Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

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MiG-21

Croatian Air Force MiG-21bis D soaring above the clouds. Fighter Role Manufacturer Mikoyan-Gurevich OKB Designed by Artem Mikoyan First flight 14 February 1955 (Ye-2) Introduced 1959 (MiG-21F) 1990s (Russia) Retired Active (see list) Status Soviet Air Force Indian Air Force Primary users Romanian Air Force Vietnam People's Air Force 1959 (MiG-21F) to 1985 (MiGProduced 21bis) 11,496[1] Number built (10,645 produced in the USSR, 194 in Czechoslovakia, 657 in India) Variants Chengdu J-7

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (Russian: -21) (NATO reporting name "Fishbed") is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed and built by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or owek (English: pencil) by Polish pilots due to the shape of its fuselage.[2] Early versions are considered secondgeneration jet fighters, while later versions are considered to be third-generation jet fighters.

Some 50 countries over four continents have flown the MiG-21, and it still serves many nations a half-century after its maiden flight. The fighter made aviation records. At least by name, it is the most produced supersonic jet aircraft in aviation history, the most produced combat aircraft since the Korean War, and it had the longest production run of a combat aircraft (1959 to 1985 over all variants[1]).

Contents
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1 Development o 1.1 Production 2 Technical description 3 Operational history o 3.1 Vietnam o 3.2 Arab-Israeli conflicts o 3.3 Other Middle East conflicts o 3.4 India o 3.5 Former Yugoslavia o 3.6 Africa o 3.7 Romania o 3.8 Known MiG-21 aces 4 Variants o 4.1 Upgrade Programs o 4.2 Foreign-built variants 5 Operators o 5.1 Current operators o 5.2 Former operators o 5.3 Civil operators 6 Specifications (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21F-13) 7 Specifications (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21PFM) 8 Specifications (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21bis) 9 Specifications (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21-93) 10 See also 11 References o 11.1 Bibliography 12 External links

[edit] Development

The MiG-21 jet fighter was a continuation of Soviet jet fighters, starting with the subsonic MiG15, MiG-17, and the supersonic MiG-19. A number of experimental Mach 2 Soviet designs were based on nose intakes with either swept-back wings, such as the Sukhoi Su-7, or tailed deltas, of which the MiG-21 would be the most successful. Development of what would become the MiG-21 began in the early 1950s, when Mikoyan OKB finished a preliminary design study for a prototype designated Ye-1 in 1954. This project was very quickly reworked when it was determined that the planned engine was underpowered; the redesign led to the second prototype, the Ye-2. Both these and other early prototypes featured swept wingsthe first prototype with delta wings as found on production variants was the Ye-4. The Ye-4 made its maiden flight on 16 June 1955 and made its first public appearance during the Soviet Aviation Day display at Moscow's Tushino Airport in July 1956. The MiG-21 was the first successful Soviet aircraft combining fighter and interceptor characteristics in a single aircraft. It was a lightweight fighter, achieving Mach 2 with a relatively low-powered afterburning turbojet, and is thus comparable to the American F-104 Starfighter and F-5 Freedom Fighter and the French Dassault Mirage III.[1] Like many aircraft designed as interceptors, the MiG-21 had a short range. This was not helped by a design defect where the center of gravity shifted rearwards once two-thirds of the fuel had been used. This had the effect of making the plane uncontrollable, resulting in an endurance of only 45 minutes in clean condition. The issue of the short endurance and low fuel capacity of the MiG-21F, PF, PFM, S/SM and M/MF variantsthough each had a somewhat greater fuel capacity than its predecessorled to the development of the MT and SMT variants. These had a range increase of 250 km (155 mi.) compared to the MiG-21SM, but at the cost of worsening all other performance figures (such as a lower service ceiling and slower time to altitude).[1] The delta wing, while excellent for a fast-climbing interceptor, meant any form of turning combat led to a rapid loss of speed. However, the light loading of the aircraft could mean that a climb rate of 235 m/s (46,250 ft/min) was possible with a combat-loaded MiG-21bis,[1] not far short of the performance of the later F-16A. Given a skilled pilot and capable missiles, it could give a good account of itself against contemporary fighters. It was replaced by the newer variable-geometry MiG-23 and MiG-27 for ground support duties. However, not until the MiG-

29 would the Soviet Union ultimately replace the MiG-21 as a maneuvering dogfighter to counter new American air superiority types.[citation needed] The MiG-21 was exported widely and continues to be used. The aircraft's simple controls, engine, weapons, and avionics were typical of Soviet-era military designs. The use of a tail with the delta wing aids stability and control at the extremes of the flight envelope, enhancing safety for lower-skilled pilots; this in turn enhanced its marketability in exports to developing countries with limited training programs and restricted pilot pools. While technologically inferior to the more advanced fighters it often faced, low production and maintenance costs made it a favorite of nations buying Eastern Bloc military hardware. Several Russian, Israeli and Romanian firms have begun to offer upgrade packages to MiG-21 operators, designed to bring the aircraft up to a modern standard, with greatly upgraded avionics and armaments.[1] Due to the lack of available information, early details of the MiG-21 were often confused with those of the similar Sukhoi fighters also under development. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1960-1961 describes the "Fishbed" as a Sukhoi design, and uses an illustration of the Su-9 'Fishpot'.[citation needed]

[edit] Production

MiG-21 at Aleksotas Airport (S. Dariaus / S. Gireno), Kaunas (EYKS) A total of 10,645 units were built in the USSR.[1] They were produced in three factories, in the GAZ 30 in Moscow (also known as Znamya Truda), in GAZ 21 in Gorky[3] and in GAZ 31 in Tbilisi.[clarification needed] The type of "MiG" manufactured differed. Gorky built single-seaters for the Soviet forces. Moscow built single-seaters for export and Tbilisi manufactured the twinseaters both for export and for the USSR. However, there are exceptions. The MiG-21R and MiG-21bis for export and for the USSR were built in Gorky, 17 single-seaters were built in Tbilisi (MiG-21 and MiG-21F), the MiG-21MF was first built in Moscow and then Gorky, and the MiG-21U was built in Moscow as well as in Tbilisi. The count for each factory is:

5,765 in Gorky o 83 MiG-21F; 513 MiG-21F-13; 525 MiG-21PF; 233 MiG-21PFL; 944 MiG21PFS/PFM; 448 MiG-21R; 145 MiG-21S/SN; 349 MiG-21SM; 281 MiG21SMT; 2013 MiG-21bis; 231 MiG-21MF[1] 3,203 in Moscow[1] o MiG-21U (all export units); MiG-21PF (all export units); MiG-21FL (all units not built by HAL); MiG-21M (all); 15 MiG-21MT (all)[1] 1,678 in Tbilisi [1]

17 MiG-21 and MiG-21F; 181 MiG-21U izdeliye 66-400 and 66-600 (1962 1966); 347 MiG-21US (19661970); 1133 MiG-21UM (1971 to end)[1]

A total of 194 MiG-21F-13s were built under licence in Czechoslovakia, and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. of India built 657 MiG-21FL, MiG-21M and MiG-21bis (of which 225 were bis)[1]

