The Mig-21

The MiG-21 is the most built jet ever. Fast, small, agile dependable , and above all simple, it could be turned out in prodigious numbers, and was. It flooded the skies above Europe, Asia, Africa, and even Central America with literally thousands of modern, deadly fighters. It has flown in more wars than any other airplane in the world. An estimated 10,000 (some sources state as much as 13,000 copies) of them have been produced by the Soviet Union, it's allies and (without license) China. The MiG-21 is outnumbered only by WWII airplanes and in modern days only by one, the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. First introduced in service with the Soviet Air Force in 1959, it continued front line service for more than 30 years. A record equal, and parallel, to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. The operational record, now entered its fourth decade, may well extend into the next century with i.e. the Chinese and Eastern Europe Air Forces.

The MiG-21 is not known for its radar or hauling capabilities, nor for its target acquisition equipment or range, but its known that in many ways it was a pilot's plane. It doesn't have any computers or fancy navigation equipment. It very much depends on the pilot and his (hopefully) good training and experience. That, we all know now, was the MiG-21's Achilles verse in many of the wars it had to fight, and is responsible for the not so impressive combat records that it actually deserves.
A shock to Phantom pilots when it arrived in the skies over Vietnam, was overcome by superior USAF training and a change in rules of engagements.

The MiG-21 proved itself over and over as a formidable dogfighter against the heavier American fighters which was another reason for the success of the MiG-21. Its reliable engine, easy maintenance, rough field capabilities, and save flight characteristic made it the most successful jet aircraft of all times.

In the former USSR this aircraft was manufactured between the late 50s and the middle 70s. The MiG-21 is the world champion in the number of the air vehicles produced (11,000) and in airframe service life (up to 30 years). That is why about 3,000 MiG-21 are now operated by the air forces of more than 40 countries. The MiG-21 is close to setting another world record in the amount of the upgraded aircraft.

The aircraft has mid-mounted delta wings with small square tips. There is one turbojet inside the body. There is a small round air intake in the nose. There is a single exhaust. The fuselage is a long, tubular body with a blunt nose and bubble canopy. There is one belly fin under the rear section. There is a large dorsal spine flush with the canopy. The tail fin swept-back and tapered with a square tip. The flats are mid-mounted on the body, swept-back, and tapered with square tips. The J-7FS modification adds a radar to a reconfigured air intake, while the "Super 7" upgrade would have completely reworked the front end of the aircraft, adding a much larger radar and ventral air inlets, along with various other less pronounced improvements.

MiG-21 aircraft acquired by the United States under the Foreign Materiel Acquisition/Exploitation program are designated as the YF-110.

The MiG-21F Fishbed J is a short-range day fighter-interceptor and the first major production version of the popular MiG-21 series. It is but one of many versions of this aircraft that have served in the air arms of many nations around the world. The E-5 prototype of the MiG-21 was first flown in 1955 and made its first public appearance during the Soviet Aviation Day display at Moscow's Tushino Airport in June 1956. During the Vietnam War, MiG-21s were often used against U.S. aircraft. Between April 26, 165, and January 8, 1973, USAF F-4s and B-52s downed 68 MiG-21s. More than 30 countries of the world-including nations friendly to the U.S. have flown the MiG-21. At least 15 versions of the MiG-21 have been produced, some outside the Soviet Union. Estimates place the number built at more than 8,000, a production total exceeding that of any other modern jet aircraft.

