The YVM-29 "Blue Max" was the Eastern Block Soviet Independent State's first, and some would argue most successful, attempt to create a variable fighter.   In early 2005, as the UEG was putting out the call for bids on a new prototype variable fighter, it became apparent the the reinvigorate Soviet aircraft industries would be not be allowed to obtain little if any of the advanced alien "over-technology".  Therefore, the Soviet air force decided that with the aid of their extensive spy network and the use of native technologies the EBSIS air wing would produce its own transforming fighter.  The Mikoyan-Gurevich state aerospace industries was awarded the project code named "Blue-Max"  on February 13, 2005.

For similar reasons as Grumman Corporation with the YVF-14,  Mikoyan designers decided to modify a traditional airframe instead of building a new design from scratch.  They chose the MIG-29 to start off from and installed the most advanced engines and electronics that the Soviet Empire could obtain.  The new veritech was called the 'YVM-29' and was built in the typical rugged and durable Soviet fashion.  Much of the plane uses designs "borrowed" from the Grumman team, to the point were the armor and the weapons load configurations for the YVM-29 and the YVF-14 are quite similar.   Unfortunately for the Soviets, very little of the  YVF-14 advanced electronics for battlefield surveillance and man-machine interface was able to be replicated.  As a results, the Blue Max performance lags in both those areas.  The first test flight of the YVM-29 was on August 17 2006, only 3 months after the Grumman team.  The flight went flawlessly as the general staff was amazed at the maneuverability of the new machine.   In all total some 25 YVM-29's were built.  Although the plane was considered a success, the cost of each plane proved to be too much and the project was canceled in 2011.  

The combat history proved the planes worth.  Some 18 YVM-29's were sent against the Ukraine in the summer of 2008.  These planes shot down some 50 conventional fighters, while only losing two.  Of the remaining 23 fighters, 17 were destroyed on the ground during the Zentraedi "Rain of Death".  The remaining six were maintained and upgraded through the end of the First and the Second Robotech War with stolen RDF, ASC, Zentraedi, and Robotech Master technology that EBISIS was able to obtain. 

After the end of the Second Robotech War in August 2030, the ASC were in such a depleted state that EBSIS had became the dominate power without a shot fired.   On May 13 2033, EBSIS forces crossed into Germany thus beginning the Second Global Civil War.  The YVM-29's were among the first combat aircraft into UEG space meeting older VF series finally in combat.  The updated 29's performed well against the more advanced ASC fighters; however three of the remaining six were shot down.  Russian forces quickly established air-superiority and looked to take over all of Europe.  However their plans soon came undone, when the Invid attacked two days later.  Only a single YVM-29 is believed to have survived the Invid invasion is is currently with resistance fighters in North America.
 

Vehicle Type: YVM-29 "Blue Max"

Class: Variable Fighter
Manufacturer: Eastern Block Soviet Independent States
Crew: One pilot wearing Tactical Life Support System.

MDC BY LOCATION:

NOTES:

1. Depleting the MDC of the main body will destroy the mecha.

SPEEDS:

FLYING, GERWALK/SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:

Mach 0.9 (900 kmph) maximum speed limit in an Earth-like atmosphere. Can also hover in place indefinitely.

FLYING, FIGHTER CONFIGURATION:

Max level speed at sea level : Mach 1.1
Max level speed at 10km:  Mach 2.5
Max level speed at 30+ km:  Mach 4

Stall speed : 182 kph (VTOL rectification possible)

Range:  1500 km
Initial climb rate : over 20000m per minute
Service ceiling : 25 km (unboosted).

MAX ENGINE THRUST:

• 2 x MIKOYAN-GUREVICH VECTORING TURBOFANS:  each engine is rated at 30,000 lbs of thrust each with augmenters

HEIGHT:

6.13m in gerwalk configuration.

4.20m in fighter configuration.

WIDTH:

15.5m with wings out swept

LENGTH:

. 17.6m

WEIGHT:

11000 kg empty.

PHYSICAL STRENGTH:

Equal to a P.S. of 30

CARGO:

Small compartment behind pilot's seat for personal belongings.