[edit] Technical description

MiG-21 cockpit The MiG-21 is a single-engined jet fighter aircraft capable of supersonic flight.[1] Wing The MiG-21 has a delta wing. The sweep angle on the leading edge is 57 with a TsAGI S-12 airfoil. The angle of incidence is 0 while the dihedral angle is -2. On the trailing edge there are ailerons with an area of 1.18 m, and flaps with an area of 1.87 m. In front of the ailerons there are small wing fences. Fuselage A semi-monocoque with an elliptical profile with a maximum width of 1.24 m. The air flow to the engine is regulated by a cone in the air intake. Up until the MiG-21PF it is three staged. On speeds up to M=1.5 it is fully retracted, between speeds of M=1.5 and M=1.9 it is in the middle position, and with speeds higher than M=1.9 it is in the maximum forward position. However, on the MiG-21PF it adapts to the actual speed, according to the UVD-2M system aboard the aircraft, which monitors the pressure in front and behind the compressor of the engine. On both side of the nose there are gills to supply the engine with more air while on the ground and during takeoff. In the first variant of the MiG-21, the pitot tube is on the bottom of the nose; after the MiG-21P, every version of the -21 has this tube situated on the top of the air intake. The cabin is pressurized and air conditioned. The canopy up until the MiG-21PFM opens on a hinge on the front of the canopy. When ejecting, the SK-1 ejection seat connects with the canopy making a capsule to enclose the pilot and protect him from the airflow, after which it would

separate and the pilot would parachute down. However, the canopy took too long to separate and some pilots were killed after ejecting at low altitudes. On the MiG-21PFM the canopy opens on a hinge on the right side of the cockpit.

hinge of the canopy On the belly of the plane there are three air brakes, two at the front and one at the back. The front brakes have an area of 0.76 m, and a deflection angle of 35. The back one has an area of 0.46 m and a deflection angle of 40. The usage of the back air brake is blocked if the plane carries an external fuel tank. Behind the air brakes are the bays for the main landing gear. Under the body, just behind the trailing edge of the wing, two JATO rockets can be attached. The front part of the fuselage ends with former #28. Beginning with former #28a is the back part of the fuselage, which is removable for engine maintenance.

central air brakelateral air brake Empennage

The empennage of the MiG-21 consists of a vertical stabilizer, a stabilator and a small fin on the bottom of the tail to improve yaw control. The vertical stabilizer has a sweep angle of 60 and an area of 5.32 m (on earlier version 3.8 m) and a rudder. The stabilator has sweep angle of 57, an area of 3.94 m and a span of 2.6 m. Landing Gear

A tricycle type undercarriage with a nose gear. The main landing gear has tires 800 mm in diameter and 600 mm in width (till the MiG-21P; 660x200 mm). The wheels of the main landing gear retract in the fuselage after rotating 87, the shock absorbers retract in the wing. The nose gear retracts forward in the fuselage under the radar. The wheel base is 4.71 m, the track width is 2.69 m.

forward gearrear gear Engines The MiG-21 engine was produced in several variants.[4] Engines used in MiG-21 variants [1]: Thrust kN Model Engine (dry/reheat) Mikulin AM-9B 25.5/31.9 Ye-2 37.3/50.0 Ye-2A/MiG-23 (izd. 63) Tumanskiy RD-11 Tumanskiy RD-9E + 25.5/32.4 + 37.3 Ye-50 Dushkin S-155 Ye-50A/MiG-23U (izd. Tumanskiy R-11E-300 + 37.3/50.0 + 37.3 Dushkin S-155 64) Tumanskiy RD-9E 25.5/32.4 Ye-4 Tumanskiy R-11-300 ?/49.0 MiG-21 (izd. 65) Tumanskiy R-11F-300 38.3/56.4 Ye-6 Tumanskiy R-11F-300 38.3/56.4 MiG-21F (izd. 72) 38.3/56.4 MiG-21F-13 (izd. 74) Tumanskiy R-11F-300 Tumanskiy R-11F2-300 36.8/60.7 Ye-6T ("Ye-66") Tumanskiy R-11F2-300 + 36.8/60.7 + ? Ye-6T ("Ye-66A") Sevruk S3-20M5A Tumanskiy R-11F2S-300 38.8/60.6 Ye-6V Tumanskiy R-11F-300 38.3/56.4 Ye-7 1-2/MiG-21P Tumanskiy R-11F2-300 38.8/60.0 Ye-7 3-4 38.8/60.0 MiG-21PF (izd. 76, 76A) Tumanskiy R-11F2-300 Tumanskiy R-11F-300 38.3/56.4 MiG-21FL (izd. 77) Ye-7SPS, MiG-21PFS Tumanskiy R-11F2S-300 38.8/60.6 (izd. 94)

Thrust lbf (dry/reheat) 5730/7165 8380/11240 5730/7275 + 8380 8380/11240 + 8380 5730/7275 ?/11020 8600/12680 8600/12680 8600/12680 8258/13633 8258/13633 + ? 8710/13610 8600/12680 8710/13490 8710/13490 8600/12680 8710/13610

MiG-21PFM (izd. 94, Tumanskiy R-11F2S-300 94A) Tumanskiy R-11F2S-300 Ye-7R MiG-21R (izd. 03, 94R, Tumanskiy R-11F2S-300 94RA) Tumanskiy R-13-300 MiG-21R (94R late) Tumanskiy R-11F2-300 Ye-7S MiG-21S/SN (izd. 95/95N) Tumanskiy R-11F2S-300 Tumanskiy R-11F2SK-300 MiG-21M (izd. 96) MiG-21SM (izd. 95M/15) Tumanskiy R-13-300 MiG-21MF (izd. 96F) Tumanskiy R-13-300 MiG-21MT/SMT/ST (izd. Tumanskiy R-13F-300 96T/50/50) MiG-21bis (izd. Tumanskiy R-25-300 75/75A/75B)

38.8/60.6 38.8/60.6 38.8/60.6 39.9/63.7 38.8/60.0 38.8/60.6 38.8/60.6 39.9/63.7 39.9/63.7 39.9/63.7 40.2/69.6 (97.1*)

8710/13610 8710/13610 8710/13610 8970/14320 8710/13490 8710/13610 8710/13610 8970/14310 8970/14310 8970/14320 9040/15650 (21825*)

* = limited (3-minute) "extra-power" reheat at altitudes 4000m (13,120 ft) or less. Armaments The following table shows the possible ordnance loads of various models of the MiG-21. In the pylons column, the number listed is per individual pylon. Armaments of various MiG-21 variants [1]: Internal Inboard Pylons (per Model Center Pylon Cannon hardpoint) 3x NR-30 w 1x UB-16-57 16-tube n/a Ye-2 60 rpg rocket pod 1x PTB-490 490L drop 3x NR-30 w tank Yen/a 1x UB-16-57 2A/MiG-23 60 rpg 1x FAB-250 GP bomb Ye2x NR-30 w 1x ORO-57K 8-tube n/a 50A/MiG60 rpg rocket pod 23U 1x FAB-250/500 GP bomb 3x NR-30 w 1x UB-16-57 Ye-4 60 rpg 1x PTB-400 400L drop tank 3x N-30 w 1x FAB-250 GP bomb MiG-21 60 rpg 2x ORO-57K on

Outboard Pylons (per hardpoint)

special adapter 2x TRS-190 HVAR on twin launcher 1x ARS-212 unguided rocket 1x PTB-400 1st 30: 1x NR-30 + 2x NR-23 1x PTB-400 MiG-21F Rest: 2x NR-30 w 60 rpg 1x S-21 Ovod-M HVAR 1x S-24 HVAR 1x OFAB-100-120 HE-Frag bomb 1x FAB-100/250/500 1x ZB-360 napalm tank 1x K-13/R-3S AAM 1x UB-16-57U 1x NR-30 w 1x PTB-490 1x S-24 HVAR 30 rds 1x FAB-100/250/500 1x ZB-360 1x K-13/R-3S 1x RS-2-US AAM n/a 1x PTB-490 1x UB-16-57U 1x FAB-100/250 1x K-13/R-3S n/a 1x PTB-490 1x UB-16-57U 1x FAB-100/250 1x K-13/R-3S 1x PTB-490 1x RS-2-US n/a 1x GP-9 cannon pod w 1x UB-16-57U GSh-23-2 w 200 rds 1x FAB-100/250 1x Kh-66 ASM 1x PTB-490/PTB-800 1x R-3S 800L drop tank 1x RS-2-US Type D daylight 1x UB-16-57UM PHOTINT pod 1x S-24 Type N nighttime 1x FABn/a PHOTINT pod 100/250/500/OFABType R ELINT pod 100 Type T TV pod 1x ZB-500 napalm SPRD-99 JATO tank booster 1x Kh-66 1x R-3R/R-3S 1x PTB-490/PTB-800 1x RS-2-US n/a 1x GP-9 cannon pod 1x Kh-66 1x SPRD-99 1x UB-16-57UM

