1956 Soviet fighter aircraft family
The
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
(
Russian
:
Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-21
;
NATO reporting name
:
Fishbed
) is a
supersonic
jet
fighter
and
interceptor aircraft
, designed by the
Mikoyan-Gurevich
Design Bureau
in the
Soviet Union
. Its nicknames include: "
Balalaika
", because its
planform
resembles the
stringed musical instrument
of the same name; "
Ołowek
",
Polish
for "pencil", due to the shape of its
fuselage
,
[2]
and "
En B?c
", meaning "silver
swallow
", in
Vietnamese
.
Approximately 60 countries across four continents have flown the MiG-21, and it still serves many nations seven decades after its maiden flight. It set aviation records, becoming
the most-produced supersonic jet aircraft in aviation history
, the most-produced combat aircraft since the
Korean War
and, previously, the longest production run of any combat aircraft.
Development
[
edit
]
Origins
[
edit
]
The MiG-21 jet fighter was a continuation of Soviet jet fighters, starting with the subsonic
MiG-15
and
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 wings. The first prototype with the
delta wings
found on production variants was the Ye-4. It made its maiden flight on 16 June 1955 and its first public appearance during the
Soviet Aviation Day display
at Moscow's
Tushino airfield
in July 1956.
In the West, due to the lack of available information, early details of the MiG-21 often were confused with those of similar Soviet fighters of the era. In one instance,
Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1960?1961
listed the "Fishbed" as a
Sukhoi design
and used an illustration of the
Su-9 'Fishpot'
.
Design
[
edit
]
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
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
and
Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter
and the French
Dassault Mirage III
.
[1]
Its basic layout was used for numerous other Soviet designs; delta-winged aircraft included the
Su-9
interceptor and fast
E-150
prototype from the MiG bureau, while the successful mass-produced frontline fighter
Su-7
and Mikoyan's
I-75
experimental interceptor combined a similar fuselage shape with swept-back wings. However, the characteristic layout with the
shock cone
and front air intake did not see widespread use outside the USSR and ultimately proved to have limited development potential, mainly due to the small available space for the radar.
Like many aircraft designed as interceptors, the MiG-21 had a short range. This was exacerbated by the poor placement of the internal fuel tanks ahead of the centre of gravity. As the internal fuel was consumed, the center of gravity would shift rearward beyond acceptable parameters. This had the effect of making the plane
statically unstable
to the point of being difficult to control, resulting in an endurance of only 45 minutes in clean condition. This can be somewhat countered by carrying fuel in external tanks closer to the center of gravity. The Chinese variants somewhat improved the internal fuel tank layout (as did the second generation of Soviet variants), and also carried significantly larger external fuel tanks to counter this issue.
[3]
Additionally, when more than half the fuel was used up, violent maneuvers prevented fuel from flowing into the engine
[
citation needed
]
, thereby causing it to shut down in flight. This increased the risk of tank implosions (MiG-21 had tanks pressurized with air from the engine's compressor), a problem inherited from the
MiG-15
,
MiG-17
and
MiG-19
.
[4]
The short endurance and low fuel capacity of the MiG-21F, PF, PFM, S/SM and M/MF variants?though each had a somewhat greater fuel capacity than its predecessor?led to the development of the MT and SMT variants. These had an increased range 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
. MiG-21's
Tumansky R-25
jet engine's specialty was the addition of a second fuel pump in the afterburning stage. Activating the ЧР (rus. "чрезвычайный режим" - emergency mode)(Emergency Power Rating, EPR in India) booster feature allows the engine to develop 97.4 kilonewtons (21,896 lbf) of thrust under 2,000 meters (6,600 ft) of altitude. The rpm of the engine would increase by 2.5% and the compression ratio would thus increase, with a rise in exhaust temperature. The limit of operation is 2 minutes for both practice and actual wartime use, as further use causes the engine to overheat. The fuel consumption increased by 50% over the rate in full afterburner. Use of this temporary power gave the MiG-21bis slightly better than 1:1 thrust-to-weight ratio and a climbing rate of 254 meters/second, equalling the F-16's nominal capabilities in a close-quarters dogfight.
The use of WEP thrust was limited to 2 minutes to reduce stress on the engines' 750 (250+250+250) flight hours lifetime since every second of super-afterburner counted as several minutes of regular power run due to extreme thermal stress. With WEP on, the MiG-21bis's R-25 engine produced a huge 10-12 meter long blowtorch exhaust - with six or seven brightly glowing rhomboid "shock diamonds" visible inside. The Russians gave the emergency-power setting its "diamond regime" name, never used in India.
[5]
Given a skilled pilot and capable missiles, it could give a good account of itself against contemporary fighters. Its G-limits were increased from +7Gs in initial variants to +8.5Gs in the latest variants.
[6]
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 remains in use. 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]
Production
[
edit
]
A total of 10,645 aircraft were built in the USSR. They were produced in three factories: AZ 30
[N 1]
(3,203 aircraft) in Moscow (also known as
MMZ Znamya Truda
), GAZ 21 (5,765 aircraft) in
Gorky
,
[N 2]
and TAZ 31 (1,678 aircraft) in
Tbilisi
. Generally, Gorky built single-seaters for the Soviet forces. Moscow constructed single-seaters for export, and Tbilisi manufactured two-seaters both for export and the USSR, though there were 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 constructed in Moscow and then Gorky, and the MiG-21U was built in Moscow as well as in Tbilisi.
[1]
Gorky
|
83 MiG-21F; 513 MiG-21F-13; 525 MiG-21PF; 233 MiG-21PFL; 944 MiG-21PFS/PFM; 448 MiG-21R; 145 MiG-21S/SN; 349 MiG-21SM; 281 MiG-21SMT; 2013 MiG-21bis; 231 MiG-21MF
|
Moscow
|
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)
|
Tbilisi
|
17 MiG-21 and MiG-21F; 181 MiG-21U
izdeliye
66?400 and 66?600 (1962?1966); 347 MiG-21US (1966?1970); 1133 MiG-21UM (1971 to end)
|
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)
Cost
[
edit
]
Due to the mass production, the aircraft was very cheap: the MiG-21MF, for example, was cheaper than the
BMP-1
[7]
The
F-4 Phantom
's cost was several times higher than MiG-21.
[
citation needed
]
Design
[
edit
]
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
2
, and
flaps
with an area of 1.87 m
2
. In front of the ailerons there are small
wing fences
.
The fuselage is
semi-monocoque
with an elliptical profile and a maximum width of 1.24 m (4 ft 1 in). The air flow to the engine is regulated by an
inlet cone
in the air intake. On early model MiG-21s, the cone has three positions. For speeds up to Mach 1.5, the cone is fully retracted to the maximum aft position. For speeds between Mach 1.5 and Mach 1.9 the cone moves to the middle position. For speeds higher than Mach 1.9 the cone moves to the maximum forward position. On the later model MiG-21PF, the intake cone moves to a position based on the actual speed. The cone position for a given speed is calculated by the UVD-2M system using air pressures from in front and behind the
compressor
of the engine. On both sides 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 attached to the bottom of the nose. After the MiG-21P variant, this tube is attached to the top of the air intake. Later versions shifted the pitot tube attachment point 15 degrees to the right, as seen from the cockpit, and had an emergency pitot head on the right side, just ahead of the canopy and below the pilot's eyeline.
