful for anyone. Hooman Mallahzadeh (talk) 19:12, 6 December 2023 (UTC)
 * These new maps are not more helpful. Having these details is helpful. Why are these "rich metadata maps" more helpful? QuicoleJR (talk) 19:32, 6 December 2023 (UTC)
 * The open streetmaps are subjectively inferior when displayed in the infobox, and to make use of their features and details you have to click on them and exit Wikipedia to another site. This renders them not suitable for being included in the infobox at this scale. Canterbury Tail talk 19:41, 6 December 2023 (UTC)
 * @QuicoleJRSolid svg image has no any text. What OpenStreetMap adds is metadata,
 * Name of Island is metadata of satellite image, (not shown in satallite)
 * Showing main roads with names are metadata and so on. (not shown in satallite)
 * Where is the border of Persian Gulf? Is it clear in satellite map? (not shown in satallite)
 * What is important and useful are these items.
 * I ask you:
 * Cloud over Dubai is useful to anyone? (shown in satallite)
 * A mountain in Iran is useful? (shown in satallite)
 * Snow over mountain is useful. (shown in satallite)
 * @Canterbury Tail Sorry for pinging you, but you reverted my edits. So please continue discussing. Hooman Mallahzadeh (talk) 19:51, 6 December 2023 (UTC)
 * I have been discussing, you don't need to ping me., I'm able to follow discussions I'm participating in without notifications. Canterbury Tail talk 19:53, 6 December 2023 (UTC)
 * The metadata is not visible to most readers, as few of them will click on the map. The border is also not ambiguous since the Persian Gulf is a body of water, and therefore the coastline acts as the border. QuicoleJR (talk) 19:54, 6 December 2023 (UTC)
 * The information you're talking about is NOT visible in the infobox. Name of island, not visible in infobox. Main roads? Not visible in infobox. Border of Persian Gulf, seems to have been arbitrarily chosen in this map which is odd when there is no recognised boundary to it. In fact the labels in the infobox are confusing because they're illegible and cut off by the borders. Canterbury Tail talk 19:57, 6 December 2023 (UTC)
 * As I know OpenMapStreet shows details of metadata maps based on the zoom number, for example, zoom number of 7 shows only 1 island and zoom 9 shows 5 or more islands etc. Perhaps we should change settings of OpenMapStreet to show more or less texts on early zooms. Some settings are required for that. But I really think that we should not use satellite image for Infobox of Persian Gulf. They are somehow deprecated for Infoboxes. Hooman Mallahzadeh (talk) 20:12, 6 December 2023 (UTC)
 * They are not deprecated for infoboxes, you would need a community consensus for that. Your opinion is not policy. QuicoleJR (talk) 20:18, 6 December 2023 (UTC)
 * Hooman Mallahzadeh, what you say makes absolutely no sense. One cannot access the features you claim. It is a dull, pointless, ugly map that adds nothing and takes away information displayed in the satellite map. You are pushing these useless maps in multiple articles. I don't know what motivates you in doing this but you have literally found no one who agrees with you. You need to drop this. DeCausa (talk) 23:04, 6 December 2023 (UTC)

title: Talk:Persian Gulf


text:
Crowley

Crowley may refer to:

Places

 * Crowley, Mendocino County, California, an unincorporated community
 * Crowley County, Colorado
 * Crowley, Colorado, a town in Crowley County
 * Crowley, Louisiana, a city
 * Crowley, Oregon (disambiguation)
 * Crowley, Texas, a city
 * Crowley Lake, a reservoir in Mono County, California

Corporations

 * Crowley Foods, an American dairy company
 * Crowley Maritime, an American diversified transportation and logistics company
 * Crowley's, or Crowley Milner and Company, an American department store chain

Other uses

 * Crowley (surname)
 * Crowley (Supernatural), a character in American TV series Supernatural
 * "Mr. Crowley", a song by Ozzy Osbourne, named in reference to Aleister Crowley
 * Aleister Crowley, English occultist, ceremonial magician, poet, painter, novelist
 * USS Crowley, a US Navy destroyer escort which served in World War II
 * Crowley, the US title of 2008 British horror film Chemical Wedding
 * Crowley, a character in Good Omens, a novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

title: Crowley


text:
Talk:Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona

Untitled
Juan Carlos. Wow. What a guy. I love Juan Carlos. By the way, I have no idea what I am talking about. I'm just a bored student waiting for my classes to start and trying to find out the full name of King Juan Carlos of Spain for my Spanish III Honors class. Hmm...I can't seem to find the information. Will somebody please tell me? Because I would be greatly indebted to you. Thank you very much.

