First-hand account of MiG-29 radar

[RedTiger]

I bought a cheap copy of Alexander Zuyev's "Fulcrum". This book is more of an autobiography where he lays out life before the reader, which culminates in his defection in a MiG-29 to the West via Turkey. The beginning of the book does have some interesting info on the MiG-29s radar. I thought I would share this to see what everyone thought.

 

Zuyev refers to the radar as the NO-193, which suggests what we probably call the N-019. I've heard the "3" would indicate "E" for export, however that seems odd since Zuyev was a VVS pilot.

 

Zuyev explains that the initial version of the radar was less than steller:

 

"The original NO-193 was very sensitive and could detect fast-moving targets at extreme range, but the set's computer was incapable of holding the lock-on needed for missile launch. When we first tested this radar during the combat evaluation of the MiG-29 in 1985, my collegues and I had been deeply disappointed in the capabilities of the "advanced" look-down, shoot-down pulse-Doppler radar." - pg. 20

 

He claims that an electronics expert who helped design the initial version was a spy for the West. He had not only fed information about the radar back to the West but had also sabotaged the initial design. Once the spy was dealt with, he says that technicians arrived at their base and installed "modifications" to the radar which helped it to lock-on more effectively. There was a hope that the West still believed that the radar was crippled.

 

In his last bit of ACM practice before defecting, Zuyev was in a 2 vs. 2 engagement (both sides were MiG-29s). He gives a fairly detailed description of his actions. His Fulcrum was armed with simulated R-27s and R-73s. He had gone far below the bandits and even below the designated safe low altitude to notch their radars and attack from below.

 

"I now quickly configured the radar modes panel. I planned to attack my opponent from below, so I turned the Delta-H switch to the number two position, which would set the antenna scan for anticipated targets about 6,000 feet above my flight level. Then I turned the radar modes switch to auto and the hemisphere switch to forward hemisphere. The radar's computer would automatically take over the search and tracking of up to ten targets. This computer measured their relative speeds and ranges by Doppler effect, analyzed their closing angles, and presented the target in threat priority-order on the clear rectangular Plexiglas head-up display (HUD) above my main instrument panel." - pg. 21

 

He is being guided by GCI, but it is unclear to the extent of the information they are giving him. When he finally turns on his radar, it would seem that the radar is providing him the target information rather than datalink:

 

"Now I turned my radar modes switch from "standby" to "illuminate". My HUD lit up with a swarm of parallel white lines, electronic glowworms marching to the commands of my radar computer. These were target blips, most of them false returns. The radar quickly sorted through the clutter to reveal an authentic target block on a bearing of 010 degrees, ten miles ahead, at least 6,000 feet above me." - pg. 27

 

 

* * *

 

So what does everyone make of this? He doesn't turn on his radar until he's fairly close. He was using GCI and his SPO-15 to guide him to the bandits. So it would seem that he isn't using his radar to search but he is using it to target. However, the targeting capabilities seem pretty decent. The computer sifted through all the clutter and was capable of prioritizing up to 10 targets (which is represented in LOMAC). Furthermore, he states that the computer would "automatically" take over the search for targets. This could mean many things, some more probable than others. But on the downside, when you consider that he was in a look-up situation, where was all the clutter coming from?

 

What I find interesting is that here you have a man who seems very confident in the abilities of his plane and its radar as designed by the USSR, however this same man also became so disenchanted and outright disgusted with his country that he decided to defect. He also had every intention of sharing sensitive information about the MiG-29 with the West. One would think that not only would he have no reason to exaggerate, but that he wouldn't even want to! Given the other events in the book, at the time of writing the book, if he felt the MiG-29 was a death trap I have a feeling he would have said so. Interestingly, he seems very confident in its capabilities. Perhaps this is just a symptom of being a pilot and naturally feeling your plane is the "best"? At any rate, I found this account very interesting.

[GGTharos]

The GCI points the antenna in the correct direction and elevation for the radar to find there target. There is no actual target hand-off ... this is from the MiG manual.

Using his SPO is fine, until you run into a real war where each and every blinking light is lit up on it.

Lastly, remember those clutter targets he's talking about? If you've got an F-15 bearing down on you, HE doesn't have this broblem. He's going to be taking the LONGER shot from up high and he'll have you locked up the moment you come out of that notch, while your computer is 'quicklysorting through the clutter'. This worked against another miG-29, which has trouble with look-down capability, but it won't work quite so well with an aircraft that has a more capable model.

