Why didn't China buy the MiG-29?

The original MiG-29A (9.12) had internal fuel capacity of 4,365 liters, plus centerline 1,500 liter droptank. The aircraft could carry 3,500 kg max in munitions.

The later MiG-29M (9.15) had internal fuel capacity increaed to 5,125 liters for "normal" load, and 6,082 liters for max load. The plane could also carry the 1,500 liter center droptank + 2 x 1,150 liter underwing drop tanks. The MiG-29M could also carry 4,500 kg max in munitions.

There are also many other improvements to the MiG-29M, which you could read here:

These improvements made the MiG-29M more attractive, but, it wasn't avail until 1995.

Here's an interesting read:


First of all the original design for the Su-27 (built in 1978) was unsatisfactory so a redesign was required. This was the T-10S. The first production Su-27S were to be delivered in 1984, but due to many problems with the plane as a complete weapons system delivery was delayed until 1985. Even these first twenty planes were only delivered to a test squadron by the production plant. Many additional problems then plagued the test unit, the avionics proving to be a major source of trouble. During 1985 the deliveries continued, and by 1989 a few hundred Su-27s were is service. But the system was only accepted as fully combat capable in 1990, showing that even in the period between 1985 and 1990 huge problems with reliability and the avionics existed. By contrast the MiG-29 had a remarkably smooth development and the integration of radar and avionics went very well in comparison.

If the claims are true, then the PLAAF went to Russia just in the right time (1990) to see "fully operational" Su-27's.

there is another reason that china didn't buy the Mig-29 because:
after Sovet Union broke down,many Mig-29 left in western from east German,so,USA cheak it all over and use it to be a target of airforce training.
later,US bought 9 of Mig-29 from Russia,these Mig-29 are so lucky,they join to USAF as a target of training.
in the earlly of 90' century,the Russian thought western is their friend because russia is already became a "democracy country",and they were so poor,then they sold those Mig-29 to US.
include so many reason of above posts,there is nobody wants to buy Mig-29 any more, not only China.

maozedong said:

there is another reason that china didn't buy the Mig-29 because:
after Sovet Union broke down,many Mig-29 left in western from east German,so,USA cheak it all over and use it to be a target of airforce training.
later,US bought 9 of Mig-29 from Russia,these Mig-29 are so lucky,they join to USAF as a target of training.
in the earlly of 90' century,the Russian thought western is their friend because russia is already became a "democracy country",and they were so poor,then they sold those Mig-29 to US.
include so many reason of above posts,there is nobody wants to buy Mig-29 any more, not only China.

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FYI yes ex. German MiG-29 were incorporated in Luftwaffe and yes they were tested in exercises whit Western fighters. On other hand this was old export models based on first batch from early 1980s…

Also Russians newer sold MiG-29 to USA…USA obtained 21 MiG-29 during 1997 from Moldova (14 MiG-29C) and not in early 1990s… So try to check some facts next time...

Reason was simple early MiG-29 was short range interceptor and wasn’t suitable for large country like China and Su-27 was at the time more capable fighter.

And FYI Yemen joust bought 32 MiG-29s and they aren’t only country interested in 29s, India is buying MiG-29K…

maybe you are right,thank you.
but do yu know when the US order Mig-29? when China order Su27?
first time of Su27 came to china about 1995,second time about 1997.
I am not sure the exatlly time,it's hard to list correct time due to China defence secret.
when China ordered Su27 about 1992,in the same time Russia offer China to buy Mig-29,in the same time some Mig-29 was in the hand of US,if you were chinese leader,what were you think?
in 1992,those Mig-29 in German suppose to be 80'century,what's wrong?
later the US bought 14 Mig-29,10 years ago I read the newspaper that said they bought 9, anyway thank you for correct it.
Yeman buy Mig-29,thank you for this news.but from 1989 to now? dosn't make sense,seems China sale J7 is better,from 80'century to now already 600,CAC get a 29 J7 order from a country(don't know english name,same kind of Yamen)
India may not buy Mig-29,you think they buy for carrier?in fact,they have many choice.last decade they bought French Mirage-2000 and Su30mki.
I don't think they will buy Mig-29,because Pakistan will get F16 from US.
I just think Mig-29 exatlly is the trianing target of F16.
in 1992,China just have J7,J8,they need both,J10 until 2002-2004 service in PLAF.
I want to tell you both Su27 and MIg-29 not too expensive,half goods and half cash,Mig-29 is much cheaper than Su27,if Mig-29 was not so much problem,why not buy 50 MIg-29 with 50 Su27 together? for a decade.
Mig-29 export type is not very good, but Russia airforce use type is better.
uselly Mig-29 sale market is in middle east and India,but in the last 15 years it lost the market,and Vietname should be the market too.

maozedong said:

maybe you are right,thank you.
but do yu know when the US order Mig-29? when China order Su27?
first time of Su27 came to china about 1995,second time about 1997.
I am not sure the exatlly time,it's hard to list correct time due to China defence secret.
when China ordered Su27 about 1992,in the same time Russia offer China to buy Mig-29,in the same time some Mig-29 was in the hand of US,if you were chinese leader,what were you think?
in 1992,those Mig-29 in German suppose to be 80'century,what's wrong?
later the US bought 14 Mig-29,10 years ago I read the newspaper that said they bought 9, anyway thank you for correct it.
Yeman buy Mig-29,thank you for this news.but from 1989 to now? dosn't make sense,seems China sale J7 is better,from 80'century to now already 600,CAC get a 29 J7 order from a country(don't know english name,same kind of Yamen)
India may not buy Mig-29,you think they buy for carrier?in fact,they have many choice.last decade they bought French Mirage-2000 and Su30mki.
I don't think they will buy Mig-29,because Pakistan will get F16 from US.
I just think Mig-29 exatlly is the trianing target of F16.
in 1992,China just have J7,J8,they need both,J10 until 2002-2004 service in PLAF.
I want to tell you both Su27 and MIg-29 not too expensive,half goods and half cash,Mig-29 is much cheaper than Su27,if Mig-29 was not so much problem,why not buy 50 MIg-29 with 50 Su27 together? for a decade.
Mig-29 export type is not very good, but Russia airforce use type is better.
uselly Mig-29 sale market is in middle east and India,but in the last 15 years it lost the market,and Vietname should be the market too.

