Contents.Development Origins The MiG-21 jet fighter was a continuation of Soviet jet fighters, starting with the subsonic and, and the supersonic. A number of experimental Mach 2 Soviet designs were based on nose intakes with either swept-back wings, such as the, or tailed, 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 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 as found on production variants was the Ye-4. It made its maiden flight on 16 June 1955 and its first public appearance during the at Moscow's 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.Design.
Czechoslovak MiG-21F-13 'Fishbed C'A total of 10,645 aircraft were built in the USSR. They were produced in three factories: AZ 30 (3,203 aircraft) in Moscow (also known as MMZ Znamya Truda), GAZ 21 (5,765 aircraft) in and TAZ 31 (1,678 aircraft) in. Generally, Gorky built single-seaters for the Soviet forces. Moscow constructed single-seaters for export, and Tbilisi manufactured the twin-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 helmed 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. MiG-21F-13 cockpit at the Aviation Museum in Bucharest, RomaniaThe MiG-21 has a. The on the is 57° with a S-12.
The is 0° while the is −2°. On the there are with an area of 1.18 m², and with an area of 1.87 m². In front of the ailerons there are small.The fuselage is 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 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 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 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 make a capsule that encloses the pilot. The capsule protects the pilot from the high-speed airflow encountered during high-speed ejections.
After ejection, the capsule 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 from the MiG-21PFM, the canopy is hinged on the right side of the cockpit.On the under side 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 m², and a deflection angle of 35°.
The rear air brake has an area of 0.46 m² 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 under side of the airplane, just behind the trailing edge of the wing are attachment points for two rockets.
The front section of the fuselage ends at #28. The rear section of the fuselage starts at former #28a and is removable for engine maintenance.The of the MiG-21 consists of a, a 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. The stabilator has a sweep angle of 57°, an area of 3.94 m² and a span of 2.6 m.The MiG-21 uses a 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 India Overview.
A MiG-21 Bison of theIndia is the largest operator of MiG-21s. In 1961, the (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. 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. However, the IAF gained valuable experience while operating the MiG-21 for defensive sorties during the war. 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. However, the plane has been plagued by safety problems. Since 1970 more than 170 Indian pilots and 40 civilians have been killed in MiG-21 accidents. At least 14 MiG-21s have crashed between 2010 and 2013. Over half of the 840 aircraft built between 1966 and 1984 were lost to crashes.
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.On 11 December 2013, India's second-generation supersonic jet fighter, MiG-21FL was decommissioned after being in service for 50 years.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. 1971 India–Pakistan War The expansion of 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. The capabilities of the MiG-21 were put to the test during the.
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.The 1971 war witnessed the first supersonic air combat in the world when an Indian MiG-21FLs claimed a with its GSh-23 twin-barrelled 23 mm cannon. By the time the hostilities came to an end, the IAF MiG-21FLs had claimed four PAF F-104As, two PAF, one PAF and one PAF. 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.Because of the performance of India's MiG-21s, several nations, including, approached India for MiG-21 pilot training. By the early 1970s, more than 120 Iraqi pilots were being trained by the Indian Air Force. Indonesia. Indonesian Air Force in theThe purchased 22 MiG-21s. In 1962, 20 MiG-21F-13s and MiG-21Us were received during 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 lack of spare parts and the withdrawal of Soviet maintenance support.The MiGs were added to the ('Red Eagles'), an aggressor squadron at Tonopah Test Range. President congratulates Captain, who flew a MiG-21 with the NVAF 921st Fighter Regiment. His 11 confirmed air victories made him the highest scoring ace of the Vietnam WarThe North Vietnamese flew their interceptors with guidance from ground controllers, who positioned the MiGs in ambush battle stations to make their 'one pass, then haul ass' attacks.