MiG-21F13

MiG21PF/PFS

MiG-21FL

MiG21PFM

MiG-21R

1x PTB-490 1x UB-16-57UM 1x FAB100/250/OFAB-100 1x S-24

MiG-21S

1x PTB-490 1x R-3R/R-3S 1x UB-16-57UM 1x OFAB-100/FAB-

1x S-24 100/250 1x FAB1x S-24 100/250/500/OFAB100 1x ZB-500 1x PTB1x R-3R/R-3S 490/PTB1x RS-2-US 800 1x Kh-66 1x GP-9 1x UB-16-57UM cannon pod 1x S-24 MiG-21SN 1x SPRD-99 1x FAB1x RN-25 100/250/500/OFABtactical 100 nuclear 1x ZB-500 bomb

1x PTB-490 1x R-3R/R-3S 1x UB-16-57UM 1x OFAB-100/FAB100/250 1x S-24

1x R-3S 1x RS-2-US 1x Kh-66 1x UB-16-57U 1x S-24 1x FAB100/250/500/OFAB100 1x PTB-490 1x R-3S/R-3R 1x R-3S/R-3R 1x UB-16-57/UB-32 1x UB-16-57/UB-32 1x FAB1x FAB1x GSh-23100/250/500/OFAB1x PTB-490/PTB-800 100/250/500/OFAB100 MiG-21SM 2L w 200 1x SPRD-99 100 rds 1x ZB-360 1x ZB-360 1x Kh-66 1x Kh-66 1x S-24 1x S-24 1x PTB-490 1x R-3S 2x R-60 AAM on 1x R-3S twin rail 1x Kh-66 1x Kh-66 1x GSh-231x UB-16-57U 1x PTB-490/PTB-800 1x UB-16-57U MiG2L w 200 1x S-24 1x SPRD-99 1x S-24 21MF/MT rds 1x FAB1x FAB100/250/500/OFAB100/250/500/OFAB100 100 1x PTB-490 1x GSh-23- 1x PTB-490/PTB-800 1x R-3S/R-3R 1x R-3S/R-3R MiG1x SPRD-99 1x Kh-66 2x R-60 AAM on 21SMT/ST 2L w 200 1x R-3S 1x RS-2-US 1x Kh-66 1x GSh-231x PTB-490/PTB-800 1x UB-16-57U MiG-21M 2L w 200 1x SPRD-99 1x S-24 rds 1x FAB100/250/500/OFAB100

rds

1x UB-16-57U 1x S-24 1x FAB100/250/500/OFAB100

1x R-3S/R-3R/R-13M 1x R-55 AAM 1x Kh-66 1x GSh-231x PTB-490/PTB-800 1x UB-16-57U MiG-21bis 2L w 200 1x SPRD-99 1x S-24 rds 1x FAB100/250/500/OFAB100

1x R-3S 1x Python 3 AAM 1x AIM-9 AAM 1x PTB-490/PTB-800 1x Kh-66 1x GSh-23- 1x SPRD-99 1x UB-16-57U MiG-21bis2L w 200 1x Litening laser 1x S-24 D/Lancer rds designator 1x FAB1x recce pod 100/250/500/OFAB100 1x Mk82/Mk84 LGB 1x R-3S/R-3R/R-13M 1x R-27R1 AAM 1x R-55 AAM 1x R-73 AAM 1x R-77 AAM 1x Kh-25MP ASM 1x GSh-231x Kh-31A/Kh-31P 1x PTB-490/PTB-800 ASM MiG-21-93 2L w 200 1x SPRD-99 rds 1x Kh-66 1x UB-16-57U 1x S-24 1x FAB100/250/500/OFAB100 1x KAB-500Kr LGB

twin rail 1x Kh-66 1x UB-16-57U 1x S-24 1x FAB100/250/500/OFAB100 1x PTB-490 1x R-3S/R-3R/R-13M 1x R-55 2x R-60/R-60M on twin rail 1x Kh-66 1x UB-16-57U 1x S-24 1x FAB100/250/500/OFAB100 1x PTB-490 1x R-3S 1x Python 3 AAM 1x AIM-9 AAM 2x R-60 AAM on twin rail 1x Kh-66 1x UB-16-57U 1x S-24 1x FAB100/250/500/OFAB100 1x PTB-490 1x R-3S/R-3R/R-13M 1x R-27R1 1x R-55 1x R-73 1x R-77 2x R-60/R-60M on twin rail 1x Kh-25MP 1x Kh-31A/Kh-31P 1x Kh-66 1x UB-16-57U 1x S-24 1x FAB100/250/500/OFAB100

MiG-21 Bison

1x KAB-500Kr LGB 1x PTB-490 1x R-3S/R-3R/R-13M 1x R-3S/R-3R/R-13M 1x R-27R1 1x R-27R1/R-27T1 1x R-55 AAM 1x R-73E 1x R-55 AAM 1x R-77 1x R-73E AAM 2x R-60/R-60M on 1x R-77 AAM twin rail 1x GSh-231x PTB-490/PTB-800 1x Kh-25MP 1x Kh-25MP 2L w 200 1x SPRD-99 1x Kh-66 1x Kh-66 rds 1x UB-16-57U 1x UB-16-57U 1x S-24 1x S-24 1x FAB1x FAB100/250/500/OFAB- 100/250/500/OFAB100 100 1x KAB-500Kr LGB 1x KAB-500Kr LGB 1x PTB-490

[edit] Operational history

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[edit] Vietnam

MiG-21F in Vietnam People's Air Force markings exhibited at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The MiG-21, which initially achieved renown during the Vietnam War, in which it saw extensive action, was designed for very short Ground Controlled Interceptor (GCI) missions, which is precisely the type of missions that it was employed for in the skies over North Vietnam.[5] The first MiG-21s arrived directly from the Soviet Union by ship in April 1966, and after being unloaded and assembled,[6] were transitioned into North Vietnam's oldest fighter unit; the 921st Fighter Regiment, which had been established on 3 February 1964 as a MiG-17 unit. Since the North Vietnamese Air Force's 923rd FR was newer and less experienced, they would continue to operate strictly MiG-17s; while the arrival of the MiG-19's (J6 versions) from Communist China in 1969 would create North Vietnam's only MiG-19 unit, the 925th FR. On 3 February 1972

