In the 1970s, the Soviet Union faced the growing power of American air superiority fighters like the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon. To meet this challenge, the Mikoyan design bureau developed the MiG-29, a compact twin-engine jet built for agility and close-range combat. The MiG-29 entered Soviet Air Force service in 1983, alongside the larger Su-27, forming a dual response to Western fighters. While originally built as a pure air superiority machine, later variants evolved into multirole aircraft capable of striking both air and ground targets. The MiG-29’s design reflected lessons from both engineering research at TsAGI and combat experience from earlier MiG fighters. Its swept wings, blended with large leading-edge extensions, gave it exceptional maneuverability. Two widely spaced Klimov RD-33 turbofan engines provided strong thrust and lift, enabling tight turns and short takeoffs. Engineers also designed it for rugged Soviet airfields, giving it intakes that could close during takeoff to prevent debris damage—an advantage for rough operations. The MiG-35, its latest descendant, replaced this system with modern intake screens and digital controls. Though lacking fly-by-wire systems found in Western jets, the MiG-29 was remarkably agile. Its structure, mainly aluminum with some composites, could withstand high stresses of up to nine g. A “soft limiter” prevented the pilot from exceeding safety limits, but it could be overridden manually. The cockpit, simple by Western standards, used traditional dials and a head-up display, but later upgrades introduced glass panels and HOTAS controls to match modern expectations. The MiG-29’s sensors evolved rapidly. Early aircraft carried the Phazotron N019 radar, a system adapted from the MiG-23 that offered limited range and reliability. This radar’s design was later compromised when Soviet engineer Adolf Tolkachev passed information to the CIA, an act for which he was executed in 1986. Soviet engineers responded with the improved N019M Topaz radar and later the N010 Zhuk-M, which introduced planar antenna technology and greater processing power. These upgrades allowed the MiG-29 to use more advanced missiles such as the R-77. Armament was centered on a 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon mounted in the port wing root and up to six underwing pylons carrying a mix of R-27 and R-73 missiles. Later variants corrected early design flaws, such as the inability to fire the gun when a centerline fuel tank was attached. Some models could even carry nuclear bombs, reflecting their flexible combat role. After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the MiG-29 became a symbol of continuity for successor states. Russia retained the largest fleet, though financial strain limited its modernization to MiG-29SMT standards. Many other former Soviet republics and export customers across more than 30 nations continued to operate the jet. As of 2024, about 800 MiG-29s remained in active service worldwide, ranking it among the most common fighters still flying. In recent years, the MiG-29 has once again found itself in combat. During the war in Ukraine, modified MiG-29s were reportedly used to fire U.S.-supplied AGM-88 HARM missiles against Russian radar sites—an adaptation made possible through improvised electronic modifications. Decades after its Cold War debut, the Fulcrum continues to bridge eras of aviation, carrying Soviet design philosophy into the digital age of warfare.