Russia adapts MiG-29 fighter into an antidrone interceptor with a drone fixed to its wing
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
Unusual footage shared on Russian social media has recently drawn the attention of military observers. It shows what is presented as an attempt to integrate an interceptor drone onto a MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter. The video, released by the Russian volunteer group Project Archangel, depicts a quadcopter attached under the aircraft’s wing using simple zip ties. This rudimentary method of attachment raises numerous questions, not only about the technical feasibility of such an installation, but also about its safety and operational value.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Archangel’s interceptor drone is said to reach speeds of 350 kilometers per hour and cover a distance of 50 kilometers (Picture source: Vitaly Kuzmin)
The drone is mounted directly onto the housing of the radar warning receiver system, a critical component of the MiG-29SMT (variant 9.19R). Under these conditions, there is no real possibility of launching the drone in flight. The attachment could not withstand the aerodynamic stresses of a combat aircraft, and even the takeoff phase alone might be enough to destroy it or interfere with the radar warning system. The video ends with the takeoff of another Flanker-series fighter, with no evidence that the device was actually used in flight.
Designed in the 1970s and entering service in 1983, the MiG-29 Fulcrum is a fourth-generation supersonic fighter still operated by Russia and several other countries. Powered by two RD-33 turbofan engines, it can reach a top speed of 2,445 km/h and a service ceiling of 18,000 meters. Its agility is enhanced by leading-edge root extensions (LERX), while its N019 pulse-Doppler radar can track ten targets simultaneously and engage one. The cockpit includes a Shchel-3UM helmet-mounted sight, and the aircraft carries up to six weapon stations, accommodating R-27 and R-73 air-to-air missiles, S-8 rockets, and conventional or guided bombs depending on the version. These features make it a versatile platform, originally designed to compete with Western fighters such as the F/A-18 Hornet.
Project Archangel emerged at the beginning of the war in Ukraine, with the aim of rapidly designing and producing first-person view (FPV) drones. These systems have become a hallmark of the conflict, used extensively by both sides in multiple configurations. In 2023, analyst Samuel Bendett suggested that the group was receiving financial support from the Russian Ministry of Defense, indicating a growing convergence between private initiatives and military requirements.
According to its proponents, Archangel’s interceptor drone is said to reach speeds of 350 kilometers per hour and cover a distance of 50 kilometers. These claims remain unverified. The group now states it is working on the “direct integration of interceptor drones onto fighter aircraft,” with the MiG selected as the carrier platform. In its statement, Archangel even suggested delivering these drones to targets as far as Kyiv or Lviv, an assertion that does not withstand scrutiny. Beyond the impracticality of deploying a drone fixed in this way, Russian aircraft do not approach such areas, which are heavily defended by Ukrainian air defense systems.
The technical dimension of the project is equally problematic. The idea that the pilot of a single-seat fighter could directly control a drone intended to intercept another aircraft is unrealistic. FPV drones used for interception rely on continuous operator control, usually through a headset. This mode of operation is incompatible with the workload of a fighter cockpit, where the pilot is already heavily engaged. Archangel has gone so far as to claim that its crew has been “trained to fly a fighter jet,” a statement that appears more provocative than credible.
While this demonstration raises doubts about its military relevance, it does underline the increasing priority given to counter-drone capabilities in Russia. Efforts to develop interceptor drones, air-launched FPVs, or loitering munitions illustrate a broader trend. The objective is to field a range of air-launched effects that can respond to emerging threats, even if Archangel’s attempt appears more like a publicity effort than a viable capability.
Drones have become a major challenge on modern battlefields, able to conduct precise and low-cost strikes while being difficult to neutralize. Their proliferation, from adapted commercial models to advanced military systems, forces armed forces to rapidly develop countermeasures. Interceptors, whether in the form of drones or loitering munitions, are seen as a more cost-effective and adaptable response than conventional surface-to-air or air-to-air missiles, whose expense is often disproportionate compared to the drones they are meant to destroy.