The cabin is pressurized and air-conditioned. On variants prior to the MiG-21PFM, the cabin canopy is hinged at the front. When ejecting, the SK-1 ejection seat connects with the canopy to provide a windbreak from the high-speed airflow encountered during high-speed ejections. After ejection, the canopy opens to allow the pilot to parachute to the ground. However, ejecting at low altitudes can cause the canopy to take too long to separate, sometimes resulting in pilot death. The minimum height for ejection
in level flight
was 110 m. Starting with the MiG-21PFM, a new ejection seat proved to be very reliable and did not need the canopy to protect the pilot which had never been fully satisfactory. The canopy is hinged on the right side of the cockpit.
On the underside of the aircraft, there are three air brakes, two at the front and one at the rear. The front air brakes have an area of 0.76 m
2
, and a deflection angle of 35°. The rear air brake has an area of 0.46 m
2
and a deflection angle of 40°. The rear air brake is blocked if the airplane carries an external fuel tank. Behind the air brakes are the bays for the main
landing gear
. On the underside of the airplane, just behind the trailing edge of the wing are attachment points for two
JATO
rockets. The front section of the fuselage ends at
former
#28. The rear section of the fuselage starts at former #28a and is removable for engine maintenance.
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
2
(on earlier version 3.8 m
2
) and a
rudder
. The stabilator has a sweep angle of 57°, an area of 3.94 m
2
and a span of 2.6 m.
The MiG-21 uses a
tricycle
type undercarriage. On most variants, the main landing gear uses tires that are 800 mm in diameter and 200 mm in width. Only the MiG-21F variants use tires with the size 660×200 mm. The wheels of the main landing gear retract into the fuselage after rotating 87° and the shock absorbers retract into the wing. The nose gear retracts forward into the fuselage under the radar. The nose wheel can be lowered manually by simply unlocking its hatch from inside the cockpit. Thus, landing with undercarriage locked in the up position due to an internal failure was not a major issue, with a number of such successful landings on the nosewheel and ventral fuel tank or the airbrake.
Operational history
[
edit
]
India
[
edit
]
Overview
[
edit
]
India is the largest operator of MiG-21s. In 1961, the
Indian Air Force
(IAF) opted to purchase the MiG-21 over several other Western competitors. As part of the deal, the Soviet Union offered India full transfer of technology and rights for local assembly.
[8]
In 1964, the MiG-21 became the first supersonic fighter jet to enter service with the IAF. Due to limited induction numbers and lack of pilot training, the IAF MiG-21 played a limited role in the
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
.
[9]
However, the IAF gained valuable experience while operating the MiG-21 for defensive sorties during the war.
[9]
The positive feedback from IAF pilots during the 1965 war prompted India to place more orders for the fighter jet and also invest heavily in building the MiG-21's maintenance infrastructure and pilot training programs.
Since 1963, India has introduced more than 1,200 MiG fighters into its air force. As of 2019, 113 MiG-21s are known to be in operation in the IAF.
[10]
In 2023, the IAF announced that it would replace its MiG-21 Bisons with indigenously built Tejas fighter jet.
[11]
Safety record
[
edit
]
The plane has been plagued by safety problems. Since 1970 more than 170 Indian pilots
[12]
and 40 civilians have been killed in MiG-21 accidents, thus the unofficial nickname "flying coffin". Over half of the 840 aircraft built between 1966 and 1984 were lost to crashes.
[13]
At least 14 MiG-21s crashed between 2010 and 2013.
[14]
Poor maintenance and quality of replacement parts has been considered to be a factor in this phenomenon.
[14]
When in
afterburner
, the engine operates very close to its surge line and the ingestion of even a small bird can lead to an engine surge/seizure and flame out.
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18]
[19]
Future
[
edit
]
In view of the several incidents that have occurred after the
1999 Kargil War
, the modernized MiG-21 Bison seems to have at present the role of an interceptor and possibly a limited role of a fighter aircraft.
[20]
[21]
On 11 December 2013, India's second-generation supersonic jet fighter, MiG-21FL was decommissioned after being in service for 50 years.
[22]
The Indian Air Force plans to decommission all MiG-21s by 2025.
[17]
1971 Indo-Pakistan War
[
edit
]
The expansion of the IAF MiG-21 fleet marked a developing India-Soviet Union military partnership, which enabled India to field a formidable air force to counter Chinese and Pakistani threats.
[23]
The capabilities of the MiG-21 were put to the test during the
Bangladesh Liberation War
. During the war, the MiG-21s played a crucial role in giving the IAF air superiority over vital points and areas in the western theater of the conflict.
[24]
The 1971 war witnessed the first supersonic air combat in the
subcontinent
when an Indian MiG-21FL claimed a
PAF
F-104A Starfighter
with its GSh-23 twin-barrelled 23 mm cannon.
[25]
By the time the hostilities came to an end, the
IAF
MiG-21FLs had claimed four PAF
F-104As
, two
PAF
Shenyang F-6s
, one PAF
North American F-86 Sabre
and one PAF
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
. But only two kills were confirmed (both F-104As).
[
citation needed
]
Two more F-104s were critically damaged by MiG-21 fighters.
[26]
Pakistan decommissioned all F-104s shortly after the end of the war.
[27]
According to one Western military analyst, the MiG-21FLs had clearly "won" the much anticipated air combat between the MiG-21FL and the F-104A Starfighter.
[28]
[
page needed
]
Because of the performance of India's MiG-21s, several nations, including
Iraq
, approached India for MiG-21 pilot training. By the early 1970s, more than 120 Iraqi pilots were being trained by the Indian Air Force.
[29]
Kargil War
[
edit
]
One MiG-21 was shot down by a Pakistani soldier using a shoulder-fired
MANPADS
missile during the Kargil war.
[30]
Other clashes
[
edit
]
On 10 August 1999, two MiG-21FLs of the Indian Air Force
intercepted and shot down
a Pakistani
Breguet 1150 Atlantic
maritime patrol aircraft with an
R-60
missile after it allegedly entered Indian
airspace
for surveillance, killing all on board.
[31]
During the
2019 Jammu and Kashmir airstrikes
, the
Pakistan Air Force
shot down an Indian MiG-21 and captured
its pilot
. The MiG-21's debris had fallen in Pakistani-administered Kashmir. The pilot was later returned to India.
