In the late 1960s the Soviet Union was working on a fourth-generation jet fighter concept. These aircraft would form the backbone of Warsaw Pact air forces in the next decade. The Soviet aerospace industry began considering enhancing combat capabilities with new air-to-air missiles and a sophisticated weapons control system. Thus the MiG-29 was born. High maneuverability, a high thrust-to-weight ratio, a wide speed range, and special short-range missiles...