North Vietnam commissioned their fourth and last Fighter Regiment of the war while engaged with the United States, the MiG-21PFM (Type 94) equipped 927th Fighter Regiment.[7] The MiG-21 was one of the most advanced fighter aircraft of the time; and although 13 of North Vietnam's flying aces attained that status while flying the MiG-21, and only 3 airmen became aces while flying the MiG-17, it is thought by many, that North Vietnamese aces preferred flying the MiG-17, since the high wing loading on the MiG-21 made it less maneuverable than the MiG-17, and the less heavily framed canopy of the MiG-17 allowed pilots to more easily detect US launched air to air missiles.[8] Although the MiG-21 lacked the long-range radar, missiles, and heavy bombing payload of its contemporary multi-mission U.S. fighters, it proved a challenging adversary in the hands of experienced pilots especially when used in high speed hit and run attacks under GCI control. MiG-21 intercepts of F-105 strike groups were effective in downing US aircraft or forcing them to jettison their bomb loads. After a million sorties and nearly a thousand lost US aircraft, Operation Rolling Thunder came to an end on 1 November 1968.[9] Poor air-to-air combat loss-exchange ratios against the smaller, more agile enemy MiGs during the early part of the Vietnam War eventually led the USN to create their Navy Fighter Weapons School, also known as "Top Gun" at Miramar Naval Air Station on 3 March 1969.[10] The USAF quickly followed with their own version, titled the Dissimilar Air Combat Training (sometimes referred to as Red Flag) program. These two programs employed the subsonic A-4 Skyhawk and the supersonic F-5 Tiger II, as well as the Mach 2.4-capable USAF F-106 Delta Dart, which mimicked the MiG-21.[11] Over the course of the air war, between 3 April 1965[12] and 8 January 1973, each side would ultimately claim favorable kill ratios. Two MiG-21s were shot down by U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress tail gunners; the only confirmed air-to-air kills made by the B-52. The first aerial victory occurred on 18 December 1972, downed by tail gunner SSgt Samuel Turner, who was awarded the Silver Star for his feat.[13] The second air to air kill took place on December 24, 1972, when A1C Albert E. Moore downed a MiG-21 over the Thai Nguyen railroad yards, both actions occurred during Operation Linebacker II (also known as the Christmas Bombings).[14] The biggest threat to North Vietnam during the war, had always been the Strategic Air Command's B-52 Stratofortress. Hanoi's MiG-17 and MiG-19 interceptors could not deal with those bombers at the altitude that they flew. In the summer of 1972, the NVAF was directed to train twelve MiG-21 pilots for the specific mission of attacking and shooting down B-52 bombers; with two thirds of those pilots specifically trained in the night attack.[15] On 26 December 1972, just two days after Tail gunner Albert Moore downed his MiG-21, a VPAF (North Vietnamese Air Force) MiG-21MF (number 5121)[16] from the 921st Fighter Regiment, flown by Major Phm Tun over Hanoi, North Vietnam was responsible for the first claimed aerial combat kill of a USAF B-52 Stratofortress in aviation history.[17] The Stratofortress had been circling above Hanoi at over 30,000 feet during Operation Linebacker II, when MAJ Tuan launched two Atoll missile missiles from 2 kilometres, destroying one of the bombers flying in the three plane formation.[1][17] On 28 December 1972, another MiG-21 from the 921st FR, this time flown by Vu Xuan Thieu, was guided by ground control towards a flight of B-52s. Thieu closed in on one bomber, but apparently was too close, realizing that he might not get another

shot at a B-52, he fired a missile, causing one of the bombers within the formation to explode. Due to speed and distance, Thieu and his MiG-21 were destroyed by the exploding Stratofortess.[18] Both bomber crews perished, and the USAF claimed that both Stratoforts had been shot down by Surface to Air Missiles.[19] Year-by-Year Kill Claims involving MiG-21s [1]

1966: US claimed 6 MiG-21s destroyed; North Vietnam claimed 7 F-4 Phantom IIs and 11 F-105 Thunderchiefs killed by MiG-21s. 1967: US claimed 21 MiG-21s destroyed; North Vietnam claimed 17 F-105 Thunderchiefs, 11 F-4 Phantom IIs, 2 RF-101 Voodoos, one A-4 Skyhawk, one F-8 Crusader, one EB-66 Destroyer and three unidentified types killed by MiG-21s. 1968: US claimed 9 MiG-21s destroyed; North Vietnam claimed 17 US aircraft killed by MiG-21s. 1969: US destroyed 3 MiG-21s; one Firebee UAV killed by a MiG-21. 1970: US destroyed 2 MiG-21s; North Vietnam claimed one F-4 Phantom and one CH53 Sea Stallion helicopter killed by MiG-21s. 1972: US claimed 51 MiG-21s destroyed; North Vietnam claimed 53 US aircraft killed by MiG-21s, including two B-52 Stratofortress's. Soviet General Fesenko, the main Soviet adviser to the North Vietnamese Air Force in 1972,[20] recorded 34 MiG-21s, 9 MiG-17's, and 9 MiG-19's destroyed in 1972.[20]

[edit] Arab-Israeli conflicts

The MiG-21 was also used extensively in the Middle East conflicts of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s by the air forces of Egypt, Syria and Iraq. The MiG-21 first encountered Israeli Mirage IIICs on 14 November 1964, but it wasn't until 14 July 1966 that the first MiG-21 was shot down.[citation needed] Another six Syrian MiG-21s were shot down by Israeli Mirages on 7 April 1967.[citation needed] The MiG-21 would also face F-4 Phantom IIs and A-4 Skyhawks, but was later outclassed by the more modern F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon, which were acquired by Israel beginning in the mid-1970s. During the opening attacks of the 1967 Six Day War, the Israeli Air Force struck Arab air forces in four attack waves. In the first wave, IDF aircraft claimed to have destroyed eight Egyptian aircraft in air-to-air combat, of which seven were MiG-21s; Egypt claims ten Israeli aircraft destroyed, four or five of which were scored by MiG-21PFs. During the second wave the Israelis claimed four MiG-21s downed in air-to-air combat, and the third wave resulted in two Syrian and one Iraqi MiG-21s claimed destroyed in the air. The fourth wave destroyed some more Syrian MiG-21s on the ground. Overall, the Egyptians lost around 100 out of about 110 MiG-21s they had, almost all on the ground; the Syrians lost 35 of 60 MiG-21F-13s and MiG-21PFs in the air and on the ground.[1] This section's factual accuracy is disputed. Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page. (October 2009)

Between the end of the Six Day War and the start of the War of Attrition, IDF Mirage fighters had six confirmed kills of Egyptian MiG-21s, in exchange for Egyptian MiG-21s scoring two confirmed and three probable kills against Israeli aircraft. During the War of Attrition itself, the Israelis claimed 56 confirmed kills against Egyptian MiG-21s, while Egyptian MiG-21s claimed fourteen confirmed and twelve probable kills against IDF aircraft. During this same time period, from the end of the Six Day War to the end of the War of Attrition, the Israelis claimed a total of 25 Syrian MiG-21s destroyed; the Syrians claimed three confirmed and four probable kills of Israel aircraft.[1]. High losses to IDF aircraft and continuous bombing during the War of Attrition caused the Egyptians to ask the Soviet Union for help. In June 1970, Soviet pilots and SAM crews arrived with their equipment. On 22 June 1970, a Soviet pilot flying a MiG-21MF shot down an Israeli A-4E. After some more successful intercepts by Soviet pilots and another Israeli A-4 being shot down on July 25, the Israelis decided to plan an ambush in response. On July 30 Israeli F-4s lured Soviet MiG-21s into an area where they were ambushed by Mirages. Asher Smir, flying a Mirage IIICJ, destroyed a Soviet MiG-21; Avihu Ben-Nun and Avie Stella, both piloting F-4Es, each got a kill, and an unidentified pilot in another Mirage scored the fourth kill against the Soviet-flown MiG-21s. Three Soviet pilots were killed and the Soviets were alarmed by the losses. However, Soviet MiG-21 pilots and SAM crews destroyed a total of 21 Israeli aircraft, which helped to convince the Israelis to sign a ceasefire agreement.[1] In September 1973 a large air battle erupted between the Syrians and the Israelis; the Israelis claimed a total of twelve Syrian MiG-21s destroyed, while the Syrians claimed eight kills scored by MiG-21s and admitted five losses; most historians now estimate three Israeli and twelve Syrian losses.[1] During the Yom Kippur War in the Air Battle of El Mansoura, Israel launched a large scale raid with over 100 aircraft F-4s and A-4s attempting to hit the huge air base at elMansourah[dubious discuss] . It culminated in an almost continuous dogfight lasting no less than 53 minutes. According to Egyptian estimates over 180 aircraft were involved at one time, the majority belonging to the Israelis[dubious discuss] . At 10:00pm local time Cairo Radio broadcast Communiqu Number 39, announcing that there had been several air battles that day over a number of Egyptian airfields, that most intensive being over the northern Delta area. It also claimed that fifteen enemy aircraft had been downed by Egyptian fighters for the loss of three Egyptian aircraft, while an even greater number of Israelis had been shot down by the Army and the Air Defense Forces over Sinai and the Suez Canal. For its part, Israel Radio claimed, early the following morning, that the IDF had shot down fifteen Egyptian aircraft, a figure subsequently reduced to seven. Following a more detailed analysis after the war had ended, the EAF actually increased its original claims and now asserts that the results of the el-Mansourah air battle were as follows: seventeen Israeli aircraft were shot down for the loss of six MiGs. Of the EAF aircraft lost, three were shot down by the enemy, two crashed because they ran out of fuel before their pilots could return to base and a third blew up after flying through the debris of an exploding Phantom which it had just shot down. {[21] For the whole war on the Egyptian front, the Israelis claimed a total of 73 kills of Egyptian MiG21s, against 27 kills of Israeli aircraft claimed by Egyptian MiG-21s, plus eight probables.[1]

