Information about Mikoyan Gurevich Mig 21

MiG-21
MiG-21bis of 1st Naval Fighter Sqn., Polish Air Force.
TypeFighter
ManufacturerMikoyan-Gurevich OKB
Maiden flight14 June 1956
Introduced1959
Primary usersSoviet Air Force
Indian Air Force
Polish Air Force
Vietnam People's Air Force
Number built10,000+[1] 10,158 were made in the USSR, another 194 in the Czech republic
VariantsYe-150
Ye-152
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. More than 30 countries of the world have flown the MiG-21, and it still serves many nations a half-century after its first flight. Its Mach 2 capability exceeds the top speed of many later modern fighter types. Estimates are that more than 10,000 MiG-21s were built, more than any other supersonic jet aircraft.[2]

Development

The first generation of MiG jet fighters was based on designs similar to late-WWII German jet designs, starting with the subsonic MiG-15, MiG-17, and the low supersonic swept-wing 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 delta wings, 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", (also written as "E-4") flew on 14 June 1956, and the production MiG-21 entered service in early 1959. Employing a delta-wing 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 speed using a relatively low-powered afterburning turbojet, and is thus comparable to the American F-104 Starfighter and French Dassault Mirage III.

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 that 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 2 AA-2 'Atoll' air-to-air missiles, 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 10158 (some sources say 10645) 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[3] 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 bulit 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:

Technical description

The MiG-21 is a single-engined jet fighter aircraft capable of supersonic flight. [1] [2]

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 caries 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 4,71m, the track width is 2,69m.

Engines
[3]
Engine Thrust (kN)* Variant
R-11F-30038,2/53,4F, F-13, U
R-11F2-30038,7/60,0F-13 (refitted), PF, FL
R-11F2S-30038,2/60,6PF, PFS, PFM, R, S, M, US, UM
R-11F2SK-30038,2/60,6MF
R-13-30039,9/63,7M (refitted), MF, RF, SM, SMT, UM (refitted)
R-25-30040,2/69,9 97,1kN with "extreme afterburner"bis
  • without/with afterburner

Operational history

Vietnam

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MiG-21PFM, Polish Air Force, markings of 10th Fighter Regt.
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 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 and 1970s 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-21's 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.

Interestingly, 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.[4]

In 1991, two MiG-21s were downed by F/A-18 Hornets from the USS Saratoga during Desert Storm.

India

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IAF MiG-21 Bison
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.[5] The MiGs played an important role in air combat, ensuring an aerial superiority that ultimately resulted in Pakistan's defeat in just a fortnight. It was also used as late as 1999 in the Kargil War. 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, claiming the Pakistani aircraft violated Indian airspace.[6] Upgraded MiG-21 'Bison' aircraft reportedly performed well against F-15 and F-16s of the USAF during Indo-US joint air exercises, surprising American pilots with its capabilities. They will remain in service until 2017[7].

Former Yugoslavia

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The MiG-21 of the Yugoslav Air Force before the Yugoslav Civil Wars.
During 1991-1995, Yugoslav People's Army and Serb forces used its MiG-21 Ms (about a hundred in total compromising 1/3 of the entire air force) during the Slovenian War, Croatian War of Independence and the Bosnian War and again during the 1999 Kosovo War and NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. Except during the NATO intervention, the aircraft had no air opposition and was mainly used in a ground-attack role. Detailed records show at least six were shot down by AA defences in Croatia and Bosnia[8] and another 24 were destroyed by NATO,<ref name="Avijacija" /> most while on the ground. In 1993, Croatia purchased about 40 MiG-21s in violation of arms embargo, but only 25 of these entered service, while the rest were used for spare parts. Croatia used them alongside the four that defected from the JNA<ref name="Avijacija" /> mainly for ground attack missions.

