The Mikoyan LMFS Liogkiy Mnogofunktsionalniy Frontovoi Samolyet —or Light Multi-Function Frontal Aircraft,, also known as the MiG-XX, is a proposed light Russian single-seat all-weather stealthmultirole combat aircraft, loosely based on the cancelled Mikoyan Project 1.44. It is designed to replace the Mikoyan MiG-29 and MiG-35 and support the Sukhoi Su-57 in combat.
Developed by the United Aircraft Corporation, this light fighter is believed to incorporate an 11-ton thrust engine based on the RD-33MK-35 engine used by the MiG-35. This new updated engine is expected to be manufactured at the Klimov factory. The engine is supposed to be fifth generation, utilizing the latest advancements in turbine and combustion chamber technology, and receiving only minor changes to the fan blades. The aircraft could have canard wings, internal weapons bays and an empty weight of roughly 33,000lbs and a maximum takeoff weight of 55,000lbs. It is possible that Mikoyan may revise the design into a single-engine configuration by using the Sukhoi Su-57's next-generation izdeliye 30 engines, even though the latest wind tunnel mock up of the plane shows a twin-engine aircraft. According to Russian aviation expert Piotr Butowski, the MiG LMFS will be 15.5 m long, with a wingspan of 11.5 m, just one internal weapon bay, a maximum take-off weight of 24.5 t, a maximum speed of Mach 2 at high altitude, and a range of 4000km with suspended tanks.
Development
is developing the MiG LMFS out of its own funds, the Russian MoD preferring to wait for the Su-57 to enter serial production before starting to finance the construction of another smaller stealth fighter.. Indeed, Alexei Fedorov, President of Irkut, said that any decision on applying fifth-generation technologies to produce a smaller fighter, such as the MiG LMFS, must wait until after the heavy fighter Sukhoi Su-57 enter full production, which is due to happen in 2020. Since the MiG LMFS is not included in the Russia's state armament programme 2020-2027, UAC hopes that the export sales of MiG-35 and MiG-29 will be enough to help sustain the development of a new aircraft. It is reported that, with the US decision not to export F-35 stealth fighters to Turkey anymore, Turkish authorities may decide to acquire instead the Russian Su-57 with Russia sharing some of its technology to Turkey. If this happens, Turkey would in exchange share some of its TAI TF-X stealth light fighter technology to MiG, which would be use to help advance the development of the LMFS; the funds of a foreign co-investor being beneficial. In April 16, 2020, after a long hiatus, United Aircraft Corporation announced on Twitter that MiG had restarted their research on a light fifth-generation stealth jet fighter. This new fighter is likely to support the Su-57 during missions. It is said that at the end of 2019, MiG placed an order for the aerodynamic calculation of a light multi-functional front-line twin-engine aircraft, comparable with foreign analogues, for the period 2020-25. The cost of work is estimated at 4 million rubles. The CEO of MiG, as well as Alexander Vatagin, the general manager of the engine manufacturer Klimov, have said that the engines of this new MiG jet would be more powerful than those of the Mikoyan MiG-35.