[32]
[33]
Indonesia
[
edit
]
The
Indonesian Air Force
purchased 22 MiG-21s. In 1962, 20 MiG-21F-13s and MiG-21Us were received during
Operation Trikora
in the Western New Guinea conflict. Indonesian MiG-21s never fought in any dogfights. Right after the U.S.-backed anti-communist forces took over the government, 13 Indonesian MiG-21s were delivered to the U.S. in exchange for T-33, UH-34D, and later, F-5 and OV-10 aircraft. All remaining MiG-21s were grounded and retired due to a lack of spare parts and the withdrawal of Soviet maintenance support.
The MiGs were added to the
4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron
("Red Eagles"), a
USAF
aggressor squadron at Tonopah Test Range.
[34]
Vietnam
[
edit
]
The MiG-21 was designed for very short
ground-controlled interception
(GCI) missions. It became renowned for this type of mission in the skies over
North Vietnam
.
[35]
The first MiG-21s arrived directly from the Soviet Union by ship in April 1966. After being unloaded and assembled
[36]
they were given to the
Vietnam People's Air Force
's (VPAF) oldest fighter unit, the 921st Fighter Regiment (921st FR), which had been created on 3 February 1964 as a MiG-17 unit. Because the VPAF's 923rd FR was newer and less experienced, they continued to operate MiG-17s, while the arrival of the MiG-19s (
J-6
versions) from China in 1969 led to North Vietnam's only MiG-19 unit, the 925th FR. On 3 February 1972, North Vietnam commissioned its fourth and last fighter regiment created during the war with South Vietnam, the MiG-21PFM (Type 94)-equipped 927th FR.
[37]
Former MiG-17 pilot
Nguyen Nhat Chieu
and his
wingman
Tran Ngoc Siu intercepted
USAF
F-105Ds
while on
CAP
duty over
Phuc Yen Airbase
(a.k.a. Noi Bai Airbase) on 7 July 1966, shooting down one piloted by Capt. Tomes with a salvo from Tran's
UB-16-57
/
S-5M
unguided rocket-equipped MiG-21, while flight leader Nguyen was unable to establish a lock on another, wildly-evading F-105 with his R-3S AAM; this was the first instance of a VPAF MiG-21 shooting down a piloted enemy aircraft in the Vietnam War.
[38]
Although 13 of North Vietnam's
flying aces
attained their status while flying the MiG-21 (cf. three in the MiG-17), many VPAF pilots preferred the MiG-17 because the high
wing loading
of the MiG-21 made it relatively less maneuverable and the lighter framed canopy of the MiG-17 gave better visibility.
[39]
However, this is not the impression British author Roger Boniface got when he interviewed Pham Ngoc Lan and ace
Nguy?n Nh?t Chieu
(who scored victories flying both the MiG-17 and MiG-21).
[40]
[41]
Pham Ngoc Lan told Boniface that "The MiG-21 was much faster, and it had two
Atoll
missiles which were very accurate and reliable when fired between 1,000 and 1,200 yards."
[42]
[43]
And Chieu asserted that "... for me personally, I preferred the MiG-21 because it was superior in all specifications in climb, speed and armament. The Atoll missile was very accurate and I scored four kills with the Atoll. ... In general combat conditions, I was always confident of a kill over an
F-4 Phantom
when flying a MiG-21."
[44]
[45]
Although the MiG-21 lacked the long-range radar, missiles, and heavy bomb load of its contemporary multi-mission U.S. fighters, its
RP-21 Sapfir
radar helped make it 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
Republic F-105 Thunderchief
strike groups were effective in downing US aircraft or forcing them to jettison their bomb loads.
Aerial combat victories 1966?1972
[
edit
]
The VPAF flew their interceptors with guidance from ground controllers, who positioned the MiGs in ambush battle stations to make "one pass, then haul ass" attacks.
[46]
The MiGs made fast and often accurate attacks against US formations from several directions (usually the MiG-17s performed head-on attacks and the MiG-21s attacked from the rear). After shooting down a few American planes and forcing some of the F-105s to drop their bombs prematurely, the MiGs did not wait for retaliation but disengaged rapidly. These "guerrilla warfare in the air" tactics
[46]
generally proved successful during the war. In December 1966, the MiG-21 pilots of the 921st FR downed 14 F-105 Thunderchiefs without any losses.
[47]
The USAF and the US Navy had high expectations of the F-4 Phantom, assuming that their massive firepower, best available on-board radar, highest speed and acceleration properties, coupled with new tactics, would provide an advantage over the MiGs. But in confrontations with the lighter MiG-21, F-4s began to suffer losses. From May to December 1966, the USAF lost 47 aircraft, destroying only 12 VPAF fighters in return. From April 1965 to November 1968, over 268 air battles occurred over the skies of North Vietnam. North Vietnam claimed 244 downed U.S. aircraft while admitting to the loss of 85 MiGs. Of 46 air battles between F-4s and MiG-21s, losses amounted to 27 F-4 Phantoms and 20 MiG-21s.
[48]
[
better source needed
]
After a million sorties and nearly 1,000 US aircraft losses,
Operation Rolling Thunder
came to an end on 1 November 1968.
[49]
A poor air-to-air combat
loss-exchange ratio
against the smaller, more agile enemy MiGs during the early part of the war eventually led the US Navy to create their
Navy Fighter Weapons School
, also known as "
TOPGUN
", at
Naval Air Station Miramar
,
California
, on 3 March 1969.
[50]
The USAF quickly followed with its own version, called the
Dissimilar Air Combat Training
(sometimes referred to as
Red Flag
) program at
Nellis Air Force Base
,
Nevada
. These two programs employed the subsonic
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
and supersonic
F-5 Tiger II
, as well as the Mach 2.4-capable USAF
Convair F-106 Delta Dart
, to mimick the MiG-21.
[51]
The culmination of the air struggle over Vietnam in early 1972 was 10 May, when VPAF aircraft completed 64 sorties, resulting in 15 air battles. The VPAF claimed 7 F-4s were shot down (the U.S. confirmed five F-4s were lost.
[52]
) The F-4s, in turn, managed to destroy two MiG-21s, three MiG-17s and one MiG-19. On 11 May, two MiG-21s, playing the "bait", brought four F-4s to 2 MiG-21s circling at low altitude. The MiGs quickly stormed the Phantoms and 3 missiles shot down two F-4s. On 13 May, a MiG-21 unit intercepted a group of F-4s and a second pair of MiGs made a missile attack before being hit by two F-4s. On 18 May, VPAF aircraft made 26 sorties, eight of which resulted in combat, downing four F-4s without any VPAF losses.
Over the course of the air war, between 3 April 1965
[53]
and 8 January 1973, each side would ultimately claim favorable kill ratios. In 1972, the number of air battles between American and Vietnamese planes stood at 201. The VPAF lost 54 MiGs (including 36 MiG-21s and one MiG-21US) and claimed 90 U.S. aircraft shot down, including 74 F-4 fighters and two RF-4C reconnaissance jets (MiG-21s shot down 67 enemy aircraft while MiG-17s shot down 11 and MiG-19s downed another 12
[
citation needed
]
).