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 generally proved successful during the course of the war. In December 1966 the MiG-21 pilots of the 921st FR downed 14 without any losses.The USAF and the US Navy had high expectations of the F-4 Phantom, assuming that the massive firepower, the best available on-board radar, the highest speed and acceleration properties, coupled with new tactics, would provide Phantoms with 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 these, 46 air battles conducted between F-4s and MiG-21s – the losses were 27 F-4 Phantoms and 20 MiG-21s.After a million sorties and nearly 1,000 US aircraft losses, came to an end on 1 November 1968. A poor air-to-air combat against the smaller, more agile enemy MiGs during the early part of the Vietnam War eventually led the US Navy to create their, also known as ', at, California, on 3 March 1969. The USAF quickly followed with their own version, titled the (sometimes referred to as ) program at, Nevada. These two programs employed the subsonic and the supersonic, as well as the Mach 2.4-capable USAF, which mimicked the MiG-21.The culmination of the struggle in the air 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 (U.S.
Confirmed five F-4s were lost. ) Those, in turn, managed to destroy two MiG-21s, three MiG-17s and one MiG-19. On 11 May, two MiG-21s, who played the role of '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, the second pair of MiGs made a missile attack and were hit by two F-4s. 18 May, Vietnamese aircraft made 26 sorties, eight of which resulted in combat, costing four F-4s while the VPAF did not suffer any losses.Over the course of the air war, between 3 April 1965 and 8 January 1973, each side would ultimately claim favorable kill ratios.
In 1972 the tally between American and Vietnamese planes stood at 201 air battles. The VPAF lost 54 MiGs (including 36 MiG-21s and one MiG-21US) and they claimed 90 U.S. Aircraft were shot down, including 74 F-4 fighters and two RF-4C reconnaissance jets (MiG-21 shot down 67 enemy aircraft, shot down 11 and shot down 12 enemy aircraft ).One MiG-21 was shot down on 21 February 1972 by a U.S. Air Force F-4 Phantom piloted by Major Lodge with 1st Lt Roger Locher as his WSO based at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. This was claimed to be the first ever U.S. Air Force MiG kill at night, and the first in four years at that time.Two MiG-21s were claimed shot down by USAF tail gunners; the only confirmed air-to-air kills made by the B-52.
The first aerial victory occurred on 18 December 1972, kill awarded to tail gunner SSgt Samuel Turner, who was awarded the. The second air-to-air kill took place on 24 December 1972, kill awarded to A1C Albert E. Moore for downing a MiG-21 over the Thai Nguyen railroad yards.
Both actions occurred during (also known as the ). These air-to-air kills were not confirmed by VPAF. Israeli shot down by Egyptian MiG-21 duringThe MiG-21 was also used extensively in the Middle East conflicts of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s by the,. The MiG-21 first encountered Israeli Cs 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 and, but were later outclassed by the more modern and, which were acquired by Israel beginning in the mid-1970s. During this period, Syrian pilots flying Mig-21's also independently discovered the which became a standard defensive maneuver under the name 'zero speed maneuver' (Syrian: مناورة السرعة صفر).During the opening attacks of the 1967, the struck Arab air forces in four attack waves.
In the first wave, IDF aircraft claimed to have destroyed eight Egyptian aircraft in air-to-air combat, of which seven were MiG-21s; Egypt claimed five kills scored by MiG-21PFs. During the second wave Israel claimed four MiG-21s downed in air-to-air combat, and the third wave resulted in two Syrian and one Iraqi MiG-21s claimed destroyed in the air. The fourth wave destroyed 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 60 MiG-21F-13s and MiG-21PFs in the air and on the ground.Between the end of the Six-Day War and the start of the, IDF Mirage fighters had six confirmed kills of Egyptian MiG-21s, in exchange for Egyptian MiG-21s scoring two confirmed and three probable kills against Israeli aircraft. During this same time period, from the end of the Six Day War to the end of the War of Attrition, Israel claimed a total of 25 Syrian MiG-21s destroyed; the Syrians claimed three confirmed and four probable kills of Israel aircraft, although Israel denied these.High losses to Egyptian 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 On 18 April, one Israeli scout RF-4E 'Phantom' were damaged by Soviet MiG-21MF. On 16 May, an Israeli aircraft is shot down in air combat, probably by a Soviet MiG-21 On 22 June 1970, a Soviet pilot flying a MiG-21MF shot down an Israeli A-4E.
After that, some more successful intercepts by Soviet pilots and another Israeli A-4 being shot down on 25 June.Israel decided (Operation Rimon 20) in response. On 30 July, Israeli F-4s lured Soviet MiG-21s into an area where they were ambushed by Mirages., flying a Mirage IIICJ, destroyed a Soviet MiG-21; and, both piloting F-4Es, each got a kill, and an unidentified pilot in another Mirage scored the fourth kill against the Soviet-flown MiG-21s; while the IAF suffers no losses except a damaged Mirage.