 

BVR it is a deathtrap. You need to use tactics that will allow you to slip in an 'unknown shooter' or otherwise surprise your bandits so you're shooting from closer in where all this doesn't matter so much.

[RedTiger]

Fair enough, and I saw that one coming. ;)

 

The part about the GCI pointing the antenna...

 

"so I turned the Delta-H switch to the number two position, which would set the antenna scan for anticipated targets about 6,000 feet above my flight level."

 

...would seem to suggest he had the capability of pointing the antenna himself at a given height while still in standby. I understand what the manual says, but if his account is believable, it looks like he has the capability of doing it himself.

 

This wasn't meant to prove anything folks, just thought I'd share this since this is a first-hand account from someone who you'd assume would be less motivated to exaggerate. So much of Russian equipment is shrouded in exaggerated claims as well as third-hand accounts about export models used by air forces of questionable ability. For those that do not have the desire or the need to hunt down manuals but still want an accurate picture, accounts like this are interesting. Nothing described in the account seems fanciful or extraordinary to me.

[GGTharos]

I'm not saying he doesn't ... just pointing out that GCI does not in fact hand off targets or make your FCS lock onto things, at least as far as I could tell.

 

Fair enough, and I saw that one coming. ;)

 

The part about the GCI pointing the antenna...

 

"so I turned the Delta-H switch to the number two position, which would set the antenna scan for anticipated targets about 6,000 feet above my flight level."

 

...would seem to suggest he had the capability of pointing the antenna himself at a given height while still in standby. I understand what the manual says, but if his account is believable, it looks like he has the capability of doing it himself.

 

And I thank you :)

The other interesting thing from such accounts is that it shows you the tactics of the era for a particular situation.

 

This wasn't meant to prove anything folks, just thought I'd share this since this is a first-hand account from someone who you'd assume would be less motivated to exaggerate. So much of Russian equipment is shrouded in exaggerated claims as well as third-hand accounts about export models used by air forces of questionable ability. For those that do not have the desire or the need to hunt down manuals but still want an accurate picture, accounts like this are interesting. Nothing described in the account seems fanciful or extraordinary to me.

[RedTiger]

About the era, yeah, I forgot to mention that this account is from 1989. Speaking of the tactics and about fighting other Fulcrums, he did mention that a weakness of their training as opposed to the Americans was that they had little to no dissimilar combat. The way they differentiated each other was by one side having their landing lights on. This struck me as very bad way of differentiating each other since its so unrealistic.

[Vekkinho]

The part about the GCI pointing the antenna...

 

"so I turned the Delta-H switch to the number two position, which would set the antenna scan for anticipated targets about 6,000 feet above my flight level."

 

...would seem to suggest he had the capability of pointing the antenna himself at a given height while still in standby. I understand what the manual says, but if his account is believable, it looks like he has the capability of doing it himself.

 

 

Pointing the antenna while in standby is no brainer here. You can set up your video camera (zoom, brightness) before you actually press REC button, can't you?!

[Pilotasso]

Does your camera fire missiles too? :D

[GGTharos]

Mine does! :D

[A.S]

watch the Flightpath - Future Fighter series with Eurofighter and see what that radar can do .... :huh:

 

tracking 200 targets to 80nm :music_whistling:....easy handling...by per view and voice control systems....crazy stuff ...everythin you want to know...right in your helmet display.....

[RedTiger]

Pointing the antenna while in standby is no brainer here. You can set up your video camera (zoom, brightness) before you actually press REC button, can't you?!

 

Well yes...but you can't do that in LOMAC. You can't do jack with any antenna unless the radar is on.

[SwingKid]

The writing style in this book is such perfect english, and the narrative so "Tom Clancy"-like, I'm halfway convinced that many of the thoughts expressed within it are those of his American CIA handlers and "co-authors," and not Zuyev's own. That bit about Tolkachev's sabotage, for example, seems to appear out of thin air without any eyewitness testimony or explanation - as if the CIA injected that part of the story just to help corroborate their own claim of operational success. Not long ago, other readers have also discovered minor errors in the description of some of the electronics.

That said, it's still a classic MiG-29 description - probably the best available at the time.

[Pilotasso]

I was also wondering...the article mentions the radar sort targets through clutter in a situation that later on only becomes clear as to be looking up. What does reflect radar waves in the upper atmohsphere? :huh:

 

Magnetosphere? Boy is that radar sensitive indeed! :D

[GGTharos]

You'd almost think there was something in the air ... like chaff?