Fighter aircraft such as the MiG-29 and other air superiority platforms are increasingly tasked with counter-drone missions, but their use remains complex and expensive against dispersed or massed threats. The integration of interceptor drones onto these aircraft could provide an alternative, enabling hostile UAVs to be neutralized at lower cost and with greater flexibility than traditional armaments. This concept, still largely experimental, reflects evolving military doctrines that aim to combine aerial power with efficiency in countering drone swarms.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
Unusual footage shared on Russian social media has recently drawn the attention of military observers. It shows what is presented as an attempt to integrate an interceptor drone onto a MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter. The video, released by the Russian volunteer group Project Archangel, depicts a quadcopter attached under the aircraft’s wing using simple zip ties. This rudimentary method of attachment raises numerous questions, not only about the technical feasibility of such an installation, but also about its safety and operational value.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Archangel’s interceptor drone is said to reach speeds of 350 kilometers per hour and cover a distance of 50 kilometers (Picture source: Vitaly Kuzmin)
The drone is mounted directly onto the housing of the radar warning receiver system, a critical component of the MiG-29SMT (variant 9.19R). Under these conditions, there is no real possibility of launching the drone in flight. The attachment could not withstand the aerodynamic stresses of a combat aircraft, and even the takeoff phase alone might be enough to destroy it or interfere with the radar warning system. The video ends with the takeoff of another Flanker-series fighter, with no evidence that the device was actually used in flight.
Designed in the 1970s and entering service in 1983, the MiG-29 Fulcrum is a fourth-generation supersonic fighter still operated by Russia and several other countries. Powered by two RD-33 turbofan engines, it can reach a top speed of 2,445 km/h and a service ceiling of 18,000 meters. Its agility is enhanced by leading-edge root extensions (LERX), while its N019 pulse-Doppler radar can track ten targets simultaneously and engage one. The cockpit includes a Shchel-3UM helmet-mounted sight, and the aircraft carries up to six weapon stations, accommodating R-27 and R-73 air-to-air missiles, S-8 rockets, and conventional or guided bombs depending on the version. These features make it a versatile platform, originally designed to compete with Western fighters such as the F/A-18 Hornet.
Project Archangel emerged at the beginning of the war in Ukraine, with the aim of rapidly designing and producing first-person view (FPV) drones. These systems have become a hallmark of the conflict, used extensively by both sides in multiple configurations. In 2023, analyst Samuel Bendett suggested that the group was receiving financial support from the Russian Ministry of Defense, indicating a growing convergence between private initiatives and military requirements.
According to its proponents, Archangel’s interceptor drone is said to reach speeds of 350 kilometers per hour and cover a distance of 50 kilometers. These claims remain unverified. The group now states it is working on the “direct integration of interceptor drones onto fighter aircraft,” with the MiG selected as the carrier platform. In its statement, Archangel even suggested delivering these drones to targets as far as Kyiv or Lviv, an assertion that does not withstand scrutiny. Beyond the impracticality of deploying a drone fixed in this way, Russian aircraft do not approach such areas, which are heavily defended by Ukrainian air defense systems.
The technical dimension of the project is equally problematic. The idea that the pilot of a single-seat fighter could directly control a drone intended to intercept another aircraft is unrealistic. FPV drones used for interception rely on continuous operator control, usually through a headset. This mode of operation is incompatible with the workload of a fighter cockpit, where the pilot is already heavily engaged. Archangel has gone so far as to claim that its crew has been “trained to fly a fighter jet,” a statement that appears more provocative than credible.
While this demonstration raises doubts about its military relevance, it does underline the increasing priority given to counter-drone capabilities in Russia. Efforts to develop interceptor drones, air-launched FPVs, or loitering munitions illustrate a broader trend. The objective is to field a range of air-launched effects that can respond to emerging threats, even if Archangel’s attempt appears more like a publicity effort than a viable capability.
Drones have become a major challenge on modern battlefields, able to conduct precise and low-cost strikes while being difficult to neutralize. Their proliferation, from adapted commercial models to advanced military systems, forces armed forces to rapidly develop countermeasures. Interceptors, whether in the form of drones or loitering munitions, are seen as a more cost-effective and adaptable response than conventional surface-to-air or air-to-air missiles, whose expense is often disproportionate compared to the drones they are meant to destroy.
Fighter aircraft such as the MiG-29 and other air superiority platforms are increasingly tasked with counter-drone missions, but their use remains complex and expensive against dispersed or massed threats. The integration of interceptor drones onto these aircraft could provide an alternative, enabling hostile UAVs to be neutralized at lower cost and with greater flexibility than traditional armaments. This concept, still largely experimental, reflects evolving military doctrines that aim to combine aerial power with efficiency in countering drone swarms.
