After an unexpected long absence of reports, the report 014 it is here.
This report is purely focused in the new fighter now available in our hangar, the MiG-29.
However, instead of requesting the initial version of the aircraft and gradually adding more advanced versions with new reports, this time it was selected from start all the desired versions and then they were requested all at once. (The delay of this report was caused by the amount of variants requested)
Note: The following variants are listed roughly in chronological order.
The first one is the MiG-29 (early Product 9.12):
The MiG-29 is a 4th-generation jet fighter aircraft designed for an air superiority role. Developed to be a Land-based single-seat counter-air tactical fighter,it is very agile aircraft, with excellent instantaneous and sustained turn performance, high alpha capability, thus making it an effective weapon against other units.
-Role: Fighter
-Production Type: Mass Production
The early version can be distinguished by anti-spin ventral fins just below the tailplanes, those fins were removed in all other variants. Excluding the trainer version, this is the Mig-29 available with the lowest performance.
The MiG-29 (Product 9.12):
This one is a Late production model of the same 9.12, featuring a variety of technological and mobility improvements.
-Role: Fighter
-Production Type: Mass Production
Compared to the early production, this version features, improved avionics and several changes that increase the overall agility of the aircraft.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Improved avionics
Improved maneuverability
Added flare Dispensers
Anti-spin ventral fins removed
The MiG-29 (Product 9.13):
The 9.13 is an improved version over the 9.12 with upgraded avionics.
-Role: Fighter
-Production Type: Mass Production
The version 9.13 can be identified by the enlarged fuselage spine. More than a technological update, it also increased external weapons load allowing carrying more weapons per sortie.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Improved avionics
Increased weapons load
The MiG-29UB (Product 9.51):
The trainer version of the 9.12.
-Role: Combat trainer
-Production Type: Mass Production
Twin seat training model with lacking avionics compared to 9.12, it is only suited for training and not actual combat.
(Note: the real aircraft does not have radar installed, but in the game this aircraft has very low performance radar)
CHARACTERISTICS:
No Radar
MiG-29S (Product 9.13S):
A prototype upgraded version of type 9.13.
-Role: Fighter
-Production Type: Prototype
Visually indistinguishable from the 9.13 this version offer a series of technological improvements compared to the previous one making it a fully-fledged air-superiority fighter.
However the flight performance is slightly lower compared to the 9.13 because of the additional weight of the avionics.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Improved avionics
Lower maneuverability
The MiG-29SM (Product 9.13M):
Similar to other 9.13, but with the ability to carry guided air-to-surface missiles and TV- and laser-guided bombs
-Role: Multi-role
-Production Type: Mass Production
A direct upgrade of MiG-29S, this is the first true Multi role version, allowing a wide range of weaponry including guided air-to ground ordinance. Like the S version it hasn't any external feature to help distinguish from the others 9.13.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Improved Radar
Added the ability to use precision guided ground weapons
The MiG-29M (Product 9.15):
A revision of the basic MiG-29 with a more robust multi-role capability.
-Role: Multi-role
-Production Type: Prototype
The M variant marks a new evolution in the MiG-29 family, a genuinely multirole tactical fighter for control of upper airspace, ground attack and naval high-altitude precision weapons control. It includes a redesigned airframe, increased payload intended to be a replacement for basic MiG-29. The mechanical flight controls were replaced by a fly-by-wire system expanding the aircraft agility.
(Note: the MIG-29M is sometimes labeled as MiG-33, however this designation truly belongs to the MiG-29ME, the export version of the MiG-29M)
CHARACTERISTICS:
Improved avionics
Improved maneuverability
The MiG-29K (Product 9.31):
The carrier version of the MiG-29M.
-Role: Carrier Multi-role
-Production Type: Prototype
Based in the MiG-29M structure, developed to be ship-based, it can be identified by the arresting hook in the tail and the wide folding wings.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Carrier takeoff capability
Air refueling capability
Lower stall speed
The MiG-29SMT (Product 9.17):
The MiG-29SMT is a generation 4+ fighter equipped with new targeting system, avionics and armament.
-Role: Multi-role
-Production Type: Mass Production
New version, based on original 9.12/9.13 airframe, and incorporating many of the improvements and capability enhancements planned for the MiG-29M, originally including gridded intakes and still including the dorsal airbrake. It can be easily distinguished by the refueling probe in the left side of the cockpit
Another thing to note is, the SMT version is currently is the most advanced version in mass production, and so advanced that it can rival the latest non-stealth fighters.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Improved avionics
Air refueling capability
The MiG-29OVT:
A MiG-29M version with 3D thrust vectoring nozzles.