MiG-21MF is a single-engined, single-seat supersonic jet fighter designed primarily for destruction of air targets by guided and non-guided weaponry and for air reconnaissance. To a certain extent, the aircraft can also be used for destruction of ground targets. A two-seat modification MiG-21UM is designed for advanced and perfection training of pilots for MiG-21 types. MiG-21MF (NATO reporting name Fishbed-J) represents the first third generation interceptor/fighter designed to gain and maintain air superiority. It was developed as a universal type to fulfil fighter tasks and multipurpose fighter/bomber tasks with limited possibilities in adverse weather conditions. It is equipped with the R-13F-300 engine with additional combustion, and the RP-22S radar. This type of MiG-21MF was manufactured in 1974 to 1975. Capacity of the internal fuel tanks is 2650 litres. The aircraft can be equipped with an optional external fuel tank under the fuselage and two tanks under the wings with a total capacity of 1470 litres. As to missiles, it can carry R-13A, R-60 and R-MK short-range air-to-air missiles. Standard equipment is the 23mm GSh-23L gun. MiG-21MF can also be used for air support of ground forces. In such case it can carry UB-16-57 or UB-32A launcher tubes, 240 mm S-24 air-to-surface rockets, or bombs up to 500 kg.

The upgrade project offered by RAC "MiG" and named MiG-21-93 is based on the use of "Kopyo" ("Spear") airborne radar, new weapons and equipment. This project has been developed jointly by RAC "MiG", Phazotron-NIIR Company, GosNIIAS and "Sokol" Joint-Stock Company under the general patronage of "Rosvooruzhenye" company. Due to high technical characteristics and reasonable cost, the project has won the Indian tender for MiG-21 fleet retrofitting. The "Kopyo" radar is designed for controlling the full aircraft weapons spectrum: built-in gun, rockets, advanced missiles with homing heads and guided bombs. This makes it possible to enhance qualitatively the MiG-21 following characteristics:

The main objective of the MiG-21-93 project is to achieve the maximum combat effectiveness with minimum aircraft changes and extend the service life of this reliable aircraft (up to 40 years and 4,000 flying hours). Also, this rational approach to MiG-21 upgrade allows the Customer to save great funds to the utmost. Essentially the tests of the aircraft have been completed and the series production of the upgraded MiG-21bis aircraft for the Indian Air Force has been launched.

In 1976, the "third generation" MiG-21bis, considered the definitive variant of the classic tailed-delta fighter design, was a follow-on the "M" sub-type as a multi-role air superiority/ground attack version. The MiG-21bis assumed the prime air defence mantle and sufficient numbers were acquired in 1976-77 to equip three squadrons (Nos. 15, 21 and 23) formerly operating the Gnat light fighter. With some 580 MiG-21s delivered by HAL and nearly 250 MiG-21s (including the two-seat operational trainers) imported as "fly aways", the type remained an immense asset for the Indian Air Force for over a quarter century. The quantity vs. quality dilemma inevitably faced by most of the world's air forces as a consequence of spiraling costs was mitigated for the IAF by the large scale availability of the MiG-21, which type will surely go down as one of aviation history's all-time classics.

In early 1980s, the Indian Air Force carried out an evaluation of perceived threats and the likely battle scenario of the 1990s which highlighted the inadequacies of MiG Bis, the main stream aircraft of the Air Force. Consequently, the Ministry sanctioned in August 1983 the development of LCA class of aircraft to fill the gap in force level of the Air Force from 1995. The LCA was expected to enter into service in 1995 to replace MiG Bis that were scheduled to be phased out on the expiry of their life of 20 years/2400 hours. The LCA program, however, suffered considerable slippages and the aircraft was not expected to be available for induction before the year 2005. In view of this, extension of total technical life of MiG Bis and its upgradation to enhance its operational capability to desired levels was considered necessary. The Ministry decided to upgrade the existing MiG Bis aircraft rather than outright purchase of a new aircraft keeping in view the high cost of modern fighters and the constraints on the defense budget.

In 1989, Russia indicated that it could upgrade the MiG Bis aircraft with some of the avionics and weapons of MiG-29 aircraft. The preliminary proposal of Russia was received in November 1990 and detailed proposal in August 1991. A joint techno-economic study was carried out in November 1992 and the proposal was found to be comprehensive and cost effective. An intention to nominate Russia as prime contractor was issued in March 1994.