Love, Amanda who is bored and wants school to end

---

Dear Amanda,

It's "Juan Carlos de Borbon y Borbon", or possibly "Juan Carlos Alfonso Victor Maria de Borbon y Borbon". We are not a homework service. Your mission, should you accept it, is to write a proper article here on Juan de Borbon.

Sincerely,

The Wikipedia

Jeez. We had a mediocre stub here half an hour ago. Now look at it! :-) FearÉIREANN 04:29 20 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Is this the proper title for this article? That is, should the surname be used. Should it just be "Juan, Count of Barcelona"? john k 16:28, 17 Jul 2004 (UTC)

Explain the heir line
There should be some explanation of how the fourth son became heir apparent. Mention the Carlists that recognized Juan, too.

 * There also needs to be more detail -- when was Juan in the Royal Navy? Where was he born? Educated? Died? And a full article is needed on his wife, the present king's mother. (I'm not sufficiently knowledgeable in recent Spanish history to want to take this on.) --Michael K. Smith 21:02, 18 February 2006 (UTC)

Ancestor infobox
Cosmos666 has added a box which shows Juan's four grandparents and eight great-grandparents. This is certainly not usual for an encylopedia article (indeed, often not for a full-length book about the subject). I suggest removal. If not, what are the limits to this? Noel S McFerran 04:09, 27 October 2006 (UTC) The ancestor infobox has an error, showing Wilhelmina of Baden where Julie von Hauke, Princess of Battenberg, should have been shown as the wife of Alexander of Hesse. I hope that the ancestry-box remains. It's helpful in tracing familial relationships among the various royal families, presents useful information in a concise format, and provides quick links to other biographies on Wikipedia. Thanks. a.windemere@gmail.com
 * I added the infobox to make the article comply with the others spanish sovereigns. I was in doubt if it was necessary for the count of Barcelona since he was never king. Ultimately if the infobox is too much, remove it.--Cosmos666 22:47, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

title seems wrong
"Count of Barcelona" is not a noble title for a junior member of a royal family,  like, say,  "Prince of Asturias," or "Duke of Cadiz." It is one of the titles of the King of Spain, and by using it, Juan was claiming that he was de jure King of Spain. It seems inappropriate to combine this title with "Infante," which implies a junior status. john k 04:07, 4 August 2007 (UTC)

 * I would just let it be. It is a special situation (the Count was buried as John III of Spain, apparently) but the King of Spain was the Count's son. The Count renounced his claim to the throne, thereby affirming his status as "just" an Infante. The comital title was later granted to him in an official capacity. Juan Carlos was not giving his father his crown, just confirming a title for him. Charles 04:28, 4 August 2007 (UTC)

 * Ah yes, I hadn't thought about the post-1978 situation. Probably best just to let it be. john k 22:28, 4 August 2007 (UTC)

"Protocol at the Villa Giralda is informal, yet the staff never forgets the royal status of the sun-tanned sailor who lives there: King Juan III of Spain, King of Aragon, King of Castile, King of Jerusalem, King of the Two Sicilies, King of Gibraltar, King of the East and West Indies, King of the Oceanic Countries, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgandy, Duke of Brabant and Duk of Milan, Count of Barcelona, Count of Flanders, Count of the Tyrol, and a Cavalier of the Golden Fleece. His preferred title, Count of Barcelona, is a gesture toward the Catalan capital, a city of 2 million inhabitants, and a flourishing port at a time when Madrid was a hamlet." Benjamin Welles, 'Spain; the gentle anarchy,' 1965, pp. 348 https://openlibrary.org/books/OL5946383M/Spain. DOR (HK) (talk) 15:40, 26 January 2019 (UTC)

Succession Box
He renounced his rights on 14 May 1977. So, he was de jure King of Spain until 14 May 1977, even if his son proclaimed himself King of Spain on 22 November 1975. The date of succession box "1975" should be changed to "1977", I think. Motsu 14:24, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

Private Coat of Arms used in the Exile
I saw at this source that the private coat of arms of don Juan Count of Barcelona was a composition donated by the Maestranza de Zaragoza (the cross at the original composition of the Count's Tapestry was this Order Cross, see the link). The Count of Barcelona never used this arms as Royal Pretender emblem except the tapestry. This is the source is a blog blog de heraldica 11/02/02) so it is unreliable but, in this case, the information author is Sanpedro Escolar a well known Spanish heraldist. I couldn't get information from a reliable source but to show the lesser arms of the Alfonso XIII (used by don Juan is the most correct solution). I'm going to put these new dates at the image information box.

--Heralder (talk) 13:53, 3 February 2011 (UTC)
 * And why the Kingdom of Jerusalem's arms? It's a hollow title. Alfonso XIII was nuts. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.85.148.202 (talk) 10:48, 17 May 2011 (UTC)

title: Talk:Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona


text: Talk:Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17

title: Talk:Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17