Sounds like a volatile relationship, there.
That's a bit overstated IMO. The only thing that is missing from the MiG-29M/M2 that's supposed to qualify it as a MiG-35 is the AESA radar. The MiG-29M/M2 has the Zhuk-ME which is an X-band pulse doppler radar which is the predecessor to the Zhuk-AE which is the L-band AESA radar that is supposed to end up in the MiG-35. The Zhuk-ME is also the same radar in all the Indian MiG--29Ks for their naval carrier aircraft and is really a very decent radar. Other than that, it's the same exact platform with the large, barndoor flaps, the larger LERX & Krueger flaps and every other physical attribute.
Then they also said that the MiG-35 would have the built-in target designator instead of using a pod like many other fighters do (such as the F-16 etc.) and to make up for that, the MiG-29M/M2 has to carry the T-220 targeting pod which is the same exact thing except its hung on the engine nacelle instead of being permanently built in on the MiG-35. So most don't really consider that as a make-or-break difference between the 29M/M2 and the 35 to even justify a different designation. That said, it's mainly and really only the AESA radar.
MiG was supposed to finance the development of the Zhuk-AE but never pushed the process and so the radar never really got priority, most likely also because the orders for the aircraft weren't there with the exception of the EAF's request for 46 MiG-29M/M2s and Algeria's order for 12 of the same.
But according to the EAF's contract, MiG was supposed to finish the development of the Zhuk-AE and replace all the Zhuk-ME radars in the Egyptian fighters within 5 years of the last aircraft being delivered. The Russians never finished the development of the radar, so Egypt has been seeking other alternative for the radar upgrade but at the same time, they're actually looking to add another large number of MiG-35s to the current fleet because of how happy they've been with the fighter. They're just insisting on the AESA radar in order to make that happen.
You can see the huge barndoor flaps deployed here on this EAF MiG-29M/M2 in Greece which gives it excellent low speed handling and high AoA. You can also see the Krueger flaps deployed on the LERX.
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R-73 & R-77 in this M2 undergoing testing in Russia prior to final camo paint & delivery. The canopies are also the same for these 2-seater M2 as they are for the single-seat M model. The only difference is a seat, throttle & stick and avionics for the Navigator/WSO and an additional fuel tank for the single-seat M models. That larger canopy stays the same for ease of production & maintenance.
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Extremely pleased. The weapons package they ordered with the aircraft and what they replaced for the cost are all factors. Roughly $40 million per aircraft and many of the Sinai and Libyan sorties where they dropped Kh-35s obliterating terrorist camps and trucks sneaking over the border. The size of the explosion from a single Kh-35 dropped here:
And clean FADEC engines in the new RD-33MKs.
Its anti-ship capabilities are outstanding using the Kh-31 and obliterating naval targets during exercises.
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It's 40 degree off-boresight R-73/74 is excellent with the eye monocle helmet attachment and its R-77 & R-27 medium range A2A missiles which will be supplanted by the longer ranged R-77-1 on the next armament order. They've been quite pleased with them and using them like crazy going up against Hellenic F-16s, Saudi F-15 & Typhoon etc. This is all first-hand experience and not rumors peddled by anti-Russian goons, lol. The latter is very easy to find all over the internet and not so Russian fans like Finish pilots.
Even buddy-buddy A2A refueling just like the EAF Rafales have as well.
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Look, it's no F-22 or F-35. It's not even the Rafale or the Eurofighter Typhoon. No one claimed anything of the sort. But I'd put it up against most F-16s besides the Viper upgraded ones with equal air support. What you want to do is be objective and ask the recent and closest users on it like the Indian MiG-29K pilots or the Algerian & obviously Egyptian MiG-29M/M2 pilots and not old, disgruntled ex-Finish MiG-21 and early MiG-29A pilots.
A quick tidbit - the US has threatened Egypt that they'll impose CAATSA (which shame on them but that's another story for another topic) if the EAF pursued the Su-35S deal after putting and possibly losing a substantial deposit on the $2.2 billion contract for 29 aircraft of which 2/3 of them had already been built and tested! In order to make nice and not make it out to be a nasty threat -- which it was, anyway -- they offered the F-15 in exchange. Details were not given as to what exact model etc. But Tactical Report came out with an article that the US supposedly offered most likely the F-15 Strike E in new EX construct variant BUT with older avionics and early model APG radars and no AIM-120s, 9X or JDAMs. On top of that they added insult to injury by setting clauses that the F-15s would only operate out of certain bases of the US' choosing and fly only restricted air spaces LMFAO! No one is sure of the veracity of that whole offer but to add to just the technical aspect, they said that the EAF lieutenant commander who happens to be a former F-4 Phantom II pilot with over 1500 hours in that aircraft told the US reps that the aircraft they offered was "grossly inferior to the EAF's current MiG-29M/M2 platforms!" "Grossly inferior" were allegedly his exact words to the US reps and I buy that 100%. Knowing how big the US' balls are when trying to dictate things from a position of strength although the EAF had not yet abandoned the Su-35 deal for obvious reasons. But there's another example of the MiG-29M/M2's position in the EAF.
You have no idea how disgusted we Egyptians are about this filthy strong-arming the US is doing to us. Filthy bast****! To think they're pulling these incredible platforms )that only come with some of the deadliest weapons and no absurd restrictions whatsoever) right out from under our feet is beyond infuriating!
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The plan was also for these to supplement the MiG-29M/M2 fleet with the possible future adding of the MiG-35.
Nah, absolutely not. That's such an unfortunately terrible misconception. In the right hands and under the proper training with the latest weaponry and additional ground & air assets, these aircraft are excellent for what they're meant to do and keep in mind, these were replacements for essentially what the EAF had in its 3rd gen arsenal which were all the MiG-21MFs from the 70s & 80s and Chinese F-7 AIRGUARD. A huge leap which would be almost the same as the BAF MiG-29As in your video with the old smokey RD-33s.
And with such a small order of 8 or 10, it would only be a positive upgrade in every sense of the word.
I realize we all want our high-end Rafales or F/A-18 Hornets or Typhoons or Gripens and F-35s etc. Hey, if the BAF is capable of acquiring any of those, all the power to it. That would be awesome. I can tell you that despite how happy the EAF is with the MIG-29M/M2s, it's even happier with its Rafales and might just surprise us all with an order of 24 Typhoons in the upcoming year. So I feel it the same way you fellas do, but the suggestion would be a fantastic stop-gap if anything else, on top of a huge improvement to the current MiG-29As..