In December 1995, a proposal was submitted to CCPA (Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs) for approval of the upgradation of 125 MiG Bis aircraft with an option to upgrade 50 more aircraft at a total cost of US$ 626 million, equivalent to Rs. 2003 ( 1 US $ = Rs.31.99) crore including weapons, spares, maintenance support and training. Apart from components from Russia, the upgrade package consisted of certain Western and indigenous avionic systems. CCPA approved the proposal in January 1996. The CCPA paper envisaged completion of design and development of two MiG Bis aircraft in Russia by 31 January 1998 and series modification of the remaining 123 aircraft indigenously by HAL by September 2001. Upgradation of the 50 aircraft under option was to be undertaken from 30 September 2001 onwards. MiG Bis upgradation program as approved by CCPA envisaged extension of TTL (Total Technical Life) of the MiG Bis fleet from 20 to 40 years for justifying the cost of upgradation.

The Ministry concluded six contracts in March 1996. Of these, three contracts, viz design and development of aircraft, series upgradation and armament were concluded with a Russian manufacturer and three contracts for avionic systems like INS (Inertial navigation System), CMDS ( Counter measures Dispensing System) and VRS ( Video Recording System) were concluded with Western vendors. Subsequently, the Ministry also concluded contracts with HAL, NAL (National Aerospace Laboratories) and BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited) in 1997 for development of indigenous avionic systems and life extension study.

In March 1996, the upgrade program offered by “MiG” Corporation and SOKOL aviation plant of Nizhniy Novgorod was launched to retrofit 125 MiG-21bis fighters produced under license by the HAL Corporation. This upgrade program allows to improve the fighter performance and equip it with the “Kopyo” multimode radar developed by the “Phasotron” Russian company. This airborne radar makes possible to feasibly enhance the detection range and capability to kill air and ground targets. The upgraded fighter is equipped with advanced avionics of Russian, Indian, French and Israeli design and armed with contemporary “air-to-air” and “air-to-surface” guided weapons. The MiG-21bis upgraded fighter (designated Mig-21UPG) has performance and combat effectiveness on a par with contemporary fighters. In October 2000, for the first time MiG-21UPG made launchings of RVV-AE missiles simultaneously at two air targets which proved the estimated performance and the flight tests carried in Russia were completed after a lapse of one month. At the end of December 2000, the first two upgraded MiG-21UPG fighters complete with documents and airborne equipment were delivered to the Indian side. Thus, the R&D stage was successfully completed and the Indian side will start the upgrading of the MiG-21bis fighters in from the year 2001.

The development of the RWR (Radar Warning Receiver) system was entrusted to ASIEO (Advanced Systems Integration and Evaluation Organization) at a cost of Rs.10 crore with an objective to develop a compact Advanced Radar Warning Receiver system for fighter aircraft. Two systems were required to be supplied directly to the foreign manufacturer by June 1997 and the remaining 123 systems were to be supplied by BEL to HAL for upgrading the MiG Bis indigenously. A supply order on BEL for the supply of 123 systems including spares was placed in February 1997 at a cost of Rs.133.64 crore including FE of Rs.84.39 crore. As per supply order, the first six systems were to be supplied by March 1998 and the remaining by March 2001 in batches.

MIG aircraft of Indian Air Force have high accident rates. During the five year period from 1996 through 2000 81 MIG series aircraft had been lost in accidents. Human error (aircrew), bird hit and technical defects have been identified as main causes of these accidents by various Courts of Enquiry. Remedial measures based on the recommendations are instituted after each Court of Enquiry. In addition, measures to enhance the quality of training to improve skill levels, ability to exercise sound judgment and improve situational awareness are constantly being reviewed and implemented. Renewed thrust on acquiring simulators and training aircraft is a step towards improving the quality of the man behind machine. Besides, a total of 125 MIG-21 BIS variant aircraft have been planned for up-gradation. Out of these, two have been upgraded in Russia during the design and development phase, which has been completed recently. It has been planned that the remaining aircraft will be upgraded at HAL' Nasik facility.