Africa

During the Cold War MiG-21s were supplied to many sub-Saharan African nations by the Soviets. Their most notable use 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. Both Angolan and Cuban MiG-21s often had encounters with, and were downed by, South African Air Force Mirages. In 2006, at least two MiG-21s were used to bomb the Somalian airbases loyal during Ethiopia's invasion of Somalia.

Variants

See also: Chengdu J-7
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Mikoyan Ye-150, a MiG-21 derivative
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MiG-21, Deutsches Museum, Munich
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MiG-21MF, Polish Air Force, markings of 3rd Tactical Sqn.
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MiG-21UM of FRY Air force.
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MiG-21 SPS
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MiG-21 2000


Ye-2 (NATO: "Faceplate")
Swept-wing prototype.
Ye-4 (I-500)
The first delta wing prototype of the MiG-21.
Ye-5 (NATO: "Fishbed")
Delta wing research prototype.
Ye-6
Three pre-production aircraft.
MiG-21
The first series of fighters.
MiG-21F (NATO: "Fishbed-B")
Single-seat day fighter aircraft. It was the first production aircraft, with 40 machines being made. The MiG-21F carried 2160 liters of fuel in six internal fuel tanks and was powered by a Tumansky R-11 turbojet engine with 5740kgf of thrust, and armed with two 30-mm NR-30 cannons 60 shells each, it was also capable of carrying two bombs ranging from 50 to 500 kg each. Prototype Ye-6T was redesignated MiG-21F.
Ye-50
Swept-wing research prototype.
Ye-66
Single-seat version, built for breaking the world speed record.
Ye-66A
Built to break the world altitude record.
Ye-66B
Ye-76
Ye-150
Interceptor prototype, essentially an enlarged MiG-21.
Ye-152 (NATO: "Flipper")
Bigger than a MiG-21, the Ye-152 'Flipper' was a high-performance aircraft, which achieved at least 3 world records.
MiG-21F-13 (NATO: "Fishbed-C")
Single-seat, short-range day fighter. The MiG-21F-13 was the first mass-production model. The MiG-21F-13 was powered by a Tumansky R-11 turbojet engine, it was armed with two Vympel K-13 (AA-2 'Atoll') air-to-air missiles, and one 30-mm NR-30 cannon with a 30 shell magazine. The Type 74 is the Indian Air Force designation. The MiG-21F-13 was made in China, and designated Chengdu J-7 or F-7 for export.
MiG-21FL
Export model of the MiG-21PF. Built under license in India as the Type 77.
MiG-21I (NATO: "Analog")
Testbed for the wing design of the Tu-144 (NATO: 'Charger') supersonic transport.
MiG-21SPS
Version built for East Germany.
MiG-21P (NATO: "Fishbed-D / Fishbed-E")
Single-seat, limited all-weather interceptor fighter. Armed with two air-to-air missiles only.
MiG-21PF (NATO: "Fishbed-D / Fishbed-E")
Single-seat, limited all-weather fighter, equipped with a RP21 Sapfir radar. The MiG-21PF is the second production model. Prototype Ye-7, Type 76 Indian Air Force designation.
MiG-21PF (SPS) (NATO: "Fishbed-E")
MiG-21PFM (NATO: "Fishbed-F")
Single-seat, limited all-weather fighter, with upgraded radar and a more powerful engine. Improved version of the MiG-21PFS.