One MiG-21 was shot down on 21 February 1972 by a USAF F-4 Phantom based at
Udorn RTAFB
,
Thailand
and piloted by Major Lodge with 1st Lt Roger Locher as his
weapon systems officer
(WSO). This was claimed as the first-ever USAF MiG kill at night, and the first in four years at that time.
Two MiG-21s were claimed shot down by USAF
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
tail gunners
; the only confirmed air-to-air kills ever made by the B-52. The first aerial victory was scored on 18 December 1972 by tail gunner Staff Sgt Samuel Turner, who was awarded the
Silver Star
.
[54]
[55]
The second took place on 24 December 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
.
[56]
These air-to-air kills were not confirmed by VPAF.
The biggest threat to North Vietnam during the war had always been the
Strategic Air Command
's B-52 bombers.
Hanoi
's MiG-17 and MiG-19 interceptors could not deal with the B-52s at their flying altitude. In the summer of 1972, the VPAF was directed to train 12 MiG-21 pilots for the specific mission of shooting the B-52 bombers, with two-thirds of the pilots specifically trained in night attacks.
[57]
On 26 December 1972, just two days after tail gunner Albert Moore downed a MiG-21, a VPAF MiG-21MF (number 5121)
[58]
from the 921st Fighter Regiment, flown by Major
Ph?m Tuan
over Hanoi, claimed the first aerial combat kill of a B-52.
[59]
The B-52 had been above Hanoi at over 30,000 feet (9,100 m) when Major Tuan launched two Atoll missiles from 2 kilometres away and claimed to have destroyed one of the bombers flying in the three-plane formation.
[59]
Other sources argue that the Atoll missiles failed to hit their mark, but as it was disengaging, a B-52 from a three-bomber cell in front of his target took a hit from a
surface-to-air missile
(SAM), exploding in mid-air: this may have caused Tuan to think his missiles destroyed the target he had been aiming for.
[60]
The Vietnamese claimed another kill on 28 December 1972 by a MiG-21 from the 921st FR, this time flown by Vu Xuan Thieu. Thieu is said to have perished in the explosion of a B-52 hit by his own missiles, having approached the target too closely.
[61]
In this case, the Vietnamese version appears to be erroneous: while one MiG-21 kill was claimed by Phantoms that night (this may have been Thieu's MiG), no B-52s were lost for any reason on the date of the claimed kill.
[62]
- Year-by-year kill claims involving MiG-21s
[1]
- 1966
: U.S. claimed six MiG-21s destroyed; North Vietnam claimed seven
F-4 Phantom IIs
and 11
F-105 Thunderchiefs
shot down by MiG-21s.
- 1967
: U.S. claimed 21 MiG-21s destroyed; North Vietnam claimed 17 F-105 Thunderchiefs, 11 F-4 Phantom IIs, two
RF-101 Voodoos
, one
A-4 Skyhawk
, one
Vought F-8 Crusader
, one
EB-66 Destroyer
and three unidentified types shot down by MiG-21s.
- 1968
: U.S. claimed nine MiG-21s destroyed; North Vietnam claimed 17 US aircraft shot down by MiG-21s.
- 1969
: U.S. destroyed three MiG-21s; one
Ryan Firebee
UAV destroyed by a MiG-21.
- 1970
: U.S. destroyed two MiG-21s; North Vietnam claimed one F-4 Phantom and one
CH-53 Sea Stallion
helicopter shot down by MiG-21s.
- 1972
: U.S. claimed 51 MiG-21s destroyed; North Vietnam claimed 53 US aircraft shot down by MiG-21s, including two
B-52 Stratofortress
bombers. Soviet General Fesenko, the main Soviet adviser to the North Vietnamese Air Force in 1972,
[61]
recorded 34 MiG-21s destroyed in 1972.
[61]
On 3 January 1968, a single MiG-21 pilot, Ha Van Chuc, entered battle with 36 American planes and claimed one F-105 Thunderchief.
[63]
During the war, the VPAF claimed 103 F-4 Phantoms were shot down by MiG-21s, and that they lost 60 MiG-21s in air combat (54 by Phantoms).
[64]
[1]
According to Russian data, the VPAF MiG-21s claimed 165 air victories, with the loss of 65 aircraft (including a few by accident or friendly fire) and 16 pilots. The losses of MiG-21 pilots were the lowest of all airplanes.
[65]
Arab?Israeli conflicts
[
edit
]
The MiG-21 was also used extensively in Middle Eastern conflicts of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s by the
Egyptian Air Force
,
Syrian Air Force
and
Iraqi Air Force
. The MiG-21 first encountered Israeli
Mirage III
CJs on 14 November 1964, but it was not until 14 July 1966 that the first MiG-21 was shot down. Another six Syrian MiG-21s were shot down by Israeli Mirages on 7 April 1967. MiG-21s also faced
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs
and
Douglas A-4 Skyhawks
, but were later outclassed by the more modern
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
and
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
, both acquired by Israel starting in the mid-1970s.
[
citation needed
]
During this period, Syrian pilots flying MiG-21s also independently discovered the
Cobra maneuver
, which became a standard defensive maneuver under the name "zero speed maneuver" (Syrian: ?????? ?????? ???).
[66]
During the opening attacks of the 1967
Six-Day War
, the
Israeli Air Force
(IAF) struck Arab air forces in four attack waves. In the first wave, Israeli pilots claimed to have destroyed eight Egyptian aircraft in air-to-air combat, of which seven were MiG-21s; Egypt claimed five kills scored by MiG-21PFs.
[67]
During the second wave, Israel claimed four more MiG-21s downed in air-to-air combat, with the third wave resulting claimed air victories over two Syrian and one Iraqi MiG-21. The fourth wave destroyed many more Syrian MiG-21s on the ground. Overall, Egypt lost around 100 out of about 110 MiG-21s they had, almost all on the ground; Syria lost 35 of its 60 MiG-21F-13s and MiG-21PFs in the air and on the ground.
[1]
Between the end of the Six-Day War and the start of the
War of Attrition
, IAF Mirage fighters scored six confirmed kills of Egyptian MiG-21s, and Egyptian MiG-21s scored two confirmed and three probable kills against Israeli aircraft. Between the end of the Six-Day War to the end of the War of Attrition, Israel claimed a total of 25 destroyed Syrian MiG-21s; the Syrians claimed three confirmed and four probable kills of Israel aircraft, although Israel denied these.
[1]
High losses to Israeli aircraft and continuous bombing during the War of Attrition caused Egypt to ask the Soviet Union for help. In March 1970, Soviet pilots and SAM crews arrived with their equipment. On 13 April, during the air battle over the Red Sea coast, the Soviet MiG-21MFs, according to some data, shot down two Israeli F-4 fighters
[68]
[69]
On 18 April, one Israeli scout RF-4E "Phantom" was damaged by a Soviet MiG-21MF.
[69]
On 16 May, an Israeli aircraft was shot down in air combat, probably by a Soviet MiG-21.
