The Egyptian Air Force will be the world's first and largest operator of the new Mikoyan MiG -35 multirole and air superiority jet fighter and will receive its first two fighters at the end of this year.
This generation 4.5 (or generation 4++) fighter made by Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG is in the same league as the Sukhoi Su-35S, the first of which will be delivered to China later this year.
Egypt signed a contract in April 2015 for 50 MiG -35s worth over $2 billion, and has made a down payment on this order. Egypt's MiG-35s will be equipped with high precision targeting pods.
In contrast, the Russian Air Force has ordered only 37 MiG -35s worth $1.1 billion but has delayed acquiring the jet because of funding shortfalls due to government spending cuts. Development of Russia's MiG-35 should be completed in 2017 while entry into service with the Russian Air Force is scheduled for 2018.
The main customer for the MiG -35, however, was supposed to be the Indian Air Force and the jet was first unveiled at the Aero India 2007 air show in Bangalore. The MiG -35 was one of six contenders for India's multi-role combat aircraft competition that would see 126 jets on order.
France's Dassault Rafale eventually won this competition and the loss was a huge blow to cash-strapped Russia.
Test flights of Russia's MiG-35 fighter aircraft (NATO designation: Fulcrum-F) will begin later this summer and last into 2017. United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) General Director Sergey Korotkov said deliveries of the fighter might be contracted after the tests.
"The aircraft is completing the general assembly stage, and should move to flight tests in accordance with the schedule. We will begin state tests as part of the Ministry of Defense program at the end of summer. The tests will be carried out until next year," said Korotkov.
The MiG-35 is an improvement on the MiG-29K/KUB and MiG-29M/M2 fighters and features improved combat effectiveness, versatility and performance. The single seat version is designated MiG-35 and the two-seat version, MiG-35D.
The single seat version has a maximum speed of Mach 2.25 (2,400 km/h) and a combat radius of 1,000 kilometers. Its weapons include 1× 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon and air-to-air, air-to-surface missiles or smart bombs on nine hardpoints with a capacity of 7,000 kg.