Moscow announced on Wednesday that it had deployed an unknown number of its MiG-29SMTs to Syria for the first time.
Russian defense firm Mikoyan started developing the MiG-29, codenamed "Fulcrum" by NATO, in 1974, and the jet made its maiden flight in 1977.
It was meant to be stationed near front-line areas to cover Soviet army units and also to protect other aircraft from F-15s and F-16s.
The MiG-29SMT is one of Russia's most recent upgrades of the Fulcrum, and you can see more of it below.
SEE ALSO: 15 photos of the MiG-31, the Russian fighter jet that can chase away SR-71 Blackbirds
The MiG-29SMT's maiden flight came in 1998 and mass production began in 2004.
Source: Airforce-technology.com
It has six external ordnance stations and carries a variety of air-to-air missiles.
It can hold up to two R-27T medium-range infrared-guided missiles or two long-range R-27ER or R-27ET missiles, or up to six RVV-AE medium-range missiles. It can also carry up to six R-73E short-range missiles.
Source: The Aviationist, Globalsecurity.org
It can carry air-to-surface missiles too.
It can hold two Kh-29T or Kh-29L air-to-surface missiles, up to four Kh-25M missiles, or two Kh-31A anti-ship missiles and two Kh-31P anti-radar missiles. It can also hold up to four KAB-500 guided bombs.
Source: The Aviationist, Airforce-technology.com
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