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hmm, you really need to do research. China got its first batch of su-27 in 1992. The second batch starting from 1996 and the thrid batch in 2000.

India has plenty of Mig-29s. There is no reason why they would not purchase more Mig-29s with its increased range and improved avionics.

Hi maozedong

Like Tphuang said China got its first batch of su-27 in 1992. At that time only MiG-29s available to West were 23 ex. East German MiG-29A, and like I said that were downgraded export examples based on first batch delivered to Soviet air force in early 1980s…

Now you must remember that during early 1990s when Russia offered MiG-29 and Su-27 to China PLAAF was in very bad condition. Majority of fighters were short range interceptors like old J-6 and few hundred J-7 fighters. Only aircraft that had some range was J-8II and since planed modernization of J-8II was scraped thanks to western embargo PLAAF was practically left without any modern fighters… So they needed modern fighter to replace them and they needed it fast. Since there was no chance that they could replace all older fighters they decided to buy smaller number of long range fighters to serve as main force until new indigenous projects become available. Su-27 perfectly fitted in that role.

Also according to Russian sources Chinese were satisfied whit performance of bouth fighters but choose Su-27 thanks to significantly longer range and heavier armament…

There could be few reasons why Chinese didn’t buy MiG-29 but if we consider that 29 was designed as short-range tactical support fighter whit more then limited range, that offered version carried basic N-019 radar whit limited capabilities compared to Su-27 radar, that at the time PLAF had J-10 under development and since at the time J-10 development was in problems thanks to western embargo and PLAAF was probably worried that if they decide to purchase and produce MiG-29 government could scrap J-10 program…

There are many reasons why MiG-29 received less orders compared to Su-27. Some of them come from the fact that after Soviet Union collapsed Russia no longer needed short range tactical fighters but long range multi role fighter thus cutting support for further MiG-29 development and former soviet export customers were in bad financial condition, under embargo or joining NATO…
Considering that MiG-29 still managed to find quite few customers like Hungary, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Yemen, Algeria, Eritrea, Syria, Peru etc.

Comparing MiG-29 exports to J-7 is unrealistic at best; MiG-29SMT is modern, capable BVR fighter whit quite higher price tag then J-7 and whit much more demanding maintenance.
Plus let’s be realistic most of countries that bought J-7 either didn’t have money for something better or didn’t have opportunity (political reasons, embargo) to buy something better…

As for MiGs being F-16 training target; modernized MiG-29SMT or new MiG-29OVT in the hands of the well trained pilot and supported by working AEW system isn’t training target to nobody… Even old export version flown by Luftwaffe pilots was serious threat to western fighters…
MiG-29 is often underestimated thanks to performance shown by incompetent pilots, whit no AEW system and whit minimum maintenance…

tphuang said:

hmm, you really need to do research. China got its first batch of su-27 in 1992. The second batch starting from 1996 and the thrid batch in 2000.

India has plenty of Mig-29s. There is no reason why they would not purchase more Mig-29s with its increased range and improved avionics.

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I accept your advice,arturlly you have more research on it.
but I don't think the first batch of Su27 delivered to China was in 1992,I have read two books that mantioned China ordered Su27 in 1992.if China got first batch Su27 in 1992,they should ordered it in 1989 or 1990,seems not impassble,in that time Soveit Union was not dessolution yet.
the second batch and third batch are in the right time.
India get more weapon from European in recent years, if they can get fighter like french Rafale,twin engine,good for carrier,how do they think?
they bought many French Mirage 2000 in last decade,that means they don't want to always buy Russia weapon,just same as China,if China can,they will buy European's.
India will built 6 submarine with France,I think you know already.

just same as China,if China can,they will buy European's.

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NEVER! Everything what China did in the last 10 years in the domain of military aviation shows their strong desire to have a totally indigenously supported (and as much as possible Chinese-designed and built) air force. They are reluctant to use even Russian (their best allie) hardware. The only reason why they bought Su-30 MKK and MKK2 is that they can't produce locally anthing that good (yet).

its only speculation - but (to me) this arguements sounds very god:

isthvan said:

... you must remember that during early 1990s when Russia offered MiG-29 and Su-27 to China PLAAF was in very bad condition. Majority of fighters were short range interceptors like old J-6 and few hundred J-7 fighters. ...

There could be few reasons why Chinese didn’t buy MiG-29 but if we consider that 29 was designed as short-range tactical support fighter whit more then limited range, that offered version carried basic N-019 radar whit limited capabilities compared to Su-27 radar, …

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the range of MiG 29 was (and is) to limited for chinese needs. The PLAAF was on the way for long distance fighters, and the SU-27 have had these range ....

:rofl:

googeler said:

NEVER! Everything what China did in the last 10 years in the domain of military aviation shows their strong desire to have a totally indigenously supported (and as much as possible Chinese-designed and built) air force. They are reluctant to use even Russian (their best allie) hardware. The only reason why they bought Su-30 MKK and MKK2 is that they can't produce locally anthing that good (yet).

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that means "china can't ",not the "china can".
see the Jxx thread may know more future of chinese aviation.
do you know the problem china order these Russion fighters?