[70]
On 22 June 1970, a Soviet pilot flying a MiG-21MF shot down an Israeli A-4E. After that, several more successful intercepts were carried out by Soviet pilots and another Israeli A-4 was shot down on 25 June.
[69]
In response, Israel planned an ambush, calling it
Operation Rimon 20
. On 30 July, Israeli F-4s lured Soviet MiG-21s into an area where they were ambushed by Israeli Mirages.
Asher Snir
, flying a Mirage IIICJ, destroyed a Soviet MiG-21;
Avihu Ben-Nun
and
Aviam Sela
, both piloting F-4Es, each got a kill, and an unidentified pilot in another Mirage scored a fourth kill against a Soviet-flown MiG-21; the IAF suffered only a damaged Mirage. Three Soviet pilots were killed and the
Soviet Union
was alarmed by the losses. Yet though it was a
morale
-boosting achievement,
Rimon 20
did not change the course of the war. After the operation, other IAF aircraft were lost to Soviet MiG-21s and SAMs. And a week later, on 7 August, the Soviets responded by deploying more aircraft to Egypt and luring Israeli fighter jets into an ambush of their own, "Operation Kavkaz", downing two Israeli Mirage IIICJs.
[71]
In all, during March and August 1970, Soviet MiG-21 pilots and SAM crews destroyed 21 Israeli aircraft (eight by
SA-3
missile systems and 13 by MiG-21s) at a cost of 5 MiG-21s shot down by the IAF, helping to convince the Israelis to sign a
ceasefire
.
[72]
[
unreliable source?
]
In September 1973, a large air battle erupted between Syria and Israel; Israel claimed a total of 12 Syrian MiG-21s destroyed, while Syria claimed eight kills scored by MiG-21s and admitted five losses.
[
citation needed
]
During the
Yom Kippur War
, Israel claimed 73 kills against Egyptian MiG-21s (65 confirmed). Egypt claimed 27 confirmed kills and eight probables against Israeli aircraft by its MiG-21s.
[1]
However, according to most Israeli sources, these were exaggerated claims, as Israeli air-to-air combat losses for the entire war did not exceed fifteen.
[73]
[74]
On the Syrian front, 6 October 1973 saw a flight of Syrian MiG-21MFs shoot down an Israeli A-4E and Mirage IIICJ, 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, as well as 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 MiG-21s 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 (26 confirmed) as destroyed by the
IDF
.
[1]
Later on 26 April 1974, an unusual occurrence involving
Pakistani
fighter pilot
Flight Lieutenant Sattar Alvi
took place while he was on deputation to the No. 67A Squadron of the Syrian Air Force. Alvi, flying a Syrian MiG-21F-13 (Serial No. 1863) out of Syria's
Al-Dumayr Air Base
with a fellow
PAF
pilot, was on aerial patrol near the
Golan Heights
when he spotted two Israeli Mirage-IIICJs intruding in Syrian airspace. According to modern Pakistani sources, Alvi and his flight leader engaged them, and after a brief dogfight, shot down one of the Mirages, flown by Captain M. Lutz. The Israeli pilot later succumbed to wounds he sustained during ejection.
[75]
[76]
However, no major sources from the time reported on such an incident,
[77]
[78]
[79]
and there is no mention of "Captain Lutz" in
Israel's Ministry of Defense
's record of Israel's casualties of war.
[80]
Between the end of the Yom Kippur War and the start of the
1982 Lebanon War
, Israel received modern F-15s and F-16s which were far superior to the old Syrian MiG-21MFs. According to the IDF, these new aircraft shot down 24 Syrian MiG-21s over this period, though Syria did claim five IAF kills by MiG-21s armed with outdated
K-13 missiles
; Israel denied that it had suffered any losses.
[1]
The 1982 Lebanon War began on 6 June 1982, and during the conflict the IAF claimed to have destroyed about 45 Syrian MiG-21MFs. Syria confirmed the loss of 37 MiG-21s, including 24 MiG-21bis and 10 MiG-21MF downed and 2 MiG-21bis and 1 MiG-21MF written off
[81]
Syria claimed two confirmed and 15 probable kills of Israeli aircraft.
[1]
Two Israeli F-15s and one F-4 were damaged in combat with MiG-21s.
[82]
[83]
In the largest air battle since the Korean War, one Israeli F-15 was heavily damaged by a Syrian MiG-21 firing a
R-60 (missile)
, but was able to make back to base for repairs.
[83]
[
dead link
]
Syrian civil war
[
edit
]
Beginning in July 2012, at which point the
Syrian civil war
had lasted a year without aerial action, the
Syrian Air Force
started operations against Syrian insurgents. MiG-21s were among the first combat-ready aircraft used in bombings, rocket attacks and
strafing runs
, with numerous videos showing the attacks.
[84]
The rebels had access to
heavy machine guns
, different anti-aircraft guns and Russian and Chinese
MANPADS
, up to modern designs such as the
FN-6
. The first loss of a MiG-21 during the Syrian civil war was recorded on 30 August 2012. The MiG, registration number 2271, was likely downed by heavy machine gun fire on takeoff or landing at
Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase
,
under siege by rebels
.
[85]
[
failed verification
]
A few days later, on 4 September 2012, another MiG-21 (registration number 2280) was shot down in similar circumstances at the same base, also likely on takeoff or landing by rebels using by
KPV
14.5 mm machine guns; the downing was recorded on video.
[86]
On 10 November 2014, Syrian Air Force MiG-21bis number 2204 was shot down, and its pilot killed, by rebels either using a MANPADS or antiaircraft guns, near the town of
Sabburah
, 45 km east of
Hama
Airbase where it was likely based. Video and photo evidence of the crash site later emerged.
[
citation needed
]
Four months after a MiG-23 was shot down and during which time the Syrian Air Force suffered no losses from enemy fire, one of its MiG-21s was shot down on 12 March 2016 by the
Jaysh al-Nasr
faction over
Hama
near
Kafr Nabudah
. While the
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
, as suggested by video evidence, reported that the warplane had been downed by two MANPADS, Jaysh al-Nasr militants claimed to have shot it down with anti-aircraft guns.
[87]
The pilot appeared to have bailed out of the stricken MiG, but died from ground fire or other causes.
[
citation needed
]
On 4 March 2017, a Syrian MiG-21bis from No. 679 squadron, operating out of Hama Airbase and piloted by Col. Mohammad Sawfan, was shot down by
Ahrar al-Sham
rebels, crashing in
Turkish
territory near the border. Col. Sawfan successfully ejected but was arrested and taken to a hospital in
Antakya
, Turkey. A recording between the pilot and ground controller clearly showed Sawfan's disorientation due to a malfunctioning compass, followed by a failure of the entire navigation system. He could not find his way back to base as ordered and inadvertently flew within range of rebel anti-aircraft guns.
[
citation needed
]
After being suspended for a number of years, Sawfan was allowed to return to service.
