Rostislav Belyakov, Mig chief designer, died at the age of  94 last Friday in Moscow.

Belyakov became the chief designer back in 1969, succeeding the firm’s founder Artyom Mikoyan.

When Mikoyan died in 1969 due to the heart attack Belyakov had taken over the bureau and its running projects, including the development of MiG-25 Foxbat heavy interceptor, MiG-23 Flogger swing-wing fighter and MiG-29 Fulcrum.

Mr. Belyakov had been a part of MiG bureau since 1941, and had achieved the rank of a  deputy chief designer in 1957. Until the collapse of Soviet Union little was known about him and his role within the MiG company.

Jacek Siminski for TheAviationist

Image credit: Wiki

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