-Role: Multi-role
-Production Type: Prototype
The nozzles installed on MIG-29OVT can move in any direction over the rear hemisphere at any range of engine operation, offering the aircraft astounding maneuverability. It retains the same multi-role capabilities of the M version, but the enhanced agility makes it especially suited for close dogfights.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Greatly improved maneuverability
The MiG-35 (Product 9.61):
The MiG-35 is the definitive MiG-29 evolution
-Role: Multi-role
-Production Type: Prototype
Classified as a 4++ generation jet fighter, currently only in prototype stages it offers a vastly improved avionics and weapon systems making the MiG-35 an air superiority multi role fighter.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Greatly improved avionics
With all these variants it's easy to lose track of the characteristic of each version. To avoid any confusion let's review the specs of all the versions:
(Note: This graph it is only a simplification of the characteristics of each aircraft)
A final note, within the list of brochures that arrived with the aircrafts it was found this:
It's corrupted data, but appears to be another MiG-29 variant, maybe a future version, even more advanced than the MiG-35.
This can be something huge, or be just a raw concept or it can be nothing at all.
(tip: it's a homage to Ace 3: electrosphere)
Multi-language system
This system allow in a clean and easy way to localize the game in any language.
It is currently in phase 1 of a three steps implementation and for now it only takes effect in menus.
The latter two phases will let the user to add custom fonts and will allow localizing all campaigns/battle scenarios. With this, it will be even possible to easily localize custom made content.
Also as default languages it will be available in English and Portuguese, to serve as examples.
- Added Joystick/gamepad support and configuration in options
- Added Multi-language system
- Improved damage model
Now every unit has a type of armor (for example, wood, concrete, reactive armor) and each warhead has different effectiveness against it. So every weapon can be extremely effective against a type or armor but also be futile to other. A special attention has been given for every warhead to be both good and bad at something (in a realistic manner). After this changes, it is still possible for the user to create some warhead affected by armor types.
- Added MiG-29 (early Product 9.12)
- Added MiG-29 (Product 9.12)
- Added MiG-29UB (Product 9.51)
- Added MiG-29 (Product 9.13)
- Added MiG-29S (Product 9.13S)
- Added MiG-29SM (Product 9.13M)
- Added MiG-29M (Product 9.15)
- Added MiG-29K (Product 9.31)
- Added MiG-29SMT (Product 9.17)
- Added MiG-29OVT
- MiG-35 (Product 9.61)
Stay tuned, more reports will follow.
MiG-33 Fulcrum SS? I think I can see the COFFIN system :)
I don't know that much about jets, so, what do the avionics stats represent?
Avionics are the electronic systems in an aircraft. Things like Inertial Navigation System (INS), GPS, Radar, Fire control systems, radar warning receiver, and many other systems that one may find in an aircraft. Naturally newer fighters will have better avionics.
How will thrust vectoring work in game? Will you have abillity to turn off the attack angle limiters, and make some radical maneuvers (like Pugachev's cobra, beel, kulbit, Herbst maneuver)?
At the current version the thrust vectoring only increases the turn rate while still moving in the direction of the nose.
But in future yes, it will be possibility to quickly turn off the limiters and do an AOA maneuver (but only if the aircraft allows it).
Will this game feature jet customization? Like colors, those flames that come out of the jet's turbine, emblems, cockpit color, etc.
The game will feature more than jet customization; the user will have complete freedom to edit all the content in the game.
That sounds great!! Definitely buying it when its available.
...Homage to Ace Combat, eh?
I like what you're doing with this already.
Maybe I'm too used to more realistic things like LockOn and FreeFalcon, but will the MiG-29 (and other Russian fighters which feature it) have the IRST functionality?
Also will the weapons be realistic, like with a Dynamic launch zone, and off bore sight targeting for certain IR guided missiles?
If you are used to those games, you may feel some overall simplification as the missiles are more tolerant to be fired in non-optimum conditions.
But even with that simplification you’ll see the weapons have more complex and detailed behaviors than the normal arcade style games.
About the IRST, there isn’t the possibility to turn off the radar (at least for now), so the main use is to give a wider lock angle and faster lock speed at close range.
cool
great job :)
Perfect
UPEO Coffin integrated Mig, Ace Combat 3 was the best out of all of them in my opinion, More planes like that and I might have to purchase several copies
The Mig-33SS, that paint scheme... I love you guys.
Anyway, are you really planning to add so many planes? for me, I love quantity. But for someone might look confusing even with the stats printed on paper...
Anyway, keep up the good work. Can't wait for the next update.
Yes, I agree, having so many variants can be confusing and very intimidating. To avoid this, in each official campaign the player will only have 2 or 3 variants to select from, but other versions may be used by allies or enemies.
But there are two main reasons to add so many variants, the first is because that wide selection is useful in creating a campaign in a specific time frame, the other is to give more freedom of choice to the users when creating their own campaigns/battle scenarios.
You told there's is will be possibility driving of land vechicles, so textures get scalable quality? Another question, mission maker can (now or on the future) make in-game cut-scenes? Sry for my english.
No, there isn’t any scalability in the textures, although it is possible to make maps especially designed for ground units.
But something to be aware of is, at this moment, the ability to control any unit in the game is considered to be more a bonus than actually a feature. They have detailed mechanics that will be further improved later in the development, but for now, the game focus stays with the aircraft.
About the in-game cutscenes yes, they will be available in the future. They are already in development, however at the moment they are too crude to be actually used. But meanwhile, it is possible to use video and novel-like cutscenes.