Libyan?Egyptian War
[
edit
]
Egypt received American
Sidewinder
missiles, fitting them to their MiG-21s and successfully using them in combat against Libyan Mirages and MiG-23s during the brief
Egyptian?Libyan War
of July 1977.
Iran?Iraq War
[
edit
]
During the
Iran?Iraq War
, 23 Iraqi MiG-21s were shot down by
Iranian F-14s
, as confirmed by Iranian, Western and Iraqi sources
[88]
and another 29 Iraqi MiG-21s were downed by F-4s.
[89]
However, from 1980 to 1988, Iraqi MiG-21s shot down 43 Iranian fighter aircraft.
[90]
Libya
[
edit
]
Libyan Civil War (2011)
[
edit
]
Libyan MiG-21s saw limited service during the
2011 Libyan civil war
.
[
citation needed
]
On 15 March 2011, one MiG-21bis and one MiG-21UM flown by
defecting
Libyan Air Force
pilots flew from
Ghardabiya Airbase
near
Sirte
to
Benina Airport
to join the rebellion's
Free Libyan Air Force
. On 17 March 2011, the MiG-21UM experienced a technical fault and crashed after taking off from Benina.
[91]
Libyan Civil War (2014?2020)
[
edit
]
In the
Second Libyan Civil War (2014?2020)
, the
Libyan National Army
, under the command of
Khalifa Haftar
is loyal to the legislative body in
Tobruk
, which is the
Libyan House of Representatives
, internationally recognised until October 2015. It fights against the now internationally recognized
Government of National Accord
and the
Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries
as well as
Islamic State in Libya
which are common enemies for both the
Government of National Accord
and the
Libyan National Army
. Both the
Libyan National Army
and the
Government of National Accord
field small airforces.
As such, a number of former Libyan Arab Air Force (LARAF) MiG-21s were returned to service with the Tobruk-based
Libyan National Army
, thanks to spare parts and technical assistance from Egypt and Russia, while a number of former Egyptian Air Force MiG-21s were pressed into service as well.
[
citation needed
]
MiG-21s under the control of the Libyan
House of Representatives
have been used extensively to bomb forces loyal to the rival
General National Congress
in
Benghazi
during the
2014 Libyan Civil War
.
[92]
[93]
On 29 August 2014, an LNA MiG-21bis, serial number 208, after a bombing mission over Derna, crashed in
Bayda
according to an official statement as a result of a technical failure of the plane, while Islamist
Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries
claimed it was shot down. The pilot did not eject and died in the crash.
[94]
[95]
On 2 September 2014 an LNA MiG-21bis, serial number 800, crashed in a city block of
Tobruk
, due to pilot error during a pull-up maneuver.
[96]
It is unclear whether the pilot had been on a bombing mission on the way to Derna, further East, or had been performing an aerial ceremony for the MiG-21 pilot who died a few days earlier.
[
citation needed
]
Part of the
2019 Western Libya offensive
, on 9 April 2019, a
Libyan National Army
MiG-21 made a low altitude diving rocket attack, probably firing
S-24
rockets on Mitiga airport in Tripoli, making limited damages to one of the runways.
[97]
On 14 April 2019, a
Libyan National Army
MiG-21MF was shot down by a
surface-to-air missile
, probably a
MANPADS
fired by the forces of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) south of Tripoli. Video evidence confirmed the MiG-21 came under fire from anti-aircraft guns, small arms and two
SAMs
, one of which apparently hit the target. The pilot, Colonel Jamal Ben Amer ejected safely and recovered to LNA-held territory by a Mi-35 helicopter. LNA sources confirmed the loss but blamed a technical problem.
[98]
[99]
[100]
[101]
Horn of Africa
[
edit
]
During the
Ogaden War
of 1977?78,
Ethiopian Air Force
F-5As engaged
Somali Air Force
MiG-21MFs in combat on several occasions. In one lopsided incident, two F-5As piloted by Israeli advisers or mercenaries engaged four MiG-21MFs. The MiGs were handled incompetently by the Somali pilots, and the F-5As destroyed two while the surviving pilots collided with each other avoiding an
AIM-9
.
[1]
[
page needed
]
Ethiopia claimed to have shot down 10 Somali MiG-21MFs; while Somalia also claimed to have destroyed several Ethiopian MiG-21MFs, three F-5Es, one
Canberra
bomber and three
Douglas DC-3s
.
[1]
Ethiopian MiG-21s were deployed largely in the ground attack role, and proved instrumental during the final offensive against Somali ground forces.
[1]
[
page needed
]
Ethiopian pilots who had flown both the F-5E and the MiG-21 and received training in both the US and the USSR considered the F-5 to be the superior fighter because of its manoeuvrability at low to medium speeds, its superior instrumentation and the fact that it was far easier to fly, allowing the pilot to focus on combat rather than controlling his airplane.
[102]
This effect was enhanced by the poor quality of pilot training provided by the Soviets, which provided limited flight time and focussed exclusively on taking off and landing, with no practical training in air combat.
[102]
[103]
Angola
[
edit
]
During
Angola
's
long-running civil war
, MiG-21s of the
Cuban Air Force
were frequently deployed to attack ground targets manned by rebel forces or engage
South African Air Force
Mirage F1s
conducting cross-border strikes. Most MiG-21 losses over Angola were attributed to accurate ground fire, such as an example downed by
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola
(UNITA) insurgents near
Luena
with an American
FIM-92 Stinger
.
[104]
Despite extensive losses to
man-portable air-defense systems
, MiG-21s were instrumental during the
Battle of Cuito Cuanavale
; Cuban pilots became accustomed to flying up to three sorties a day. Both the MiG-21MF and the MiG-21bis were deployed almost exclusively in the
fighter/bomber
role. As interceptors, they were somewhat unsuccessful due to their inability to detect low-flying South African aircraft.
[105]
On 6 November 1981, a Mirage F1CZ achieved South Africa's first confirmed air-to-air kill since the
Korean War
when it destroyed Cuban Lieutenant Danacio Valdez's MiG-21MF with 30mm cannon fire.
[106]
On 5 October 1982, Mirages escorting an
English Electric Canberra
on routine reconnaissance over
Cahama
were engaged by at least two MiG-21bis. A South African radar operator picked up the attacking MiGs and was able to alert the Mirage pilots in advance, instructing them to change course immediately. As they jettisoned their auxiliary tanks, however, they were pinpointed by the Cubans, who opened pursuit. In a vicious
dogfight
, SAAF Major John Rankin closed range and maneuvered into the MiGs' rear cones. From there, one of his two
R.550 Magic
missiles impacted directly behind the lead MiG and forced it down. The second aircraft, piloted by Lieutenant Raciel Marrero Rodriguez, could not detect the Mirage's proximity until it had entered his turn radius and was perforated by Rankin's autocannon. This damaged MiG-21 landed safely at
Lubango
.