On the Syrian front of the war, 6 October 1973 saw a flight of Syrian MiG-21MFs shoot down an IDF A-4E and a Mirage IIICJ while losing three of their own to Israeli IAI Neshers. On 7 October, Syrian MiG-21MFs downed two Israeli F-4Es, three Mirage IIICJs and an A-4E while losing two of their MiGs to Neshers and one to an F-4E, plus two to friendly SAM fire. Iraqi MiG-21PFs also operated on this front, and on that same day destroyed two A-4Es while losing one MiG. On 8 October 1973 Syrian MiG-21PFMs downed three F-4Es, but six of their MiG21s were lost. By the end of the war, Syrian MiG-21s claimed a total of 30 confirmed kills against Israeli aircraft; 29 MiG-21s were claimed as destroyed by the IDF.[1] Between the end of the Yom Kippur War and the start of the 1982 Lebanon War, the Israelis had received modern F-15s and F-16s, which were far superior to the old Syrian MiG-21MFs. According to the IDF, these new planes accounted for the destruction of 24 Syrian MiG-21s over this time period, though the Syrians did claim five kills against IDF aircraft with their MiG-21s armed with outdated K-13 missiles.[1] The 1982 Lebanon War started on 6 June 1982, and in the course of that war the IDF claimed to have destroyed about 45 Syrian MiG-21MFs. The Syrians claimed two confirmed and fifteen probable kills of Israeli aircraft.[1]

[edit] Other Middle East conflicts

Egypt would be shipped some American Sidewinder missiles, and these were fitted to their MiG21s and successfully used in combat against Libyan MiG-23s during the brief Libyan-Egyptian War of July 1977. Libya vs Egypt Conflicts: MiG-21s in Air-to-Air Combat [1] Date Aircraft Scoring Kill Victim 22 July 1977 LARAF Mirage 5DE EAF MiG-21MF 3 (or 4) LARAF Mirage + 1 LARAF MiG-23MS 23 July 1977 EAF MiG-21MFs EAF MiG-21MF LARAF MiG-23MS 1979 MiG-21s were used by the Yemeni Air Force in ground attack role during Yemen's fight with Shi'a rebels in the north. On October 2, 2009 the rebels announced that they shot down a Yemen Air Force MiG-21 fighter jet in the al-Sha'af district in northern Yemen.[22] A senior Yemeni military official has denied the claim and said the plane ran into a mountain peak because of a technical fault. Contradicting state media, another Yemeni military commander told the AFP news agency that the aircraft had been "flying at low attitude" when it was hit.[23]

[edit] India
The Indian Air Force has been one of the largest users of the MiG-21 since its initial employment of the plane in the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 and later Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. That war witnessed the first supersonic air combat in the subcontinent when an Indian MiG21FLs shot down a PAF F-104 Starfighter with its GSh-23 twin barrelled 23mm cannon.[24], thereafter it shot down 3 more F-104 starfighers & one MIG-19 before the war ended. It was also

used as late as 1999 in the Kargil War in which one Indian Air Force MiG-21 was shot down by a Pakistani hand-held "Stinger" Surface to air missile.[25] The MiG-21's last known kill took place in 1999 during the Atlantique Incident when two MiG-21 aircraft of the Indian Air Force Intercepted and shot down a Breguet Atlantique reconnaissance aircraft of the Pakistani Navy with R-60MK (AA-8 Aphid). India-Pakistan Conflicts: MiG-21s in Air-to-Air Combat Aircraft Scoring Kill Pilot IAF MiG-21F-13 IAF MiG-21FL "C1111" IAF MiG-21FL IAF MiG-21FL IAF MiG-21FL IAF MiG-21FL "C750" IAF MiG-21FL IAF MiG-21FL PAF F-6 IAF MiG-21FL PAF F-86F IAF MiG-21FL IAF MiG-21FL IAF MiG-21bis IAF MiG-21bis (45 Sqn) ? FltLt Manbir Singh FltLt Samar Bikram Shah ? ? FltLt Bharat Bhushan Soni FltLt Niraj Kukreja SqnLdr Iqbal Singh Bindra A. A. Shafieff FltLt Samar Bikram Shah FltLt Maqsood Amir A. K. Datta Samar Bikram Shah ? SqnLdr Prashant Kumar Bundela

Date 4 September 1965[26]

Victim

PAF F-86E PAF Sabre F.6 PAF F-6 PAF CC-130 IAF MiG-21FL "C1107" PAF F-104A PAF F-104A PAF F-104A IAF MiG-21FL PAF F-6 IAF MiG-21FL "C716" PAF F-104A PAF F-104A (damaged) PAF PAF Br.1150 Atlantic

4 December 1971[1] 6 December 1971[26] 6 December 1971[26] 11 December 1971[1] 12 December 1971[1] 12 December 1971[1] 12 December 1971[1] 14 December 1971[26] 16 December 1971[1] 17 December 1971[1] 17 December 1971[26] 17 December 1971[26] 1997[26] 10 August 1999[1]

[edit] Former Yugoslavia

The MiG-21bis of the Yugoslav Air Force during the 80s.

Yugoslav Air Force pilots standing in front of MiG-21, 1987.

FR Yugoslav Air Force MiG-21UM. As Yugoslavia had drastically improved relations with the Soviet Union during the 60s, in September 1962 Yugoslav Air Force received first MiG-21F-13 fighters (in Yugoslav military designated as L-12). In the period from 1962 to the early 80s Yugoslavia had bought about 216 MiG-21 aircraft in 9 variants MiG-21F-13 Fishbed-C (L-12), MiG-21U-400 and U-600 Mongol-A (L-12 and NL-12M), MiG-21PFM Fishbed-F (L-14), MiG21US Mongol-B (NL-14), MiG-21R Fishbed-H (L-14i), MiG-21M Fishbed-J (L-15), MiG-21MF Fishbed-J (L-15M), MiG21UM Mongol-B (NL-16) and MiG-21bis Fishbed-N and Fishbed-L (L-17 and L-17K). From 1964 to 1992, about 80 aircraft had been lost in accidents.[citation needed] Yugoslav Air force units that operated MiG-21 were 204th fighter-aviation regiment at Batajnica Air Base (126th, 127th and 128th fighter-aviation squadrons), 117th fighter-aviation regiment at eljava Air Base (124th and 125th fighter-aviation squadron and 352nd recon squadron), 83rd fighter-aviation regiment at Slatina Air Base (123rd and 130th fighter aviation squadron), 185th fighter-bomber-aviation squadron (129th fighter-aviation squadron) at Pula and 129th training center at Batajnica air base. During the early stages of the 19911995 Yugoslav wars the Yugoslav People's Army used MiG-21s in a ground-attack role, while Croatian and Slovenian forces did not have air forces at the beginning of the war. Aircraft from air bases in Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina were relocated to air bases in Serbia, so MiG-21s left eljava and Pula air bases. Detailed records show at least seven MiGs were shot down by AA defenses in Croatia and Bosnia[27]. A MiG-21 piloted by Emir ii shot down a EU helicopter that had entered Croatian aerospace with full knowledge of the Yugoslav flight control (but neglected YFC warnings).