The first four MIG-21-93 fighters of the Indian Air Force, modernized with the assistance of Russian specialists, began test flights at the beginning of June 2001. India's Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. is working to modernize Russian-made aircraft of this type is underway. The modernisation of the second-generation MIGs will make it possible to turn them into multifunctional, multipurpose up-to-date fighters of the fourth generation with wide operational possibilities and high safety of flights. They are being fitted out with repeatedly improved firepower, delivery means and avionics, and their service life is extended till 2010-2015.

According to the existing plans, 125 MIGs which form the basis of India's Air Force will be modernized step by step by the year of 2004. Besides the improved engines of Russian make, French and Israeli avionics is being installed on the fighters. The installation of the Russian multifunctional radar system Kopyo which simultaneously fixes eight targets and picks two most dangerous ones for an attack is the main element of the modernization. The contract to the tune of 340 million dollars was signed by the two governments back in 1996. Under it, the specialists of the Russian enterprise MAPO-MIG have fully modernized two fighters at the Sokol plant in Nizhni Novgorod.

MiG-21
Role	Fighter
Manufacturer	Mikoyan-Gurevich OKB
First flight	14 June 1956
Introduced	1959
Primary users	Soviet Air Force Indian Air Force Romanian Air Force Vietnam People's Air Force
Number built	10,352^[1] (10,158 produced in the USSR, and 194 in Czechoslovakia)
Variants	Chengdu J-7

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (Russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-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 famous Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek (English: pencil) by Polish pilots due to the shape of its fuselage.^[2] Early versions are considered second-generation 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 has the distinction of holding a number of aviation records, including 1) most produced supersonic jet aircraft in aviation history, 2) most produced combat aircraft since the Korean War, and 3) longest production run of a combat aircraft. It has been estimated that more than 10,000 MiG-21s were built.^[3]

Development

The MiG 21 jet fighter was a continuation of Soviet jet fighters, starting with the subsonic MiG-15, 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.

The E-5 prototype of the MiG-21 was first flown in 1955 and made its first public appearance during the Soviet Aviation Day display at Moscow's Tushino Airport in June 1956. The first delta-wing prototype, named Ye-4 (or E-4) flew on 14 June 1956, and the production MiG-21 entered service in early 1959. Employing a delta configuration, 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 French Dassault Mirage III.

Click on Picture to enlarge

MiG-21bis of 1st Naval Fighter Sqn., Polish Air Force.

MiG-21 at Aleksotas Airport (S. Dariaus / S. Gireno), Kaunas (EYKS)

MiG-21 cockpit

MiG-21MF nose landing gear

MiG-21F in Vietnam People's Air Force markings exhibited at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

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

FR Yugoslav Air Force MiG-

Romanian Air Force MiG-21 UM LanceR-B

Mikoyan Ye-150, a MiG-21 derivative

MiG-21PFM, Polish Air Force, markings of 10th Fighter Regt

MiG-21, Deutsches Museum, Munich

MiG-21 SPS

MiG-21MF, Polish Air Force, markings of 3rd Tactical Sqn.

MiG-21SMT of the former Soviet Air Force.

MiG-21 bis fighter aircraft of YuAF.

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

MiG-21MF armed with R-3 (AA-2) air-to-air missile and UB-16 launcher for S-5 rockets.

When the MiG-21 was first introduced, it exhibited several flaws. Its early version air-to-air missiles, the Vympel K-13 (NATO reporting name AA-2 'Atoll'), were not successful in combat, and its gyro gunsight was easily thrown off in high-speed maneuvers, making the initial version of the MiG-21 an ineffective aircraft. These problems were remedied, and during the Middle Eastern and Vietnam wars, the MiG-21 proved to be an effective aircraft. Subsequent MiG-21 models added design modifications to incorporate lessons learned in these wars.

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 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, at 50% fuel and with two Atolls, a climb rate of 58,000 ft (17,670 m) per minute was possible, 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.