MiG-21PFS (NATO: "Fishbed-F")
Single-seat, limited all-weather fighter, with upgraded radar and a more powerful engine.
MiG-21 (NATO: "Fishbed-G")
Experimental short take-off and landing aircraft.
MiG-21R (NATO: "Fishbed-H")
Single-seat tactical reconnaissance version of the MiG-21PFM.
MiG-21RF (NATO: "Fishbed-J")
Single-seat tactical reconnaissance version of the MiG-21MF.
MiG-21S (NATO: "Fishbed-J")
Single-seat interceptor fighter version, equipped with an RP-22 radar and an external gun pod. (Incorrectly identified by NATO as the MiG-21PFMA); E-8, Type 88 Indian Air Force designation.
MiG-21SM
Single-seat interceptor fighter version, powered by a Tumansky R-13-300 turbojet engine.
MiG-21PFV
High-altitude version (perekhvatchik forsirovannij visotnij, high-altitude boosted interceptor).
MiG-21M
Export version powered by a Tumansky R-13 turbojet engine. Built under license in India as the Type 96.
MiG-21MF
Export version powered by a Tumansky R-13 turbojet engine.
MiG-21MF (NATO: "Fishbed-J")
Single-seat multi-role fighter version, equipped with a RP-22 radar, powered by a Tumansky R-13-300 turbojet engine.
MiG-21MF-R
After the MiG-21R was withdrawn from service in the Bulgarian Air force in 1995, a group of engineers fitted the MiG-21MFs with the recon containers from the MiG-21Rs.
MiG-21SMT (NATO: "Fishbed-K")
Single-seat multi-role fighter version, powered by a Tumansky R-13 turbojet engine. Increased fuel and ECM capability. (E-9, block 94 and 96)
MiG-21bis (NATO: "Fishbed-L")
Single-seat multi-role fighter and ground-attack aircraft. The final production model. This version is powered by a Tumansky R-25-300 turbojet engine, and carries 2880 liters of fuel. The engines are capable of "extreme afterburner" for up to 3 min - increasing the thrust from 7100 kgf to 9900 kgf. It can accelerate from 600 km/h to 1100 km/h in 18 seconds (the MiG-29 does it in 11,6 sec). The climb rate is 225 m/s. In comparison the F-14 has a climb rate of 152 m/s, the MiG-17F 65 m/s, the F-16A 215 m/s.
MiG-21bis (NATO: "Fishbed-N")
Single-seat multi-role fighter and ground-attack aircraft.
MiG-21U (NATO: "Mongol-A")
Two-seat training version of the MiG-21F-13. Type 66 Indian Air Force designation.
MiG-21US (NATO: "Mongol-B")
Two-seat training version. Type 68 Indian Air Force designation.
MiG-21UT
Two-seat trainer.
MiG-21UM (NATO: "Mongol-B")
Two-seat training version of the MiG-21MF. Type 69 Indian Air Force designation.
JJ-7
Two-seat training version of the J-7.
FT-7
Export designation of the JJ-7.
MiG-21-93 Bison
Upgraded version for the Indian Air Force.
MiG-21 Lancer
Upgraded version for the Romanian Air Force done by Elbit of Israel and Aerostar 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.[4]
MiG-21MFN
Upgraded version for the Czech Air force (navigation and communication systems for compatibility with NATO).
MiG-21bisD/UMD
Upgraded in 2003 for the Croatian Air force with some elements of the Lancer standard. Modernized for a 10-year period but due to be withdrawn from service in 2011. Reported to have the ability to fire Swedish RBS-15F anti-ship missiles.
MiG-21-2000
Single-seat 21st century version for export buyers. Made by the IAF.