Three Soviet pilots were killed and the was alarmed by the losses. While 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.
Few days later, on 7 August, the Soviets respond by luring Israeli fighter jets into a counter-ambush, downing two Israeli Mirage-IIICs and deploying more aircraft to Egypt, known as 'Operation Kavkaz'. Totally, during March – August 1970, Soviet MiG-21 pilots and SAM crews destroyed a total of 21 Israeli aircraft (eight by missile systems and 13 by MiG-21s) at a cost of 5 MiG-21s were shot down by IAF, which helped to convince the Israelis to sign a ceasefire agreement.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.During the, Israel claimed 73 kills against Egyptian MiG-21s (65 confirmed). Egypt claimed 27 confirmed kills against Israeli aircraft by its MiG-21s, plus eight probables. However, according to most Israeli sources, these were exaggerated claims as Israeli air-to-air combat losses for the entire war did not exceed five to fifteen.On the Syrian front of the war, 6 October 1973 saw a flight of Syrian MiG-21MFs shoot down an IDF A-4E and a Mirage IIICJ while losing three of their own to Israeli.
On 7 October, Syrian MiG-21MFs downed two Israeli F-4Es, three Mirage IIICJs and an A-4E while losing two of their MiGs to Neshers and one to an F-4E, plus two to friendly SAM fire. Iraqi MiG-21PFs also operated on this front, and on that same day destroyed two A-4Es while losing one MiG. On 8 October 1973, Syrian MiG-21PFMs downed three F-4Es, but six of their 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.Between the end of the Yom Kippur War and the start of the, Israel had received modern F-15s and F-16s, which were far superior to the old Syrian MiG-21MFs. According to the IDF, these new aircraft accounted for the destruction of 24 Syrian MiG-21s over this period, though Syria did claim five kills against IDF aircraft with their MiG-21s armed with outdated K-13 missiles, although Israel denied they suffered any losses.The 1982 Lebanon War started on 6 June 1982, and in the course of that war the IDF claimed to have destroyed about 45 Syrian MiG-21MFs.
Syria claimed two confirmed and 15 probable kills of Israeli aircraft. Two Israeli F-15 and one F-4 was damaged in combat with the MiG-21. This air battle was the largest to occur since the Korean War.Syrian civil war. See also:Starting in July 2012, after more than a year of the had seen no aerial action, the started operations against Syrian insurgents.
MiG-21s were among the first combat ready aircraft used in bombings, rocket attacks and strafing runs with many videos recorded from the ground showing the jets in combat.The rebels had access to, different antiaircraft guns and Chinese up to modern designs such as the. The first loss of a MiG-21 was recorded on 30 August 2012. Its registration was 2271. It was likely downed on takeoff or landing at, by heavy machine gun fire.A few days later a second MiG-21, registered 2280, was shot down and recorded on video on 4 September 2012. It was likely downed on takeoff or landing at Abu Dhuhur air base, under siege by rebels, by 14.5 mm machine gun fire.On 10 November 2014, a Syrian Air Force MiG-21bis, serialed 2204, was shot down by rebels either using a MANPADS or antiaircraft guns, near Sabboura town, 45 km east of Hama airbase where it was likely based. The pilot was killed.
Video and picture evidence of the crash site surfaced.After four months, during which the Syrian Air Force suffered no losses to enemy fire, the last being a MiG-23, on 12 March 2016, a Syrian MiG-21 was shot down by over near. There were conflicting accounts of how it was brought down, the reported the warplane had been downed by two MANPADS, while Jaysh al-Nasr militants say they shot it down with anti-aircraft guns. Video evidence suggesting it was a MANPADS. It seems the pilot ejected, but died, either killed by ground fire while descending or other causes.On 4 March 2017, SyAAF MiG-21bis from No. 679 squadron operating from Hama AB and piloted by Col. Mohammad Sawfan was shot down by rebels and subsequently crashed in Turkish territory nearby the borders; the pilot in question has successfully ejected but been arrested and taken to a hospital in Antakya. The pilot returned to service recently and this mission was his first sortie after suspension years before.
