Luftwaffe, Staffel 731 of JG 73 "Steinhoff", "Fulcrum Farewell USA 2003" Tour of North America. The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a 4th generation jet fighter aircraft designed for an air superiority role in the Soviet Union. Developed in the 1970s by the Mikoyan design bureau, it entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1983, and remains in use by the Russian Air Force as well as in many other nations. NATO's reporting name for the MiG-29 is "Fulcrum", which was unofficially used by Soviet pilots in service. It was developed to counter new American fighters such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the F-15 Eagle.