Foreign variants

China (PRC)
Chinese copies of the MiG-21 are designated Chengdu J-7 and F-7 (for export).

Czechoslovakia:
Between 1962 and 1972 the MiG-21F-13 version was manufactured under license by Aero Vodochody, in Czechoslovakia. Aero Vodochody (then Středočeské strojírny, n.p.), built a total of 194 planes during this period, under the cover designation article Z-159. It followed the MiG-15 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 R-13-300 engines were imported from the Soviet Union.

India:
The production of the MiG-21bis assembled from CKD parts and also reportedly built from scratch in India under license by Hindustan Aeronautics in Nasik lasted until 1984. Despite a series of crashes during the 1990s, which led to the aircraft acquiring the nickname "flying coffin," the Indian Air Force has decided to upgrade about 128 of the MiG-21bis in its inventory to the MiG-21 "Bison" standard. These will serve the Indian Air Force until 2015.
Israel
Israeli Aircraft Industries manufactures an upgrade package for the MiG-21 called the MiG-21-2000.[9]
Israel/Romania
A joint venture between Aerostar SA and Elbit has developed the "LanceR" upgrade package for the MiG-21, and 114 MiG-21s have been upgraded to the MiG-21 LanceR configuration for the Romanian Air Force.
Russia
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-to-air 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 dual-screen HUD, helmet-mounted target designator, and advanced flight control systems.

Operators

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Current operators of the MiG-21 in bright red and former operators in dark red
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Two seater MiG-21UM, Polish Air Force, markings of 3rd Tactical Sqn.
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Romanian Air Force MiG-21 LanceR
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Serbian MiG-21bis
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Croatian modernized MiG-21s in formation
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Special MiG-21UMD called Vatreni or Kockica
See also: Chengdu J-7

Current operators

  •  Angola
  •  Armenia
  •  Azerbaijan
  •  Bulgaria: From 1963 to 1990 Bulgaria received: 12 MiG-21F-13, 12 MiG-21PF, 20 MiG-21PFM, 6 MiG-21R, 15 MiG-21M, 20 MiG-21MF, 72 MiG-21bis (still in service), 1 MiG-21U, 5 MiG-21US and 33 MiG-21UM (still in service). http://www.arrow-aviation.nl/bvvs_mig21-1.html
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    : MiG-21 grounded.
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      : 12- 24 MiG-21bisD/UMD in service.
      •  Cuba: From 1962 to 1983 Cuba received 270 MiG-21 of the following versions: MiG-21F-13, MiG-21PF, MiG-21PFM, MiG-21PFMA, MiG-21U, MiG-21UM, MiG-21MF, MiG-21R and MiG-21bis. 160 remain in service as follows: 90 MiG-21bis, 60 MiG-21MF and 10 MiG-21UM.http://www.urrib2000.narod.ru/EqMiG21.html
      •  Egypt
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        16 F-7 BG's and 23 F-7MB's . Numerous older versions of F-7's and MiG-21's grounded.
        •  Ethiopia
        •  Georgia
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          •  India
          •  Iran
          •  Laos: MiG-21 grounded.
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            : MiG-21, purchased from the Soviet Union; unknown types and quantities but in service.
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              : MiG-21 grounded.
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                : MiG-21 grounded.
                •  Mozambique
                •  Pakistan: 234 Chengdu J-7
                •  Nigeria: MiG-21 grounded.
                •  North Korea
                •  Romania: 48 MiG-21 LanceRs currently in service, to be phased out in 2008.[10]
                •  Serbia: 24 MiG-21 Bis, 6 MiG-21 UM and one MiG-21 M in service
                •  Somaliland
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                  •  Syria
                  •  Turkmenistan
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                    about 124 MiG-21 in service.

