MiG-29 'Fulcrum-A/C'

The aircraft now identified as the MiG-29 was intially spotted by an american reconnaissance satallite at the Ramenskoye test centre during 1977, first references to this fighter came in the western press in 1979.
The prototype was codenamed 'Ram-L', the NATO reporting name 'Fulcrum' was added when it became clear that 'Ram-L' was to become a production aircraft, not unlike the FA-18 and F-16 fighting falcon.
By January 1986 units in the Soviet Union, both in the far east and west of the Urals, had been joined by at least one regiment assigned to the Group of Soviet forces based in East Germany at Wittstock near Neubrandenburg.The west first saw the MiG-29 in July 1986 when six Kubinka-based aircraft made a 4-day visit to Kuopio-Rissala, Finland.
It had by then already attracted two important export orders from Syria, and India.The Syrian order for 80 aircraft, was originally thought to be for a 'sanitized' version known as the MiG-30.
The SSSR wanted to delay delivery of these machines until mid 1987, but a deal for immediate delivery of the aircraft was reluctantly agreed.
India refused to accept delivery of the original downgraded export model, and this delayed her 40 aircraft order.
With the exclusion of the MiG-21, the MiG-29 has become the most widely exported Russian aircraft of modern times, in service with 7 European countries and at least 18 worldwide.
The MiG-29 carries one GSh-30-1 (as in Su-27) with 150 rounds,
and provision for 3000kg (6,614Ib) of external stores, including, in the original production model-4 R-60's, 2 R-27R AAM's.
Advanced models now carry R-73's, R-27's and R-77 air to air missiles, and also air to surface missiles and KAB-250 guided bombs and rockets.

A MiG-29S shows off it's aerobatic abilities at an airshow in canada

A MiG-29SE, demonstrator for the export version (courtesy MiG-MAPO)

I love the camoflage on this Czech MiG-29, it kicks ASS!

This is a rather battered MiG-29 prototype at Monino, 23 years old!

This German MiG-29 is taking off, or is it landing?You decide

I think this is a MiG-29SM, over Moscow military district, I am unsure

The slightly awkward-looking MiG-29UB in all it's glory