Phazotron-NIIR Corporation is completing the production of the first active phased antenna array radar for MiG-29 fighter jets, a source in the Russian defense industry told TASS at Airshow China.

Phazotron NIIR completing Zhuk AM AESA radar development 001 A scale model of Phazotron-NIIR Zhuk-AM AESA radar at the MAKS 2017 airshow

Unveiled in 2016, the Zhuk-AM AESA radar can track up to 30 targets and can simultaneously attack up to six targets. It has a detection range of up to 260 km.

"In December we shall complete the radar and hand it over to MiG Corporation. An aircraft is ready to get it. I believe we shall begin trials of the system early next year," he said.

"Several MiG-29 operators want it to be equipped with the radar. The Russian military want to install it also on MiG-35. There will be a contract and funds after the trials are completed. The whole process is to be completed in two years. We shall produce four prototypes and test them on aircraft," he added.

A foreign MiG-29 operator is likely to become the first customer. 

"Run-to-failure time of a standard radar is 100-150 hours, while the new one has increased it to 500-600 hours," the source said. The new radar is called Zhuk-AM.

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