 

COMPATIBLE FAST PACKS:

None

1. 1 x 30MM M99-A1 ANTI-TANK CANNON: An advanced version of the 30mm cannon, found on the original MIG-29, is mounted underneath the fuselage.  The gun can fire 500 rounds per minute and has a 300 round capacity stored internally.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Mecha
   • RANGE: Armor Piercing Spin Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APSSDS) (1000 m), or 3937ft (900m) for all others.
   • DAMAGE: APSSDS 1d6 short burst, 3d6 medium burst, 5d6  full melee burst.   HEAP 2d6 short burst, 4d6 medium burst, 6d6 full melee burst.  Tracer rounds reduce damage by 25%.  Standard 1d6 short burst, 3d6  medium burst, or 5d6  full melee burst
   • RATE OF FIRE: Single shots or bursts equal to the combined attacks of the pilot.
   • PAYLOAD: 200 rounds of internal ammunition or 20 short bursts, 10 medium, or 5   full melee. 
   • NOTES:  APSSDS crits on 17,18,19,20.  HEAP crits on 19,20.   Tracers add +2 to strike.

    

2. 6 x WING HARD POINTS: Three hard points are mounted on each wing. Each hard point can mount 15 short range, 5 medium, 2 long range missiles or 500 kg of bombs

    

3. HAND TO HAND COMBAT: If necessary, the Blue Max can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon. Without a dedicated battleloid mode the Blue Max only possesses limited hand to hand abilitys.

   DAMAGE:  

   • Kick: 3D6*3
   • Leap Kick: 6D6*3
   • Body Block/Tackle: 3D6*3
   • Stomp: 6D6*3 . (only effective against small objects)

• AUTO-PILOT: The Tigercat is equipped with a computerized auto-pilot, allowing the pilot to relax or even sleep during long voyages. The auto- pilot can be programmed with a single destination or a complex flight plan involving multiple speeds, directions, and destinations. The onboard computer will alert the pilot when the fighter is near its destination, and can also be set to automatically signal when sensors detect objects near the mecha.
• COMBAT COMPUTER: The combat computer tracks and identifies specific enemy targets, and has a database of over 100 images stored in memory. The computer can identify and track up to 5 targets simultaneously. 
• EXTERNAL AUDIO PICKUP: Range: 300 ft (91.5 m). A sound amplification system that can pick up normal conversation up to 300 feet away.
• HEAT AND RADIATION SHIELDS: Special shielding prevents the penetration of life threatening head and radiation. A radiation detection and alarm system are linked with the shields and will sound an alarm if there is a rupture in the shields and what the levels of radiation are.
• LASER TARGETING SYSTEM: Range: 100 miles (160 km). Used for increased accuracy in the striking of enemy targets and is partly responsible for the mecha's strike bonus.
• LOUDSPEAKER: A loudspeaker system is built into the craft, which can be used to amplify the pilot's voice up to 90 decibels.
• OPTICS: INFRARED: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). This optical system projects a beam of infrared light that is invisible to the normal eye, but detectable by the mecha's sensors. The system allows the pilot to detect hidden/concealed objects by their IR reflectiveness. The beam will be visible to anyone with IR sensitive optics, however.
• OPTICS: THERMAL IMAGER: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). A passive optical heat sensor that detects infrared radiation projected by warm objects and converts that data into a false-color visible image. The system enables the pilot to see in the dark, in shadows, and through smoke, and also adds a +10% bonus to pilots using a tracking skill.
• MIKOYAN 105 RADAR:  100 mile range.
• RADIO/VIDEO COMMUNICATION: Long range, directional communications system with satellite relay capabilities. Range: 600 miles (960 km) or can be boosted indefinitely via satellite relay.
• SELF-DESTRUCT: To prevent capture of an advance variable fighter by the enemy, the pilot can activate the Blue Max self-destruct system, which will cause the fighter to explode after a delay of up to 60 minutes (time is set by the pilot). The explosive damage is contained within a 20 foot (6 m) area and inflicts 1D6x10 M.D. to everything within the radius of the explosion. All internal systems are obliterated. The escape pod will be automatically ejected prior to the explosion unless the pilot overrides the ejection sequence.
• STANDARD SURVIVAL KIT:  Inside the small reinforced box is a medium-sized flashlight, two hand flares, one rocket flare, a compass, infrared distancing binoculars, a small mirror, a pocket knife, dehydrated and concentrated food (can be stretched into a five day supply for one person) and basic first aid items (aspirin, bandages, disinfectants, etc.)
• TACTICAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM: The Tigercat cockpit is pressurized, and also provides additional air feeds to the pilot's flight suit that provides him with pressurized breathing. The REF flight suit also contains an upper and lower g-suit that promotes blood circulation even during high-g turns, thus decreasing the possibility of pilot's blacking out in combat.
• GUREVICH-16 ACTIVE SENSOR JAMMER
• CHAFF AND FLARE DISPENSER:12 chaff and 12 flares are stored in each lower leg