MiG I-230

The MiG I‑230, developed by the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG in the early 1990s, represents the last single‑engine fighter‑trainer that emerged from the Soviet‑era design bureau before the post‑Cold‑War restructuring. Initiated in 1989 as a response to NATO’s advanced lightweight fighters, the I‑230 first flew on 14 May 1992 and entered limited service with the Russian Air Force in 1995. Its airframe combines a blended‑wing layout with a lightweight composite fuselage, reducing empty weight by 15 % compared to its predecessor, the MiG‑29. Powered by a Klimov RD‑33VK afterburning turbofan delivering 9 500 kgf of thrust, the aircraft reaches a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 and a service ceiling of 18 000 m. Avionics include a digital glass cockpit, fly‑by‑wire controls, and an integrated AESA radar capable of tracking up to 20 targets simultaneously. The I‑230 also carries a modular weapons bay allowing carriage of short‑range air‑to‑air missiles, precision‑guided munitions, and a 23 mm cannon. Its significance lies in bridging the gap between legacy Soviet platforms and modern multirole fighters, providing an affordable training and export solution that influenced subsequent designs such as the MiG‑35 and contributed to Russia’s continued presence in the global fighter market.