Why didn't China buy the MiG-29?

Yes...a fighter of short endurance, limited weapons capability, and of course many would argue PLAAF chose wisely to buy Su-27 and Su-30 instead of MiG-29...which I agree...but China did have the option and was it even offered the MiG-29?

Back in the mid 1990s, I thought MiG-29 was considered by PLAAF to supplement or compete with Su-27 purchase.

Of course now, there is no need to buy MiG-29, as J-10 is to be entering production soon, but wouldn't it have been a better idea to buy MiG-29s anyway?

Here is a more economical fighter than the Su-27, yet it has been proven to be almost unbeatable in many dogfights, eg the Luftwaffe's MiG-29s have won many close-range combats with Western counterparts. It is obviously an impressive aircraft used by many air forces, and the latest variants could carry AShMs and PGMs.

Thoughts people?

according to past issue of diic.com,Russia do offer aside from SU-27,MIG-31,and MIG-29,in the end PLAAF settle for SU-27 since the sukhoi has potential for growth.

Well almoust all military aviation references in the 90's said that China will buy MiG-29, but those days the knowlidge about chinese military matters where quite limited even among the experts...

For me it's quite logical why they didn't select MiGs. J-10 was already in development and a fighter to fullfill similar role could have had serious blows to the indegenious fighters development and could have led eventually it's cancellation.

chicket9 said:

Yes...a fighter of short endurance, limited weapons capability, and of course many would argue PLAAF chose wisely to buy Su-27 and Su-30 instead of MiG-29...which I agree...but China did have the option and was it even offered the MiG-29?

Back in the mid 1990s, I thought MiG-29 was considered by PLAAF to supplement or compete with Su-27 purchase.

Of course now, there is no need to buy MiG-29, as J-10 is to be entering production soon, but wouldn't it have been a better idea to buy MiG-29s anyway?

Here is a more economical fighter than the Su-27, yet it has been proven to be almost unbeatable in many dogfights, eg the Luftwaffe's MiG-29s have won many close-range combats with Western counterparts. It is obviously an impressive aircraft used by many air forces, and the latest variants could carry AShMs and PGMs.

Thoughts people?

Click to expand...

after the gulf war, they realized that they needed a hi-lo combination like F-15/F-16. Plus, they thought su-27 was the better plane. So no matter how much cheaper Mig-29 was, pla was just going for the best plane available for them at that time.

And of course, the J-10, actually Mig-29 could still be considered the hi in the hi-lo combination with J-10 (it is larger), but it would be more like med-med.

I remember reports from early 1990s about this subject… Russia offered MiG-29, MiG-31 and Su-27 to China…
As for reason why China didn’t buy MiG-29 I agree whit Golly; J-10 was under development and military probably didn’t won’t to give government any reason to stop its development…
On other hand you must remember that MiG-29 version offered to China had quite limited range and abilities and that was probably second reason why PLAAF chouse Su-27…

One thing to keep in mind is that the purchase decision was made back in early 1990s, and not today. Back then the standard export model MiG-29A is vastly inferior in capability to what the MiG-29SMT & MiG-29OVT can offer today.

If we imagine a fictional scenario today where the PLAAF is only equipped with J-7, J8, and they were to go shopping in Russia, I think they'd prolly purchase license-production for both MiG-29SMT and Su-30MKK, possibly even MiG-29OVT and Su-35.

As for MiG-31, it's a good interceptor with superior radar and data-link capability to the Su-27. But I think the PLAAF saw the writing on the wall and predicted that the MiG-31 platform didn't have much of a future. We can see the success of Su-27 line export vs. the total lack of interest in MiG-31 sales today.

once i saw an article says like that : the PLA planned to buy some MIG29, but in the following Air Show preformenced by MIG29. one or two fighter crushed just before the PLAF's specialists, so they cancel the plan. and bought SU27 instead. is that true?

China and Russia Came to Same Conclusion

During the 1990s, both China and the Russian Federation appear to have come to the same conclusion. Given the limited defense resources available, and the vast expanses of border that both nations have to patrol, investing in additional short range fighters simply made no sense.

The Russians have abandoned all new purchases of the MiG-29, in favor of the Su-27 / Su-30 family of aircraft. In their case, they completely abandoned the traditional high-low fighter mix of the Soviet era, because the couldn't afford both airplanes. All new MiG-29s have been export fighters, for over a decade.

For China's part, the J-10 offered a "low" end to their fighter mix, with range that completely out-classed any version of the MiG-29. As for the FC-1 - let's just say if it hadn't been for Pakistan's interest, that airplane wouldn't be around today.

Re: China and Russia Came to Same Conclusion

unknauthr said:

During the 1990s, both China and the Russian Federation appear to have come to the same conclusion. Given the limited defense resources available, and the vast expanses of border that both nations have to patrol, investing in additional short range fighters simply made no sense.

The Russians have abandoned all new purchases of the MiG-29, in favor of the Su-27 / Su-30 family of aircraft. In their case, they completely abandoned the traditional high-low fighter mix of the Soviet era, because the couldn't afford both airplanes. All new MiG-29s have been export fighters, for over a decade.

For China's part, the J-10 offered a "low" end to their fighter mix, with range that completely out-classed any version of the MiG-29. As for the FC-1 - let's just say if it hadn't been for Pakistan's interest, that airplane wouldn't be around today.

Click to expand...

Yeah, that's one of the main reasons that su-27 was chosen. As for Mig-29, I think its range has really improved in the recent versions.

I think the PLAAF needed something that could take on the F-15. From what I have heard, the MiG-29 is no match for the later versions of the F-15. The Su-27 is superior to the F-15 in several categories such as manuverability and range.