                    Former operators

                    •  Afghanistan: 166 total examples, including 70 MiG-21MF, 40 MiG-21F-13, and almost 50 MiG-21bis, were acquired by the Afghan Air Force. The F-13 examples were delivered in 1965, while the remainder were delivered from 1980 on. None remain operational.[11]
                    •  Algeria
                    •  Belarus
                    •  Burkina Faso
                    •  Republic of the Congo
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                      All aircraft passed on to Czech Republic and Slovakia. Many versios: F-13 (soviet and Czechoslovak build), PF, PFM, R, MA, MF and two-seat U, US and UM. Never uses Bis version.
                      •  Czech Republic Last MF was upgraded to MFN NATO standard. No longer in service, CZAF have Saab Gripens.
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                        •  Finland: Fighters: MiG-21bis Fisbed-N (26; 1977-1998), MiG-21F-13 Fishbed-C (22; 1963-1986), Trainers: MiG-21UM Mongol-B (2; 1974-1998), MiG-21US Mongol-B (2; 1981-1997), MiG-21UTI Mongol-A (2; 1965-1997)
                        •  Guinea-Bissau
                        •  Hungary: Over 300 examples from 1962 to 2001 (MiG-21MFs grounded in 1996)
                        •  Indonesia: Acquired its MiG-21s in 1961 and used during the preparation of Operation TRIKORA in 1962 in Western New Guinea (now Papua and Papua Barat). The aircraft were largely grounded in 1969 and removed from service in 1970.
                        •  Iraq
                        •  Kazakhstan
                        •  Kyrgyzstan
                        •  Mali
                        •  North Yemen: MiG-21 passed on to Yemen.
                        •  Poland: 581 MiG-21 in many versions (F-13, PF, PFM, M, R, MF, bis, U, US, and UM) bought in the years 1961-1980, after 2003 no longer in service.
                        •  Russia
                        •  Slovakia
                        •  Soviet Union: MiG-21 passed on to successor states.
                        •  Uganda
                        •  Ukraine
                        •  Yugoslavia: 264 MiG-21 aircraft in 9 versions (F-13, PF, PFM, M, MF, R, bis, US, UM) passed on to successor state: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
                        •  Yugoslavia: Air Force of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro had three squadrons with MiG-21, but only one Squadron has surived the Kosovo War. That squadron has been passed on to successor state: Serbia.
                        • The template is . Please use instead.
                          This usage is deprecated. Please replace it with {{tdeprecated|Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|Country}}.
                          '''The template is deprecated. Please use instead.

                          Civil operators

                          Some aircraft are now owned and flown by private collectors as warbirds.

                          Preserved Examples

                          MiG-21SPS 959.Midland Air Museum,Coventry, England.

                          Specifications (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21bis)

                          Enlarge picture
                          Orthographic projection of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21.

                          General characteristics

                          * Crew: One
                          • Length: 15.76 m (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, 70 kN (15,700 lbf)

                          Performance

                          Armament

                          References

                          External links

                          Related content

                          Related development

                          Comparable aircraft

                          Related lists

                          See also

                          Polish Air Force (Siły Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, Siły Powietrzne RP). Until 1 July 2004 it was officially known as: Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej (literally: Air and Air Defence Forces, the name existing from 1990).
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing, building, testing, selling, and maintaining aircraft, aircraft parts, missiles, rockets, and/or spacecraft.
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG

                          Joint stock company
                          Founded December 1939 (As OKB-155 in 1942)
                          Headquarters Moscow, Russia

                          Key people Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich, founder
                          Industry Aerospace and defense
                          Products Military aircraft
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          The maiden flight of an aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord. This is similar to a ship's maiden voyage.

                          The first flight of a new aircraft type is always a historic occasion for the type.
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          June 14 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

                          In common years it is always in ISO week 24.
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          1956 1957 1958 1959

                          19th Century · 20th century · 21st century
                          1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s
                          1953 1954 1955 1956
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          1959 1960 1961 1962

                          19th Century · 20th century · 21st century
                          1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s
                          1956 1957 1958 1959
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          Russian Empire Air Force (1909 to 1917) Soviet Union Red Air Force (1918 to 1991) Naval Aviation (1918 to 1991) Air Defense (1948 to 1991) Strategic Rocket Forces (1959 to 1991) Russian Federation
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          Indian Armed Forces

                          Emblem
                          Military Man Power
                          Total armed forces 2,414,700 (Ranked 3rd)
                          Active troops 1,414,000 (Ranked 3rd)
                          Total troops 3,773,300 (Ranked 6th)
                          Paramilitary forces 1,089,700
                          Components
                          Indian Army
                          Indian Air Force
                          Indian Navy
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          Polish Air Force (Siły Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, Siły Powietrzne RP). Until 1 July 2004 it was officially known as: Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej (literally: Air and Air Defence Forces, the name existing from 1990).
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          Vietnamese Air force or Không Quân Nhân Dân Việt Nam is the air force of Vietnam. It was the successor the North Vietnamese Air Force and absorbed the Republic of Vietnam Air Force following the re-unification of Vietnam in 1975.
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          Type Fighter
                          Manufacturer Chengdu
                          Status Operational
                          Primary users Peoples Liberation Army Air Force
                          Pakistan Air Force
                          Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
                          North Korean Air Force
                          Iraqi Air Force
                          Number built 1,000+