Croatia acquired three MiG-21s in 1992 through defections by Croatian pilots serving with the JNA, two of which were lost in subsequent actions one to Serbian air defenses, the other in a friendly fire accident[29]. In 1993, Croatia purchased about 40 MiG-21s in violation of arms embargo[29], but only about 20 of these entered service, while the rest were used for spare parts[29]. Croatia used them alongside the sole remaining defector for ground attack missions in operations Flash (during which one was lost[29]) and Storm. The only air to air action for Croatian MiGs was an attempt by two of them to intercept J-22 Oraos of Republika Srpska Air Force on ground attack mission on 7 August 1995. After some maneuvering both sides disengaged without having fired a single bullet[29]. All the Yugoslav MiG-21s which have evacuated to Serbia after 1992 have continued their service in the "new" FR Yugoslav Air Force. During the 1999 NATO attack on FRY, Yugoslav Air Force lost 33 MiG-21s[27] on the ground.

[edit] Africa
During the Cold War MiG-21s were supplied to many sub-Saharan African nations by the Soviets. The Cubans also flew their MiG-21s in some of the conflicts. One of the more notable uses of MiG-21s in combat occurred during the Angolan Civil War in the hands of the People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola. Cuban Air Force pilots also flew MiG-21s over Angola during the war. MiG-21s were used as fighter-bombers and most losses were due to ground fire. However, both Angolan and Cuban MiG-21s often had encounters with South African Air Force Mirages. On 6 November 1981 Major Johann Rankin, flying a Mirage F.1CZ, scored the SAAF's first kill since the Korean War, downing the MiG-21MF of Lt. Danacio Valdez. On 5 October 1982, a SAAF Mirage IIICZ damaged a MiG-21MF with cannon fire, but the MiG managed to return to base safely.[1] During the Ogaden War of 197778, American-supplied Ethiopian F-5As flown by Israeli pilots met Somalian MiG-21MFs in combat several times. In one lopsided incident, two F-5As engaged four MiG-21MFs that were armed only with bombs. The Israeli pilots destroyed two and then watched with amazement as the two remaining MiG-21s collided with each other.[1] The Israeli-flown Ethiopian F-5As claimed ten Somali MiG-21MFs; in return, Somali MiG21MFs claimed four Ethiopian MiG-21MFs, one Canberra bomber and three DC-3s.[1] Ironically, Ethiopia also received MiG-21s which were initially flown by Cuban pilots. The Cuban-flown MiG-21s were used to bomb Somali forces in the final Ethiopian counter-attack.[1] MiG-21s, along with its Chinese copy (the F-7), flew ground sorties during the First and Second Congo Wars, sometimes being piloted by mercenaries. Ethiopia has had a number of armed conflicts with Eritrea following the latter's independence from the former. Both countries have received advanced fighters - the Ethiopians got Su-27 fighters from Russia, while the Eritreans received MiG-29s from Ukraine. On 26 February 1999, an Eritrean MiG-29UB destroyed two Ethiopian MiG-21s that were bombing Eritrean positions, but the MiG-29 was then attacked by an Ethiopian Su-27 and was lost.[1]. On 18 May 2000,

another Eritrean MiG-29 downed one Ethiopian MiG-21 and damaged another, before getting shot down in turn by another Ethiopian Su-27.[1]

[edit] Romania
Beginning in 1993, Russia did not offer spare parts for the MiG-23 and MiG-29 for the Romanian Air Force. Initially, this was the context for the modernization of the Romanian MiG21's with Elbit systems, and because it was easier for the Romanians to maintain these fighter jets. 110 MiG-21's were modernized under the LanceR designation. Today, only 48 LanceRs are operational for the RoAF. It can use both Western and Eastern armament such as the R-60M, R73, Magic 2, or Python III missiles. They will be replaced in 2012 when new fighter jets will arrive, such as the F-16, F/A-18, Eurofighter Typhoon or Gripen.

[edit] Known MiG-21 aces

Several pilots have attained ace status (five or more aerial victories/kills) while flying the MiG21. Of the pilots known to have achieved the title of "Ace" during aerial combat with the MiG21, the most successful was Nguyn Vn Cc of the North Vietnamese Air Force, who scored 9 solo kills[30]. Twelve other VPAF (also referred to as the NVAF) pilots were credited with five or more aerial victories while flying the MiG-21: Phm Thanh Ngn[1], Nguyn Hng Nh and Mai Vn Cng (each 8 kills); ng Ngc Ng[1] (7 kills), V Ngc nh[1], Nguyn Ngc [1], Nguyn Nht Chiu[1], L Thanh o[1], Nguyn ng Knh[1], Nguyn c Sot[1], and Nguyn Tin Sm[1] (6 kills each), and Nguyn Vn Ngha[1] (5 kills). Col. Vadim Petrovich Shchbakov according to the 18th Report of the US government's "Task Force Russia", achieved ace status with 6 kills in the Vietnam War while serving as a pilot instructor.[31] Additionally, three Syrian pilots are known to have attained ace status while flying the MiG-21. Syrian airmen: M. Mansour[32] recorded five solo kills (with one additional probable), B. Hamshu[32] scored five solo kills, and A. el-Gar[32] tallied four solo and one shared kill, all three during the 19731974 engagements against Israel. Due to the incomplete nature of available records, there are several pilots who have unconfirmed aerial victories (probable kills), which when confirmed would award them "Ace" Status: S. A. Razak[33] of the Iraqi Air Force with 4 known kills scored during the Iran-Iraq War (until 1991; sometimes referred to as the Persian Gulf War), A. Wafai[34] of the Egyptian Air Force with 4 known kills against Israel. For specific information on kills scored by and against MiG-21s sorted by country see the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 operators page. Known Losses of MiG-21s (accidents or combat)

[edit] Variants
(All information in this section adapted from "MiG-21" by Yefim Gordon & Keith Dexter, ISBN 978 1 85780 257 3.')

MiG-21PFM of Polish Air Force 10th Fighter Reg.

