Mikoyan MiG-29 (9.13) "Fulcrum-C"
The 'Fatback' — a humped spine with more fuel and a built-in jammer · In service 1986
The 9.13 is an update of the original production MiG-29 that entered service in 1986. Its most visible change is an enlarged, humped dorsal spine, which earned it the nickname "Fatback". The spine houses the L-203BE Gardeniya-1 active jammer, and a larger number 1 fuselage tank raises internal fuel from 4,300 to 4,540 litres.
Most 9.13s went to Soviet front-line regiments, so after 1991 they were divided among the successor states, chiefly Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. The later 9.13S (MiG-29S) added the N019M Topaz radar, a strengthened airframe for a 4,000 kg weapons load and compatibility with the longer-range R-27E missile.
Moldova inherited MiG-29s from the Soviet Union. In 1997, after Iran had shown interest in the aircraft, the United States bought 21 of them, including 14 Fulcrum-Cs that officials described as wired for nuclear weapons delivery; they were flown to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base by C-17 for evaluation.