                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          Russian}}} 
                          Writing system: Cyrillic (Russian variant)  
                          Official status
                          Official language of:  Abkhazia (Georgia)
                           Belarus
                           Commonwealth of Independent States (working)
                           Crimea (de facto; Ukraine)
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          NATO reporting names are unclassified code names for Soviet/Russian and Chinese military equipment. They provide unambiguous and easily understood names in place of Russian terms which may be confusing or even unknown.
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          supersonic. Speeds greater than 5 times the speed of sound are sometimes referred to as hypersonic. Speeds where only some parts of the air around an object (such as the ends of rotor blades) reach supersonic speeds are labelled transonic (typically somewhere between Mach 0.
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for attacking other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed to attack ground targets, primarily by dropping bombs. Fighters are comparatively small, fast, and maneuverable.
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG

                          Joint stock company
                          Founded December 1939 (As OKB-155 in 1942)
                          Headquarters Moscow, Russia

                          Key people Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich, founder
                          Industry Aerospace and defense
                          Products Military aircraft
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (abbreviated USSR, Russian: ; tr.
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          Mach number (Ma) (pronounced: [mɑːk], [mɑx], [mæk], see IPA) is a dimensionless measure of relative speed.
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          Type Fighter
                          Manufacturer Mikoyan-Gurevich
                          Maiden flight 30 December 1947
                          Introduced 1949
                          Status Trainers in service
                          Primary users Soviet Air Force
                          PLA Air Force
                          North Korean Air Force
                          41 others
                          Number built
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          Type Fighter
                          Manufacturer Mikoyan-Gurevich
                          Maiden flight 14 January 1950
                          Introduced October 1952
                          Primary users Soviet Air Force
                          PLA Air Force
                          Vietnam People's Air Force
                          Polish Air Force
                          Number built 10,000-/+

                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          swept-wing is a wing planform common on high-speed aircraft, with the wing swept back instead of being set at right angles to the fuselage. Forward sweep is also used on some aircraft.
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          Type Fighter
                          Manufacturer Mikoyan-Gurevich OKB
                          Maiden flight 18 September 1953
                          Introduced March 1955
                          Status Few operational
                          Primary users Soviet Air Force
                          People's Liberation Army Air Force
                          Number built 8,500

                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          Mach number (Ma) (pronounced: [mɑːk], [mɑx], [mæk], see IPA) is a dimensionless measure of relative speed.
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          Type Fighter-bomber
                          Manufacturer Sukhoi OKB
                          Maiden flight 7 September 1955
                          Introduced 1959
                          Retired 1986 Soviet Air Force
                          Primary user Soviet Air Force
                          Produced 1957-1972
                          Number built 1,847
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          The delta wing is a wing planform in the form of a triangle, named after the Greek uppercase delta (letter) which is a triangle (Δ). Its use in the so called "tailless delta", i.e.
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          A prototype is an original type, form, or instance of some thing serving as a typical example, basis, epitome, or standard for other things of the same category.

                          Semantics

                          In semantics, prototypes or prototypical instances
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          1955 1956 1957 1958

                          19th Century · 20th century · 21st century
                          1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s
                          1952 1953 1954 1955
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          1955 1956 1957 1958

                          19th Century · 20th century · 21st century
                          1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s
                          1952 1953 1954 1955
                          ..... Click the link for more information.
                          June 14 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

                          In common years it is always in ISO week 24.
                          ..... Click the link for more information.



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