The MiG-21 was exported widely and continues to be used well past the time where it might have been considered obsolete. The aircraft's simple controls, engine, weapons, and avionics were typical of Soviet-era military designs. 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.

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'.

Production

A total of 10,158 (some sources say 10,645) were built in the USSR. They were produced in three factories, in the GAZ 30 in Moscow (also known as Znamiya Truda), in GAZ 21 in Gorky^[4] and in GAZ 31 in Tbilisi. The type of "MiG" manufactured differed. Gorky built single-seaters for the Soviet forces. Moscow built single-seaters for export and Tbilisi manufactured the twin-seaters 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 (probably 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:

5,278(or 5,765) in Gorky
3,203 in Moscow
1,677 in Tbilisi ^[5]

Technical Description

The MiG-21 is a single-engine jet fighter aircraft capable of supersonic flight. [2] [3]

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 m², and flaps with an area of 1.87 m². In front of the ailerons there are small wing fences.

Fuselage

A semi-monocoque with an elliptical profile with a maximum width of 1.24m. 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. 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 m², and a deflection angle of 35°. The back one has an area of 0.46 m² 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.

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 m² (on earlier version 3.8 m²) and a rudder. The stabilator has sweep angle of 57°, an area of 3.94 m² and a span of 2.6m.

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). 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.

Engines

The MiG-21 engine was produced in several variants.^[6]

Engine	Thrust (kN)^[7]	Variant
R-11F-300	38.2/53.4	F, F-13, U
R-11F2-300	38.7/60.0	F-13 (refitted), PF, FL
R-11F2S-300	38.2/60.6	PF, PFS, PFM, R, S, M, US, UM
R-11F2SK-300	38.2/60.6	MF
R-13-300	39.9/63.7	M (refitted), MF, RF, SM, SMT, UM (refitted)
R-25-300	40.2/69.9 97,1kN with "extreme afterburner"	bis

Operational History

Vietnam

The MiG-21 initially achieved renown in the Vietnam War, during which it saw frequent action. It was one of the most advanced aircraft at the time; however, many 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. 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.

By the bombing halt in Operation Rolling Thunder in 1968, poor air-to-air combat loss-exchange ratios against smaller, more agile enemy MiGs during the early part of the Vietnam War eventually led the USAF to establish Dissimilar Air Combat Training programs such as Navy "Top Gun", these two programs employed subsonic A-4 Skyhawk and F-5 Tiger II aircraft to mimic the performance of more maneuverable opponents like the MiG-17 and MiG-21.

A VPAF MiG-21MF flown by Phạm Tuân over Hanoi, North Vietnam on December 26, 1972 was apparently responsible for the only claimed air combat kill of a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress in history. The B-52 had been circling above Hanoi during Operation Linebacker II. Over the course of the Vietnam War, between April 26, 1965 and January 8, 1973, each side claimed favorable kill ratios.

Middle East

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 against Israel. The MiG-21 first faced Israeli Mirage IIICs on April 7th, 1967 when six Syrian MiG-21s were shot down by the Israeli Mirages. The MiG-21 would face F-4 Phantom IIs and A-4 Skyhawks later in the 1970s, but was later outclassed by the more modern F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon, which were acquired by Israel beginning in the 1980s. The MiG-21 was also used in the early stages of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December, 1979.

Egypt would eventually be shipped some American Sidewinder missiles, and these were fitted to their MiG-21s and successfully used in combat against Libyan MiG-23s during the brief 1977 war.

