The other major contributor to the Cuban air deterrence capability is the MIG-23MF Flogger. The first 23 prototype took to the air for the first time in 1967 and was admitted to front line service by the Soviet Union East German Air Force in 1973. The 23MF is one of the first operational variable-geometry fighter bombers to enter operational services. Its wings swept angles from 23 to 71 degrees. The 23 also had the distinction of being the first type aircraft to enter in uniformity with all Warsaw Pact armed forces. As it's was the case with the early Soviet multi-role aircrafts, the 23MF was a single seated plane. Its airframe's length is that of 54'-10" with 15'-9" in height. It is power by a single Tumanskii R-27F2M-300 engine producing 22,046lb of thrust. The 23MF maximum speed is 1,520mph with a serviceable ceiling of 60,000' and an operational range of 600 miles. One .9" gSH-23L cannon provide the 23 with its internal defensive armament. Under wing pylons augment the aircraft's weapons payload. Typical, the 23Mf is fitted with a combination of AAM missiles and gravity bombs. External fuel tanks can also be fitted on the pylons for an extensive mission profile. Cuba possessed two 23C samples used as trainers, but because of shortness of spare parts and aviation fuel, they had been grounded since late 2000. The most advance fix-wing aircraft on the Cuban arsenal is the MIG-29 Fulcrum. The MIG-29 was the Soviet Union's response to the US Air Force's F-15 Eagle and the US Navy's F-14 Tomcat. The 29 is Cuba's main air superiority fighter. The 29's combination of a wing swept angle of 40 degrees, a swept wing root extensions, under slung engines with wedge intakes, and double fins; allow the 29 to achieve maximum maneuverability. It's the same combination use on the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the F-18 Hornet. The 29 is also a single seated aircraft, but here's were the similarities with the previous mentioned MIG-21 ends. The 29 is a bird of a different feather. The Fulcrum fuselage is 56'-10" in length with a height of 25'-6", wingspan for the aircraft is 37'-3" and fully loaded the 29 can take off with a weight of 40,785lb. Two Sarkisov RD33 turbofan engines, that give the 29 a 1:1 thrust-to-weight ratio, can produce 18,298lb of thrust. The engines also are capable of powering the 29 to a maximum speed of 1,518mph. Operational range is 932 miles with a service ceiling of 55,775'. Armed with one 30mm gHS-30 cannon and supplemented by eight external hard points setup to carry 9,921lb of weapon systems. The 29 is fitted with an advance RP29 pulse-Doppler radar system capable of detecting possible targets as far as 62miles. A fire-and-control computer links the radar to a laser rangefinder and infrared track sensor, which, in conjunction with a helmet-mounted target designator, give the 29 a first Look-down-Shoot-Down capability. The radar system is capable of tracking ten targets at the same time. The aircraft became operational in the spring of 1985 and was part of a weapon package send to the Cuban Armed Forces before the collapse of the Iron Curtain. The 29 represent Cuba's main and last line of airborne defense.