It was required to be a multirole fighter for the frontline defensive air force to gain offensive strike ability.

A two-seat model of the standard, commonly known as the MiG-29MRCA, was the MAPO-MiG's primary contender for many international fighter aircraft bids, later evolved into the Mikoyan MiG-35.

While external differences are few, the MiG-29M was a fully "multifunctional" fighter capable of performing air-to-ground combat with precision-guided munitions (PGMs), along with air-to-air roles of earlier MiG-29 versions.

[6][7] In April 2015, Egypt became the first export customer when it signed a $2 billion contract for the purchase of 46 MiG-29M/M2 multi-role fighters[8][9] On 26 October it was reported that Algeria become second country outside Russia to procure the MiG-29M.

[citation needed] The aircraft is built with an inflight-refueling (IFR) probe and is able to carry three fuel drop tanks.

[4] The RD-33MK, the latest revision of the RD-33, has 7% more power in comparison to the baseline model due to the use of modern materials on the cooled blades, and provides a thrust of 9,000 kgf.

[12][13] Dry weight is 1,145 kilograms (2,520 lb) compared to the baseline model through modern materials used on the cooled blades, although it retains the same length and maximum diameter.

[19] The Egyptian MiG's include the upgraded RD-33MK smokeless engines,[20] Zhuk-ME pulse-doppler radar, latest OLS-UE electro-optical targeting station, which feeds both TV and IR imagery to the cockpit display and includes a laser rangefinder, unlike previous IRSTs installed on MiG-29s that only featured IR imagery,[21] and the T220/e targeting pod, allowing the utilization of precision-guided munitions, as well as unguided bombs with a low circular error probability.

[22][23] For electronic warfare purposes, the aircraft will be supplied with the MSP-418K active jammer pod which uses DRFM technology to spoof radar-guided missiles.

On 3 November 2018, an Egyptian Air Force MiG-29Ms crashed due to a technical malfunction when on a routine training flight.

[citation needed] Five of the MiG-29s were at Merowe Air Base at the start of the 2023 Sudan clashes where they were captured by the Rapid Support Forces.

[25] A first contract for 12 of the new fighters was signed in 2007, making the Syrian Air Force the very first client, with deliveries set to be completed by 2012.

[35] Instead of buying MiG-29M in October 2017, Russia donated six used MiG-29 fighters to the Serbian Air Force, with Serbia paying to upgrade them.

[38] Advanced single-seat multi-role variant, with a redesigned airframe, mechanical flight controls replaced by a fly-by-wire system and powered by enhanced RD-33 ser.3M engines.

[39] RAC MiG presented in various air shows, to name a few, Fifth China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (CIAAE 2004),[40] Aero India 2005,[41][42] and MAKS 2005.