During the Yom Kippur War, in the "Air Battle of el-Mansoura" Egypt, Israel launched a large scale raid with over 100 aircraft – F-4 Phantoms and A-4 Skyhawks – attempting to hit the huge air base at el-Mansourah. 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. At 10pm local time Cairo Radio broadcast “Communiqué 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 15 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 IAF had shot down 15 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: 17 Israeli aircraft confirmed 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. ^[8]

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 1971. That war witnessed the first supersonic air combat in the subcontinent when an Indian MiG-21 shot down a PAF F-104 Starfighter.^[9] It was also used as late as 1999 in the Kargil War. One MiG-21 was also shot down by Pakistani surface-to-air missiles during the short war.^[10] 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 shot down a Breguet Atlantique reconnaissance aircraft of the Pakistani Navy, which was flying well into Indian air space.^[11]

Specifications (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21bis)

General characteristics

Crew: One
Length: 15.76 m including probe (51 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 7.15 m (23 ft 5 in)
Height: 4.12 m (13 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 23 m² (247.5 ft²)
Empty weight: 5,350 kg (11,800 lb)
Loaded weight: 8,726 kg (19,200 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 9,660 kg (21,300 lb)
Powerplant: 1× Tumansky R-25-300 afterburning turbojet, 55 kN (12,370 lb)^[20] dry, 70 kN (97 kN with maximum afterburner) (15,700 lbf)

Performance

Maximum speed: 2230 km/h (1385 mph) (Mach 2.1)
Range: 1160 km ()
Ferry range: 1800 km with three external fuel tanks ()
Service ceiling 19,000 m (62,300 ft)
Rate of climb: 225 m/s (23,600 ft/min but with 50 per cent fuel and two AA-2 "Atoll" missiles, the MiG-21 can reach 58,000 feet [17,600 meters] in one minute which results in 293 m/s average at different altitudes, under favorable weather circumstances)
Wing loading: 379 kg/m² (77.8 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 1.02 at max. takeoff weight, 1.13 at loaded weight with max. afterburner

Armament

One centerline twin-barrelled GSh-23 23 mm cannon, 200 rounds (PFM, MF, SMT, and bis variants) or one single-barrelled NR-30 cannon, 60 rounds (F-13 variant).
Up to 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons on two or four underwing hardpoints, depending on the variant. Early machines carried two Vympel K-13 (AA-2 'Atoll') air-to-air missiles under the wing pylons. Late models carried two K-13 and two fuel tanks under the wing pylons or combinations of four K-13 infrared- and radar-guided missiles. The Molniya R-60 (NATO reporting name AA-8 'Aphid') was also used on multiple pylons and six of them could be carried. Most aircraft carried a single 450 L (119 US gal) fuel tank on the centerline pylon.

References

MIG-21 Fishbed from Russian Military Analysis

http://lotniczapolska.pl/MiG-21-%E2%80%93-naddzwiekowy-olowek-,231

MiG-21 FISHBED, GlobalSecurity.org

Now called Nizhny Novgorod.

[1]

Engines of the MiG-21

without/with afterburner

AirEnthusiast, Volume 100 (July/August 2002)

The 1971 Liberation War: Supersonic Air Combat (Bharat-Rakshak.com)

Indian pilot 'killed in cold blood'

Atlantique Incident has complete details with sources.

Avijacija bez granica web site dedicated to JNA and successor air forces, containing detailed info on each documented air loss (Serbian)

http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/printer_381.shtml

Cuban Defector Recalls Life as a Top Officer - New York Times

Airforce Technology.com article

Romania replaces the MiG-21, Antena 3, 16th May 2007 (Romanian)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbian_Air_Force#Current_status

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/syria/airforce-equipment.htm

"Historical Listings", World Air Forces.

Globalsecurity.org: War in Afghanistan

Bibliography

Gordon, Yefim. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15: The Soviet Union's Long-Lived Korean War Fighter. Hinckley: Midland, 2001. ISBN 1-85780-105-9.

Gordon, Yefim. Mikoyan MiG-21 (Famous Russian aircraft). Hinckley: Midland, 2007. ISBN 1857802578.

Toperczer, István. MiG-21 Units of the Vietnam War (Osprey combat aircraft, 29). Oxford: Osprey Pub, 2001. ISBN 1841762636.

Sources and Resources

Vietnam

Middle East

India

References

Bibliography

Wikipedia