Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29SMT (9-18): The RSKs modular 4+ platform

Balta779517-live · February 26, 2026, 10:29pm

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MiG-29 SMT 9-18

Aircraft Info:

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The MiG-29 SMT 9.18 is a 4+ generation multirole fighter made by MiG RSK in 1999 and was primarily marketed as an upgrade program for existing MiG-29s for the Russian air force and export customers. MiG-29 SMT 9.18 is the second variant in the SMT line of MiG-29s when compared to the earlier 9.17 SMT prototype and later 9.19 SMT it lacks the expanded dorsal spine to fit more fuel, instead opting for mounting external drop tanks on its fuselage. This would lead to the 9.18 retaining its original look with the slim spine when compared to the 9.17 and 9.19 but still receiving the other upgrades in the SMT program.

Aircraft history:

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The MiG-29 SMT 9.18 history starts back in 1999 with the RSK developing upgrade programs for its MiG-29 fighters looking for potential customers with the Russian air force and export customers, after the first SMT prototype the 9.17 fatback was deemed it was to overweight and its agility had been compromised to much. The 9.18 was built with it also receiving an significant overhaul to its avionics aswell including having the N019MP from the 9.17 replaced with the N010ME on the new 9.18. The main advantage of the new 9.18 RSK advertised was the customization that could be offered for each customers need making it be truly tailored for ones needs. RSK would show off the new 9.18 at the MAKS 2003 with white #918 being shown off there it notability lacked the extended dorsal spine found on other SMT models. The 9.18 SMT would find customers in the future with both Yemen and Eritrea having their older MiG-29s upgraded to the 9.18 standard.

Aircraft Specifications:

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