MiG-21MF of Polish Air Force 3rd Tactical Sqn. Generation Zero (19541956) The original developmental prototypes and concepts, to the first (pre)production aircraft. (Major variants: Ye-1, Ye-2, Ye-2A/MiG-23, Ye-4, Ye-50, Ye-50A/MiG-23U, Ye-5, MiG-21). Generation One (19571961) Initial mass-produced versions and further refinements and experiments. (Major variants: Ye-6, Ye-50P, MiG-21F, Ye-6T, MiG-21P-13, MiG-21F-13, Ye-6V). Generation Two (19611966) Further developments led to more advanced versions as dedicated interceptors which underwent near-constant refinements; a dedicated reconnaissance version (with interceptor capability) and a nuclear-strike variant were also developed. (Major variants: MiG-21PF/FL, Ye-7SPS, MiG-21PFS, Ye-7M, MiG-21PFM, Ye-7R, MiG-21R, Ye-7S, MiG-21S, MiG-21N, MiG-21PD). Generation Three (19681972) Development of the MiG-21 kept constantly moving with the times, from the MiG-21M to the ultimate variant, the MiG-21bis produced into the 1980s. (Major variants: MiG21M, MiG-21I, MiG-21K, MiG-21Sh, MiG-21SM, MiG-21MF, MiG-21DF, MiG21SMF, MiG-21MT, MiG-21SMT, MiG-21ST, MiG-21bis). Trainer Variants (19601968+) Trainer variants of the MiG-21 started being developed in 1960, and continued until the final design in 1968, which was manufactured for many years afterwards. (Major variants: Ye-6U, MiG-21U, MiG-21US, MiG-21UM). Avionics of MiG-21 variants GCI Radar ATC Radionav Model Radio IFF ADF* RWR Gunsight Cmd ** Transponder System Link RSIUARK- SPO-2 SRDSRO-2 ASP-5NSOD-57 GorizontMiG-21 4V 5 Sirena1M Khrom V3 Globus 1V (izd. 65) Klyon Amur 2 Konus* SPO-2 SRDMiGSRO-2 ARKASPSOD-57 GorizontSirena5MN 21F (izd. R-800 Khrom 54N 5NV-UI Globus 1V? 2 Baza-6* 72) SRD- SOD-57M Gorizont- MiG- R-802 SRO-2 ARK- SPO-2 ASP-

21F-13 (izd. 74)

Khrom 10

Sirena- 5ND 2

SRZOSPO-2 MiGRSIU- 2 ARKSirena- PKI 21PF 5V Khrom- 54I 2 (izd. 76) Nikel' MiG21PF (izd. 76A) MiG21FL (izd. 77) MiG21PFM (izd. 94) MiG21PFM (izd. 94A) MiG21R (izd. 03/94R) MiG21R (izd. 94RA) MiG21S/SN (izd. 95/95N) MiG21M (izd. 96) MiG21SM (izd. 95M/15) MiG21bis SPO-2 RSIU- SRO-2 ARKSirena- PKI 5 Khrom 10* 2 SPO-2 RSIUARKSRO-1 Sirena5G 10* 2 SRZOSPO-2 RSIU- 2M ARKSirena5V Khrom- 10 2 Nikel' SRZOSPO-2 RSIU- 2 ARKSirena5 Khrom- 10* 2 Nikel' SRZOSPO-3 RSIU- 2M ARKSirena5V Khrom- 10 3 Nikel' SRZOSPO-3 RSIU- 2 ARKSirena5 Khrom- 10 3 Nikel' SRZORSIU- 2M ARK- SPO5V Khrom- 10 10 Nikel' SRZOSPO-3 RSIU- 2 ARKSirena5 Khrom- 10 3M Nikel' SRZORSIU- 2M ARK- SPO5V Khrom- 10 10 Nikel' RSIU- SRZO- ARK- SPO5V 2M 10 10 PKI

5ND Globus-2 Kvant* RP-9-21 (batch SOD-57M 16); Globus-2 RP-21 (7 on) RP-9-21 SOD-57M Globus-2 SOD-57M Globus-2 SOD-57M Globus-2

1V?

ARL-S Lazur'

ARL-S Lazur'

R1L

PKI

RP21M

ARL-S Lazur'

Iskra

PKI

RP21MA

SOD-57M Globus-2

ARL-S Lazur'

Iskra

PKI

RP21M

SOD-57M Globus-2

ARL-S Lazur'

Iskra

PKI

RP21MA

SOD-57M Globus-2

ARL-S Lazur'

Iskra

RP-22 ASP-PFSOD-57M (Sapfir21 Globus-2 22) ASPPFD RP21MA SOD-57M Globus-2

ARL-S ? Lazur'-M

ARL-S Lazur'

ASPPFD ASPPFD-M

RP-22 RP22M

SOD-57M Globus-2 SOD-57M Globus-2

ARL-S ? Lazur'-M ARL-S none? Lazur'-M

(PVO; izd. 75) MiG21bis (VVS; izd. 75) MiG21bis (izd. 75A) MiG21bis (izd. 75B)

KhromNikel' SRZORSIU- 2M 5V KhromNikel' SRZORSIU- 2 5 KhromNikel' SRZORSIU- 2 5 KhromNikel'

ARK- SPO10 10

ASPPFD-M

RP22M

SOD-57M Globus-2

none

RSBN-4N

SPO-3 ARKASPSirena10 PFD 3M SPO-3 ARKASPSirena10 PFD 3M"

RP21M

SOD-57M Globus-2

ARL-S none? Lazur'-M

RP21M

SOD-57M Globus-2

none

RSBN-2N

Notes to table: * ADF = Automatic direction finder; an asterisk by the name means there is no DME module present. ** = An asterisk by the name indicates a rangefinding-only unit.

[edit] Upgrade Programs

MiG-21-93 Russia now offers an upgrade package to bring late-model MiG-21s up to the MiG-21-93 standard. This package provides an upgrade of the avionics suite that includes installation of the Kopyo pulse-doppler radar used by the MiG-29, which enables the aircraft to fire a greater range of modern weapons such as the beyond-visual-range Vympel R-77 air-toair missile. The upgraded avionics also enhance the aircraft's survivability as well as its ability to engage enemy fighters. Other upgrade features include installation of a dualscreen HUD, helmet-mounted target designator, and advanced flight control systems.

MiG-21 2000 MiG-21-2000 Single-seat 21st century version for export buyers. Made by Israel Aerospace Industries[35]. MiG-21 LanceR

MiG-21 LanceR 'C' taking off from the RoAF 71st Air Base

Romanian Air Force MiG-21 UM LanceR-B Upgraded version for the Romanian Air Force done by Elbit of Israel and Aerostar SA of Romania. The LanceR-A version is optimized for ground attack being able to deliver precision guided munitions of eastern and western origin as well as R-60, R-73 and Python III air to air missiles. The LanceR-B version is the trainer version and the LanceR-C version is the air superiority version featuring 2 LCD MFDs, helmet mounted sight and the Elta EL/M-2032 Air combat radar.[2]

IAF MiG-21 Bison MiG-21 Bison Upgraded version for export and Indian Air Force is the first customer. Armed with Phazotron Kopyo (Spear) airborne radar, which is capable of simultaneously tracking 8 targets and engage 2 of the 8 target tracked with semi-active radar homing air-to-air missile such as Vympel R-27. The radar also enable to fighter to deploy active radar homing air-to-air missile such as Vympel R-77 when additional channel is incorporated. Russian advertise has claimed that this version is equivalent to early F-16. It performed well against F-15 and F-16s of the USAF during Indo-US joint air exercises. MiG-21-97 MiG-21-93 upgrade. MiG-21-93 re-engined with Klimov RD-33 engine. Russians have claimed that the evaluation at Ramenskoye Airport had shown that this version had beaten simulated F-16 in mocked dogfight with a score of 4:1.[citation needed]

