MiG-29 Fulcrum – PDF

The Mikoyan MiG-29 “Fulcrum” was developed during the 1970s in response to increasingly capable Western fighters such as the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon. Conceived as a highly maneuverable front-line fighter, the MiG-29 combined two powerful engines with advanced aerodynamics, radar, infrared search-and-track equipment, and both radar- and infrared-guided air-to-air missiles. It was designed to operate relatively close to the front and from airfields that might lack the extensive infrastructure required by larger combat aircraft.

Entering Soviet service in the early 1980s, the MiG-29 provided the Soviet Air Forces with a major improvement in short-range air combat capability. Its exceptional maneuverability, helmet-mounted sight, and highly capable short-range missiles made it particularly dangerous in close combat. While the larger Su-27 emphasized greater range and endurance, the MiG-29 was intended primarily as a tactical fighter for defending Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces and contesting control of the battlefield airspace.

The Fulcrum was supplied to several Warsaw Pact and Soviet-allied nations before the end of the Cold War, including East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and others. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, large numbers passed to the air forces of Russia and other former Soviet republics. Exported MiG-29s subsequently saw combat in several regional conflicts, while continuing modernization produced improved versions with greater range, more capable avionics, and expanded air-to-ground capability.

Although it entered service relatively late in the Cold War, the MiG-29 became one of the most recognizable Soviet fighters of the era. Its combination of maneuverability, rugged operating characteristics, and widespread international service established the NATO-designated “Fulcrum” as an important counterpart to Western fighters such as the F-15 and F-16, and modernized versions remain in service with a number of air forces.

Service Branch: Soviet Air Forces / Russian Aerospace Forces; numerous foreign air forces
Soviet/Russian Service: 1983–Present
Number Built: 1,600+

What’s Included:

• 12 1.5” square counter images
• 24 1” square counter images
• 35 .75” square counter images
• 40 .625” square counter images
• Numbered Images to assist with game organization and tracking
• Printable PDF format for personal gaming use

Each image size is contained on a ½ sheet.

• Enables users to save paper and print 2 types of aircraft on the same page.
• Print one set of aircraft images then reverse the page in the printer and print a second type of your choice on the same page.