[Pilotasso]

watch the Flightpath - Future Fighter series with Eurofighter and see what that radar can do .... :huh:

 

tracking 200 targets to 80nm :music_whistling:....easy handling...by per view and voice control systems....crazy stuff ...everythin you want to know...right in your helmet display.....

 

Voice commands...it sounds overkill at first. I wonder how the pilot will sound when doing 9 G's and trying to issue a voice command. Probably like talking while taking a dump.

 

-Engage...argh...igh...towed...argh...DECOYS...oh...god...

"Voice pattern not recognized, intruder ejection activated"

 

The future is scary. :huh:

[SUBS17]

The raptor uses voice commands I think they had trouble with it a while back and a pilot was locked in his pit unable to get out because it wouldn't open the canopy so they had to cut the canopy to get him out.:lol:(why don't they just use a freckin switch)

[RedTiger]

The writing style in this book is such perfect english, and the narrative so "Tom Clancy"-like, I'm halfway convinced that many of the thoughts expressed within it are those of his American CIA handlers and "co-authors," and not Zuyev's own. That bit about Tolkachev's sabotage, for example, seems to appear out of thin air without any eyewitness testimony or explanation - as if the CIA injected that part of the story just to help corroborate their own claim of operational success. Not long ago, other readers have also discovered minor errors in the description of some of the electronics.

That said, it's still a classic MiG-29 description - probably the best available at the time.

 

Weird thing is...if you look at the special thanks page, Zuyev actually thanks Tom Clancy for "all his insight and know-how".

 

I'm not quite done with the book, but I did notice that the book was very well written for someone who never spoke any English. I'm always a bit suspicious of the translation in those cases. Interesting you bring the bit up about the CIA, I'll keep that in mind as I reach the end. Anything that seems out of place should jump right out at me if I'm expecting it.

 

The radar lookup thing confused me too. I chalked it up to either the MiG-29's radar or some sort of confusion on the part of whoever translated for the book at the time. I wouldn't expect them to have any understanding of radars. Maybe it was chaff, but Zuyev doesn't make any mention of it. He ends up getting a simulated kill on that pilot before he can respond.

[SwingKid]

I don't have the text in front of me - it could be that he was using his radar in Medium PRF "Pursuit" or "Auto" mode. In that case he could have been seeing sidelobe clutter, esp. when flying low over water.

[mvsgas]

The raptor uses voice commands I think they had trouble with it a while back and a pilot was locked in his pit unable to get out because it wouldn't open the canopy so they had to cut the canopy to get him out.:lol:(why don't they just use a freckin switch)

 

Voice commands to open the canopy? You really believe that? I don't:megalol:

[nscode]

-Open the canopy, Rap.

-I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.

 

 

About the initial radar clutter. Could be that it's initially displaying all the returns additively, before the doppler data is calculated. Sidelobes also could have something to do with it, as SwingKid suggested. I know that on some Russian SAMs (either Neva or Kub) the search radar has a manual mode that is used in high ECM situations as a last resort when all automatic stuff fails. This mode simply displays everything the radar can see. MiG-21 radar has a similar mode, and it might be that N-x19 also has something like this, and that it's the initial state that it briefly enters when switched on.

And when he says that it is quickly sorted out, that could mean less than a second, could be 5 seconds. We don't have that info, so there is nothing useful that can be concluded from this about the radar's actual performance. It's just a descriptive story about what goes on inside the cockpit.

[RedTiger]

I don't have the text in front of me - it could be that he was using his radar in Medium PRF "Pursuit" or "Auto" mode. In that case he could have been seeing sidelobe clutter, esp. when flying low over water.

 

You are correct about being over water. This bit of ACM was over the Black Sea. His altitude was between 1500 and 2000 feet, I don't recall the exact number. Needless to say he was very, very low.

[GGTharos]

You're absolutely right nscode.

 

RT, at those altitudes the MiG's radar likes to, for a lack of better words, 'jam itself'.

[Brit_Radar_Dude]

What nscode said.....

[Pilotasso]

If thats the case, its surpising that the russian system bothers to display initial dopler returns, or simply it is somewhat slow to filter them. I've never heard it before on any other modern fighter.

[SwingKid]

If thats the case, its surpising that the russian system bothers to display initial dopler returns, or simply it is somewhat slow to filter them. I've never heard it before on any other modern fighter.

 

digital vs. analog

[Vekkinho]

The raptor uses voice commands I think they had trouble with it a while back and a pilot was locked in his pit unable to get out because it wouldn't open the canopy so they had to cut the canopy to get him out.:lol:(why don't they just use a freckin switch)

 

He forgot to say Please in "Canopy Open" command!