MiG-29KU

Training ship-based aircraft pilots is a rather delicate task, especially if they are to fly sophisticated machines with high wing loadings. While landing or taking off using a carrier’s deck, mistakes are usually fatal. Thus, a specialized trainer aircraft was needed. The MiG OKB engi­neers proposed a two-seat variant of the MiG-29.

Why not simply "navalize" the MiG-29UB? Add stronger gear legs and the arrester hook, some suggested This seemed like a logical approach—and yet it would have proved shortsighted in every sense of the word. Even though the angle of attack that the aircraft has to take at landing because of its short gear legs is relatively small, the forward view from the rear cockpit would still be totally inadequate to make a precise landing on a carrier deck. So on the KU project the rear seat was raised noticeably, giving the aircraft a distinctly hunchbacked sil­houette. Like the K, the MiG-29UK was to be powered by two RD-33K turbofans rated at 8,625 daN (8,800 kg st). But this project has since been abandoned.