Mikoyan MiG-30B

[gooberliberation]

The Mikoyan MiG-29 began its life as the Ye-49311 research aircraft of the early-1970s, as a scaled testbed for the aerodynamics of the forthcoming Perspektivnyi Frontovoi Istrebitel (Advanced Tactical Fighter). Although the new fighter project was soon split into heavy(Su-27) and light(MiG-29) directions, the Ye-49311 development continued, with the aircraft used to test out various new technologies and equipment.  These aircraft, known to the west as the RAM-L(a designation shared by the MiG-29, an aircraft it was often confused with) and later the Fishstick -A, were taken out of service in 1979 as MiG-29 testing progressed.

Late in 1980, however, it was realised that the MiG-29 would have extremely limited ground-attack abilities, and a specialised strike-version was needed. Rather than redesign the MiG-29 from the ground up, a production version of the Ye-49311(which had more internal volume) was built. The new aircraft type, now known as the MiG-30, was intended as a pure attack and reconnaissance plane with little air-to-air capabilities(hence the even-numbered designation).

The MiG-30 entered service with Frontal Aviation in late 1983 and saw service in Afghanistan. Although the Fishsticks performed well, the soviets found close-support aircraft such as the Su-25 more useful than a high-teck interdictor loaded with smart weapons. In service, MiG-30s found themselves loaded with iron bombs and unguided rockets just as often as they were with advanced weapons. Although many were seen equipped with air-to-air missiles, they are seldom used.

Some 500 MiG-30s were built by the end of the cold war. Although the Russian Federation Air Force would like to keep the Fishsticks in service, limited funds kept only the MiG-30R reconnaissance version in service, as well as a couple testbeds used by Mikoyan to test technology used on the MiG-1.44.

Variants:

Ye-49311 "Fishstick -A" Research aircraft

MiG-30 "Fishstick -B" Preproduction service

MiG-30B "Fishstick -C" Strike

MiG-30R "Fishstick -D" Reconnaissance

MiG-30U trainer proposed but never built, in favor of MiG-29UB

MiG-30M proposed upgrade, yet to be built.

[rallymodeller]

Wonderful! I especially love the ASCC name "Fishstick". Perfect!    

[Jeffry Fontaine]

I love your similated satellite image, only problem most of the "take" was normally acquired at a much higher angle to the object and this resulted in a near vertical image.  

The images were usually very coarse with a lot of pixellating due to the extreme range of the platform that obtained the image.  Still looking good and to make it pass closer to "official" you need the security classification on the top and bottom of the image with the caveat of HVVRICO (Handle Via Vicious Rumor Information Channels Only)    

[BlackOps]

Hey I gotta get me one of those spy satellite thingamajigs!   I wouldn't mind my own MiG-30 Fishstick either

Nice backstory.


Jeff G.

[John Howling Mouse]

Well done, Gooberliberation!  You made me do a double-take at your recon image after I scrolled down, wondering where the pic of the model was at.

Cool!

   

[Brian da Basher]

Goober that's some fantastic work there! You could gaslight the stuffing out of a bunch of JMNs with that one! Excellent!

Brian da Basher

[gooberliberation]

Thanks for the compliments! Yeah, I was going to do a more plausable satellite image, mabye I will, but for now you'll have to settle for oblique shots taken by a CIA Chimpanzee who stowed away in an Aeroflot Tu-144's landing gear bay

Anyways, here's the picture unedited.



Here's the sucker from the side, under the nose is a laser rangefinder/FLIR. Man, this thing has one hell of a long nose!



The rear end. The tailboom houses a drag chute. The metallic boxes between the cans are chaff/flare dispensers.



Current load: 2x AAB-11C(B for bargain!) "Abner" air-air missiles on wingtips, actually inaccurate archers from italeri.
2x ASM pods(those green things made out of stretched sprue)
2X UB-20-80 rocket pods from the dragon weapons set.
2X donkey-7(extra S for smart..) "Krusty" missiles, actually Kerrys by Revell
4X FAB-250 bombs
1X GSh-6-30 30 mm cannon, donated by a MiG-27


Sure came a long way from here!

More pictures when I get my hands on a better camera.

[gooberliberation]

I got yer satellite image here

Okay, I'll do one for real later.

[The Rat]

I raise a glass of vodka to you Sir!    

[Patrick H]

well, done Goodliberation, cool story, enhanced with the satelitepicture.
And great model also



Patrick

[NARSES2]

Nice finish Goober

[cthulhu77]

Very, very, very wicked and cool.

[anthonyp]

COMRADES!!!!

Is GLORIOUS day in GREAT Soviet Union!!!  As comrade Gooberenlightenment (there is no need for "Liberation" in the Socialist paradise) mentions, many of these planes were built for use in the reeducation of Afghanistan.  Unfortunately, these planes performed more like their running dog Western counterparts than a true Soviet airplane.  The airframes would creak and whine whenever they were loaded with common working weapons as opposed to troublesome and spoiled "smart" weapons.

Comrade Gooberenlightenment, was there not a carrier variant as well?  Such a plane would have been more than a match for the decadent West's F/A-18's, da?  

What?  Why do the assembled masses always give me that look when I am educating them on rumour and speculation?

Comrade, the order of Lenin is on its way to you!  As well as a month's supply of Stoli!  Now, stand, comrades!  Let us all join in the song of Rodina!!

("Back in the USSR" begins playing)

"Back in the USSR"?  Eh, close enough...

Comrade Captain Anatoly Josef Pakizorich, Naval Aviation Bureau


Very cool!!

   

[Hobbes]

Well done! I like the backstory, and the satellite photo is sheer genius. The paintjob is amazing, too.  

[Svaz]

Awesome!  ^_^

I love the wing fences ...