[106]
Contacts between MiG-21s and SAAF Mirage F1s or
Mirage IIIs
became increasingly common throughout the 1980s. Between 1984 and 1988, thirteen MiG-21s were lost over Angola.
[107]
On 9 August 1984, a particularly catastrophic accident occurred when the 9th Fighter Training Squadrons and the 12th Fighter Squadrons of the Cuban Air Force attempted to carry out an exercise in poor weather. A single MiG-21bis and three MiG-23s were lost.
[105]
[
dead link
]
On 14 December 1988, an
Angolan Air Force
MiG-21bis, serial number C340, strayed off course and being low on fuel executed an emergency landing on an open field in
South West Africa
, modern-day
Namibia
, where it was seized by local authorities. Since Angola did not request its return after the
South African Border War
, the MiG was restored by
Atlas Aviation
and until September 2017 it was displayed at
Swartkops Air Force Base
,
Pretoria
.
[108]
The jet was returned to Angola, flying in an Angolan
Il-76
cargo plane, as a sign of goodwill on 15 September 2017.
[109]
Democratic Republic of the Congo
[
edit
]
The MiG-21MFs of the 25th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the
National Air Force of Angola
flew ground sorties during the
Second Congo War
, sometimes being piloted by mercenaries.
[110]
Some six MiG-21s were imported into the country during the
First Congo War
for the Congo Air Force, but do not appear to have seen operational service. (Cooper and Weinert, "African MiGs: Volume 1: Angola to Ivory Coast").
Yugoslavia
[
edit
]
Yugoslavia
purchased its first batch of MiG-21s in 1962 from the
Soviet Union
. From 1962 to the early 1980s, Yugoslavia purchased 261 MiG-21s, of ten different variants. There were 41 MiG-21f-13, 36 MiG-21PfM, 25 MiG-21M, 6 MiG-21MF, 46 MiG-21bis, 45 MiG-21bisK, 12 MiG-21R, 18 MiG-21U, 25 MiG-21UM, and 7 MiG-21US.
[111]
Yugoslav Air force units that operated MiG-21s were the
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 1990s'
Yugoslav wars
, the
Yugoslav military
used MiG-21s in a ground-attack role, while Croatian and Slovene forces did not yet have air forces at that point in the conflict. Aircraft from air bases in Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina were relocated to air bases in Serbia. Detailed records show at least seven MiG-21s were shot down by AA defenses in
Croatia
and
Bosnia
.
[112]
A MiG-21
piloted by Serbian Yugoslav Air Force pilot shot down an EC helicopter in 1992
.
[113]
Croatia acquired three MiG-21s in 1992 through defections by Croatian pilots serving with the
JNA
,
[114]
two of which were lost in subsequent actions ? one to Serbian air defenses, the other a
friendly fire
accident.
[115]
In 1993, Croatia purchased about 40 MiG-21s in violation of an arms embargo,
[115]
but only about 20 of these entered service, while the rest were used for spare parts. Croatia used them alongside the sole remaining defector for ground attack missions in operations
Flash
(during which one was lost) and
Storm
. The only air-to-air action for Croatian MiGs was an attempt by two of them to intercept
Soko J-22 Oraos
of
Republika Srpska's air force
on a ground attack mission on 7 August 1995. After some maneuvering, both sides disengaged without firing.
[115]
The remaining Yugoslav MiG-21s were flown to Serbia by 1992 and continued their service in the newly created Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. During the 1999
NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
, 3 MiG-21s were destroyed on the ground.
[112]
Romania
[
edit
]
In 1962,
Romanian Air Force
(RoAF) received the first 12 MiG-21F-13, followed by another 12 of the same variant in 1963. Deliveries continued over the next years with other variants: 38 aircraft of MiG-21RFM (PF) variant in 1965, 7 MiG-21U-400/600 in 1965?1968, 56 MiG-21RFMM (PFM) in 1966?1968, 12 MiG-21R in 1968?1972, 68 MiG-21M plus 11 MiG-21US in 1969?1970, 74 MiG-21MF/MF-75 in 1972?1975, and 27 MiG-21UM in 1972?1980 plus another 5 of the same variant in 1990, for a total number of 322 aircraft.
[116]
Beginning in 1993, Russia did not offer spare parts for the MiG-23 and MiG-29 for the RoAF. Initially, this was the context for the modernization of the Romanian MiG-21s with
Elbit Systems
, and because it was easier to maintain these fighter jets. In 1995?2002, a total of 111 MiG-21s were modernized, of which 71 were M and MF/MF-75 variants modernized under the LanceR A designation (for ground attack), 14 were UM variant as LanceR B designation (trainer), and another 26 MF/MF-75 variant were modernized under LanceR C designation (air superiority).
[116]
Today, only 36 LanceRs are operational for the RoAF. It can use both Western and Eastern armament such as the R-60M, R-73, Magic 2, or Python III missiles.
The MiG-21s are to be retired in 2024, after another two
F-16
squadrons will be ready following the purchase of 32 more F-16s from
Norway
.
[117]
The first
F-16 squadron
was completed in 2021 with the arrival of the last F-16 purchased from
Portugal
.
[118]
Despite being one of the newest MiG-21 fleets in service, the Romanian MiG-21 LanceR fleet was grounded due to difficulties maintaining the aircraft, and since 1996 it has had an accident rate of over 30 per 100,000 hours. Serviceability rates below 50% are not uncommon.
[119]
The Romanian Air Force has suffered numerous events in recent years with its arsenal of MiG-21s. On 12 June 2017, a MiG-21 crashed in
Constan?a County
, with Adrian Stancu, the pilot, managing to escape in time.
[120]
On 7 July 2018, Florin Rotaru died during an airshow in
Borcea
with some 3,000 attendants while piloting a MiG-21 that suffered technical difficulties, choosing to deflect the plane and die to protect the attendants rather than ejecting himself in time.
[121]
On 20 April 2021, during a training flight, a MiG-21 crashed in an uninhabited zone in
Mure? County
. The pilot, Andrei Criste, managed to eject safely and survived the crash.
[122]
On the March 2nd 2022, A MiG-21 LanceR crashed during adverse weather conditions near the village of Gura Dobrogei,
Cogealac
Commune.
[123]
On 15 April 2022, the RoAF suspended all MiG-21 LanceR flights due to the high rate of accidents, and announced that it planned to speed up the acquisition of the ex-Norwegian F-16s.
[124]
On 23 May, the LanceRs resumed flights for a period of one year, until 15 May 2023.
[125]
On 15 May 2023, a retirement ceremony was held for the aircraft at the
71st Air Base
, and at the
86th Air Base
. From there, the MiG-21 took off to their final destination at the
95th Air Base
.
