MiG-29 Fulcrum Ukraine Appears With Mysterious Pylon
After previously creating a commotion due to the successful launch of the AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) anti-radiation missile.
Now the MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter jet belonging to the Ukrainian Air Force is making a sensation again, namely with the mysterious presence of pylons under the wings.
At least one Ukrainian MiG-29 Fulcrum flew on a new and previously unseen type of underwing pylon.
The exact purpose of the pylon installation is not yet known, but considering that previously the MiG-29 had successfully launched Western and NATO-made missiles, speculation arose about the pylon.
A photo of a MiG-29 with a mysterious pylon was posted on the official Twitter account of the Ukrainian Air Force, along with the caption "New day, new challenges!"
The expression indicated that some kind of new ability was being used.
The fact that the Ukrainian Air Force chose to publish the photos shows that they are happy to demonstrate something of the new capability, whatever it may be.
This photo of the MiG-29 in circulation shows the underside of the MiG-29 in the air with six pylon appendages under the wings but no armament attached to it.
The external fuel tank is carried on the fuselage.
The jet has a distinctive off-white nose radome, suggesting the MiG-29 may not have been one supplied to Ukraine from Polish or Slovak Air Force stock.
An interesting aspect of the photograph is the appearance of the two extended inner underwing pylons, closest to the engine nacelles.
Typically, that position will be used for AKU-470 launch rails, which each accommodate one R-27R (AA-10 Alamo) air-to-air missile with semi-active radar guidance or an infrared-guided R-27T, which can also be carried but is rarely seen.
However, the pylon seen in this photo is unlike any of the weapon pylon options on a typical MiG-29.
The pylon design seems longer, and the colors are also unusual, either light gray or even white on the main part of the launch rail itself.
The photo allegedly shows a pylon related to a new type of weapon.
Ukraine is known to have received the Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range (JDAM-ER) precision-guided bomb.
So far, it is unknown which type of aircraft is adapted to launch the JDAM-ER, but the MiG-29 could be an option.
In addition, Ukraine has also received weapons that may be integrated into the MiG-29.
Specifically, the AIM-7 Sparrow semi-active radar homing medium-range air-to-air missile and the AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile.
There are suggestions that the mysterious pylon on the MiG-29 may be for the German-designed air-to-air missile, IRIS-T.
Another speculation is that the mysterious pylon has something to do with electronic warfare devices or jamming capabilities.
