MiG29UB

MiG-29UB, designated Fulcrum-B by NATO, is the two-seat trainer variant of the Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter aircraft developed by Mikoyan-Gurevich. It was produced to provide pilot conversion and instrument training while sharing most airframe and performance characteristics with the single-seat MiG-29A. The MiG-29UB features a tandem cockpit, with the student in the front and the instructor in the rear, and it omits the radar and most weapons-aiming avionics of the combat variant. This reduces weight and cost and allows for extended training sorties, though its air-to-air capability is limited compared with the MiG-29A. The aircraft retains the two Klimov RD-33 engines, flight control system, and basic airframe geometry, enabling near-typical takeoff, landing, maneuvering, and high-angle-of-attack training.

Operationally, the MiG-29UB has served with the air forces of several former Soviet states and various export customers as a dedicated trainer, and in some cases has been employed in light combat roles or as an aggressor aircraft for training exercises. Production began in the late 1980s and continued into the early 1990s, with many examples remaining in service in some countries and undergoing upgrade programs to extend their usefulness. The MiG-29UB is commonly used for converting pilots to the MiG-29 family before transitioning to single-seat fighters.