[126]
Bulgaria
[
edit
]
The
Bulgarian Air Force
received a total of 224 MiG-21 aircraft. From September 1963 the 19th Fighter Regiment of the Air Force received 12 MiG-21F-13s. Later some of these aircraft were converted for reconnaissance as MiG-21F-13Rs, which were submitted to the 26th Reconnaissance Regiment in 1988. In January 1965 the 18th Fighter Regiment received a squadron of 12 MiG-21PFs, some of which also were converted and used as reconnaissance aircraft (MiG-oboznachevnieto 21PFR). The 26 Regiment reconnaissance aircraft from this squadron were removed from service in 1991, the 15 Fighter Regiment in 1965 received another 12 MiG-21PF fighters and in 1977?1978 operated another 36 refurbished aircraft. This unit received two more aircraft in 1984 and operated them until 1992.
For reconnaissance, a regiment received 26 specialized reconnaissance MiG-21Rs in 1962, and in 1969?1970, 19 Fighter Aviation Regiment received 15 MiG-21m aircraft, which operated in 21 Fighter Aviation Regiment and were removed from active service in 1990. An additional 12 MiG-21MF fighters were received in 1974?1975, with a reconnaissance version of the MiG-21MFR provided to the 26th Reconnaissance Regiment and used until 2000, when removed from active service.
From 1983 to 1990, the Bulgaria Air Force received 72 MiG-21bis. Of these, 30 (six new and renovated) are under option with ACS and provided to the 19th Fighter Regiment; the rest are equipped with the "Lazur". This batch was taken out of service in 2000.
Besides fighters, the Air Force has received 39 MiG-21U trainers (one in 1966), five MiG-21US in 1969?1970 and 27 MiG-21UM (new) during 1974?1980, another six refurbished ex-Soviet examples in 1990. In 1982, three MiG-21UM trainers were sold to Cambodia and in 1994 another 10 examples. MiG-21UMs were also sold to India. Other training aircraft were removed from active service in 2000. A total of 38 aircraft were lost in the period 1963?2000.
The last flight of a
Bulgarian Air Force
MiG-21 took off from
Graf Ignatievo Air Base
on 31 December 2015. On 18 December 2015, there was an official ceremony for the retirement of the type from active duty.
[127]
Known MiG-21 aces
[
edit
]
Several pilots have attained
ace status
(five or more aerial victories/kills) while flying the MiG-21.
Nguy?n V?n C?c
of the VPAF, who scored nine kills in MiG-21s is regarded as the most successful.
[128]
Twelve other VPAF pilots were credited with five or more aerial victories while flying the MiG-21:
Ph?m Thanh Ngan
,
[1]
Nguy?n H?ng Nh?
and
Mai V?n C??ng
(both eight kills);
đ?ng Ng?c Ng?
[1]
(seven kills),
V? Ng?c đ?nh
,
[1]
Nguy?n Ng?c đ?
,
[1]
Nguy?n Nh?t Chieu
,
[1]
Le Thanh đ?o
,
[1]
Nguy?n đ?ng K?nh
,
[1]
Nguy?n đ?c Soat
,
[1]
and
Nguy?n Ti?n Sam
[1]
(six kills each), and
Nguy?n V?n Ngh?a
[1]
(five kills).
Additionally, three
Syrian
pilots are known to have attained ace status while flying the MiG-21. Syrian airmen: M. Mansour
[129]
recorded five solo kills (with one additional probable), B. Hamshu
[129]
scored five solo kills, and A. el-Gar
[129]
tallied four solo and one shared kill, all three during the 1973?1974 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
[130]
of the Iraqi Air Force with four known kills scored during the
Iran?Iraq War
(until 1991; sometimes referred to as the Persian Gulf War), A. Wafai
[131]
of the Egyptian Air Force with four known kills against Israel.
Variants
[
edit
]
Operators
[
edit
]
Current operators
[
edit
]
This list does not include operators of Chinese copies / licensed manufactured versions known as the
Chengdu J-7/F-7
.
Former operators
[
edit
]
Civilian operators
[
edit
]
According to the
United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
, there were 44 privately owned MiG-21s in the U.S. in 2012
[170]
By 2013,
Draken International
had acquired 30 MiG-21bis/UM, mostly ex-Polish.
[171]
In 2017, it operated 30 MiGs.
[172]
Use as suborbital space launch platform
[
edit
]
In 2012, Premier Space Systems in Hillsboro, Oregon, US, conducted flight tests for NanoLaunch, a project to launch suborbital
sounding rockets
from MiG-21s flying over the
Pacific Ocean
.
[173]
The company was dissolved in 2018
[174]
Specifications (MiG-21bis)
[
edit
]
Data from
Jane's all the world's aircraft, 1992?93
[175]
General characteristics
- Crew:
1
- Length:
14.7 m (48 ft 3 in) excluding pitot boom
- Wingspan:
7.154 m (23 ft 6 in)
- Height:
4.1 m (13 ft 5 in)
- Wing area:
23 m
2
(250 sq ft)
- Airfoil
:
root:
TsAGI S-12 (4.2%);
tip:
TsAGI S-12 (5%)
[176]
- Gross weight:
8,725 kg (19,235 lb) with two
R-3S
missiles
- Max takeoff weight:
8,800 kg (19,401 lb) unprepared or metal planking runway
- 9,800 kg (21,605 lb) paved runway with standard wheels and tyres
- 10,400 kg (22,928 lb) paved runway with larger wheels and tyres
- Powerplant:
1 ×
Tumansky R-25-300
afterburning turbojet, 40.18 kN (9,030 lbf) thrust dry, 69.58 kN (15,640 lbf) with afterburner
Performance
- Maximum speed:
2,175 km/h (1,351 mph, 1,174 kn) / M2.05 at 13,000 m (43,000 ft)
- 1,300 km/h (810 mph; 700 kn) / M1.06 at sea level
- Landing speed:
250 km/h (160 mph; 130 kn)
- Range:
660 km (410 mi, 360 nmi) clean at 11,000 m (36,000 ft)
- 604 km (375 mi; 326 nmi) at 11,000 m (36,000 ft) with two
R-3S
missiles
- 793 km (493 mi; 428 nmi) at 10,000 m (33,000 ft) with two
R-3S
missiles and 800 L (210 US gal; 180 imp gal)
drop-tank
- Service ceiling:
17,500 m (57,400 ft)
- Time to altitude:
17,000 m (56,000 ft) in 8 minutes 30 seconds
- Thrust/weight
:
0.76
- Take-off run:
830 m (2,720 ft)
- Landing run with SPS and brake parachute:
550 m (1,800 ft)
Armament
- Guns:
1 × internal
23 mm
Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23
L
autocannon
with 200 rounds
- Hardpoints:
5 (4 underwing + 1 ventral, reserved for fuel droptanks) , with provisions to carry combinations of:
- Bombs:
2 × 500 kg (1,100 lb) and 2 × 250 kg bombs
See also
[
edit
]
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
[
edit
]
Notes
[
edit
]
- ^
"AZ" ? abbreviation for Russian "Авиационный Завод" ? АЗ (Aviation Plant).
- ^
Now called
Nizhny Novgorod
.
Citations
[
edit
]
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a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
aa
ab
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External links
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