[edit] Foreign-built variants

China (PRC) Chinese-built variants of the MiG-21 are designated Chengdu J-7 and F-7 (for export). Only the initial version of the J-7 was a copy of a MiG-21 variant, namely the MiG-21F-13. Though an agreement had been reached between China and the USSR for licence production of the MiG-21 in China, political relations soured between the two countries, causing Soviet assistance to stop. This forced the Chinese to reverse-engineer parts of the handful of MiG-21F-13s supplied from the USSR, in order to make up for blueprints and documentation that had not yet been shipped over from the USSR at the time of the political rift. All subsequent development of the J-7 was indigenous to China and different from Soviet-made versions.[1] Czechoslovakia Between 1962 and 1972 the MiG-21F-13 version was manufactured under license by Aero Vodochody, in Czechoslovakia. Aero Vodochody (then Stedoesk strojrny, n.p.), built a total of 194 planes during this period, under the cover designation article Z-159. It followed the MiG15 and MiG-19S built in Vodochody factory from the fifties to sixties. The sole locally-built version of the MiG-21F-13 differed externally from the Soviet-built examples by the solid dural sheet fairing behind the cockpit canopy, as opposed to the transparent one on the original Soviet MiGs. These machines were built for the Czechoslovak Air Force and also for export. The R13300 engines were imported from the Soviet Union. India The production of the MiG-21s in India under license by Hindustan Aeronautics in Nasik started with the MiG-21FL in 1966 in four phases starting with the assembly of CKD kits, moving on to subassemblies, parts, and finally advancing to production from scratch. 205 MiG-21FLs, designated Type 77 and nicknamed Trishul ("Trident), were built in India between 1966 and 1972; the first one built entirely from Indian-made components was delivered to the IAF on 19 October 1970, with the first Indian-made R11F2S-300 powerplant leaving the assembly line on 2 January 1969. In 1971 HAL production was switched to an improved version of the MiG-21M (izdeliye 96), which was designated Type 88 by HAL; as this variant was produced exclusively in India, no izdeliye designation is applicable. The first Type 88 MiG-21M was delivered to the IAF on 14 February 1973 and the last on 12 November 1981, with a total of 158 built. The last variant to be produced by HAL was the MiG-21bis. 75 were built in 1977 from CKD kits, and a further 220 were built from scratch by 1984[1]. Despite a series of crashes during the 1990s, the Indian Air Force has decided to upgrade about 125 of the MiG-21bis in its inventory to the MiG21 "Bison" standard. These will serve the Indian Air Force until 2025.

[edit] Operators
Main article: MiG-21 Operators

Current operators of the MiG-21 in bright red and former operators in dark red

Two seater MiG-21UM, Polish Air Force, markings of 3rd Tactical Sqn.

Serbian Air Force MiG-21 bis N.17161 from 101. Fighter Squadron from 204th Air Base.

A Bulgarian MiG-21 taxis at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria during a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Bulgarian air forces.

Croatian Air Force MiG-21 UMD

[edit] Current operators

This list does not include operators of Chinese copies / licensed manufactured versions known as the Chengdu J-7. Azerbaijan [1] Bulgaria [1] Cambodia [1] Croatia [1] Cuba [1] Egypt [1] Ethiopia [1] Georgia [1] Guinea [1] India [1] Libya [1] Mali [1] Namibia [1] North Korea [1] Romania [1] Serbia [1] Sudan [1] Syria [1] Uganda [1] Vietnam [1] Yemen [1] Zambia [1]

[edit] Former operators

Afghanistan [1] Algeria [1] Angola [1] Bangladesh [1] Belarus Bosnia As of 2006 50 operational aircraft have been withdrawn due to insufficient funds Burkina Faso [1] China [1] Congo, Republic of the [1] Czechoslovakia [1] (Passed on to Czech Republic and Slovak Republic.) Czech Republic [1] East Germany [1] (Passed on to Germany on reunification.) Eritrea [1] Finland [1] Germany [1] Guinea-Bissau [1]

Hungary [1] Indonesia [1] Iraq [1] Israel [1] Kyrgyzstan [1] Laos [1] Madagascar [1] Mongolia [1] Mozambique [1] Nigeria [1] Poland [1] Russia [1] Slovakia [1] Somalia [1] Tanzania [1] USSR [1] (Passed on to successor states.) USA [1] Ukraine [1] North Yemen [1] South Yemen [1] Yugoslavia [1] (Passed on to FR Yugoslavia) Yugoslavia [1] (Passed on to Serbia)

[edit] Civil operators

Some aircraft are now owned and flown by private collectors as warbirds. There are even importers in the U.S. that purchase MiG-21s, MiG-15s and MiG-17s from Russia and other states and sell them to civilians for around $45,000.

[edit] Specifications (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21F-13)

Data from [1]

General characteristics

Crew: 1 Length: 15.76 (with pitot) m (51 ft 8.47 in) Wingspan: 7.154 m (23 ft 5.66 in) Height: 4.1 m (13 ft 5.41 in) Wing area: 23.0 m (247.3 ft) Empty weight: 4,871 kg (10,738 lb) Gross weight: 7,100 kg (15,650 lb) Powerplant: 1 Tumanskiy R11F-300, 37.27 kN (8,380 lbf) thrust dry, 56.27 kN (12,650 lbf) with afterburner each

Performance

Maximum speed: 2,230 km/h (1,385 mph) Maximum speed: Mach 2.05 Range: 1,580 km (981 miles) Service ceiling: 19,000 m (62,335 ft)

Armament

1x internal 30 mm NR-30 cannon, plus 2x K-13 or K-13A (R-3S) AAM or 2x 500 kg (1,102 lbs) of bombs

[edit] Specifications (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21PFM)

Data from [1]

General characteristics

Crew: 1 Length: 14.5 (with pitot) m (47 ft 6.86 in) Wingspan: 7.154 m (23 ft 5.66 in) Height: 4.125 m (13 ft 6.41 in) Wing area: 23.0 m (247.3 ft) Gross weight: 7,800 kg (17,195 lb) Powerplant: 1 Tumanskiy R11F2S-300, 38.74 kN (8,710 lbf) thrust dry, 60.54 kN (13,610 lbf) with afterburner each

Performance

Maximum speed: 2,230 km/h (1,385 mph) Maximum speed: Mach 2.05 Range: 1,670 km (1,037 miles) Service ceiling: 19,000 m (62,335 ft)

Armament

1x GP-9 cannon pod with 23 mm GSh-23 cannon, plus 2x K-13A (R-3S) AAM or 2x 500 kg (1,102 lbs) of bombs

[edit] Specifications (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21bis)

Data from [1]

General characteristics

Crew: 1 Length: 15.0 (with pitot) m (49 ft 2.5 in) Wingspan: 7.154 m (23 ft 5.66 in) Height: 4.125 m (13 ft 6.41 in) Wing area: 23.0 m (247.3 ft) Empty weight: 5,339 kg (11,770 lb) Gross weight: 8,725 kg (19,235 lb) Powerplant: 1 Tumanskiy R25-300, 40.21 kN (9,040 lbf) thrust dry, 69.62 kN (15,650 lbf) with afterburner each

Performance

Maximum speed: 2,350 km/h (1,468 mph) Maximum speed: Mach 2.2 Range: (internal fuel) 1,210 km (751 miles) Service ceiling: 17,800 m (58,400 ft)

Armament

1x internal 23 mm GSh-23 cannon, plus 2x K-13A (R-3R) or 4x Molniya R-60 AAM or 2x 500 kg (1,102 lbs) of bombs

[edit] Specifications (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21-93)

Data from [1]

General characteristics

Crew: 1 Length: 14.5 (with pitot) m (47 ft 6.86 in) Wingspan: 7.154 m (23 ft 5.66 in) Height: 4.125 m (13 ft 6.41 in)

Wing area: 23.0 m (247.3 ft) Gross weight: 8,825 kg (19,425 lb) Powerplant: 1 Tumanskiy R25-300, 40.21 kN (9,040 lbf) thrust dry, 69.62 kN (15,650 lbf) with afterburner each

Performance

Maximum speed: 2,350 km/h (1,468 mph) Maximum speed: Mach 2.2 Range: (internal fuel) 1,210 km (751 miles) Service ceiling: 17,800 m (58,400 ft)

Armament

1x internal 23 mm GSh-23 cannon, plus 2x R-27R1 or R-27T or 4x Vympel R-77 or 4x R-60M or R-73E AAM or 2x 500 kg (1,102 lbs) of bombs

[edit] See also