A recording of the last conversation between the pilot and the ground controller, clearly shows the pilot disorientation due to a technical failure with a malfunctioning compass first then the whole navigation system. After that the pilot could not recognize his way back to base, as requested by the ground controller and ended under range of AAA of Ahrar Al-Sham rebels. MiG-21MF kill marking on a CZDuring 's, MiG-21s of the were frequently deployed to attack ground targets manned by rebel forces or engage conducting cross-border strikes.
Most MiG-21 losses over Angola were attributed to accurate ground fire, such as an example downed by (UNITA) insurgents near with an American.Despite extensive losses to, MiG-21s were instrumental during the; 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 role. As interceptors they were somewhat unsuccessful due to their inability to detect low-flying South African aircraft. On 6 November 1981, a Mirage F1CZ achieved South Africa's first confirmed air-to-air kill since the when it destroyed Cuban Lieutenant Danacio Valdez's MiG-21MF with 30mm cannon fire. On 5 October 1982, Mirages escorting an on routine reconnaissance over 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, SAAF Major Johann Rankin closed range and maneuvered into the MiGs' rear cones. From there, one of his two missiles impacted directly behind the lead MiG and forced it down. The second aircraft, piloted by a 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.Contacts between MiG-21s and SAAF Mirage F1s or became increasingly common throughout the 1980s. Between 1984 and 1988, thirteen MiG-21s were lost over Angola. 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.On 14 December 1988, an MiG-21bis, serial number C340, strayed off course and being low on fuel executed an emergency landing on an open field in, modern day, where it was seized by local authorities. Since Angola did not request its return after the, the MiG was restored by and till September 2017 it was displayed at,. The jet was returned to Angola, flying in an Angolan cargo plane, as a sign of goodwill on 15 September 2017. Congo The MiG-21MFs of the 25th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the flew ground sorties during the, sometimes being piloted by mercenaries.
The Chinese-made also saw combat with the. Yugoslavia. Yugoslavian Air Force MiG-21F-13purchased its first batch of MiG-21s in 1962 from the. In the period from 1962 to the early 1980s Yugoslavia had purchased 261 MiG-21s in ten variants. There was 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. A Romanian Air Force MiG-21 LanceR C during a training exercise.In 1962, (RoAF) received 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.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, 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). 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.They will be replaced by a squadron of 12 F-16AM/BM fighters by 2020 with the first aircraft arriving in the second half of 2016. Another squadron will be purchased with newer versions of the F-16 or other types of multirole plane jets like Dassault Rafale-B/C/M, used McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18C/D Hornet, Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet or Eurofighter Typhoon, to complete the minimum number of 48 multirole fighters, required in 2004 by NATO when Romania joined.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. Bulgaria. MiG-21bisThe 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 a 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 eksloatirani 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 MiG-21 took off from on 31 December 2015. On 18 December 2015, there was an official ceremony for the retirement of the type of the active duty.
Aircraft have been put in 'active' storage.Known MiG-21 aces. Egyptian MiG-21PFM in 1982This list does not include operators of Chinese copies / licensed manufactured versions known as the.
Dcs Mig 21 Missions
Information is based on Mig-21 (2008).: 23 in service as of December 2018.: 5 in service as of December 2018.: 12 aircraft in service as of December 2018. Upgraded in 2003 to MiG-21BisD/UMD standard and refurbished again in 2014. They will remain operational until at least 2022.: 12 aircraft in service as of December 2018.: 3 in service as of December 2018.: MiG-21 FL version withdrawn December 2013, MIG-21 PF (MIG-21 FL or Type 77) withdrawn in January 2014. Upgraded MIG-21bis to be retired by 2021–2022.: 12 aircraft in service as of December 2018.: 9 in service as of December 2018.: 6 MIG-21bis + 2 MiG-21UM Trainers reported as refurbished and delivered from Romania, July 2014 from. MiG-21F-13, MiG-21PFM, MiG-21MF, MiG-21bis and MiG-21U in service, as well as the similar looking.
Dcs Mig 21 Cockpit
will be replaced by F-16s from 2017 onwards.: 3 as of service in 2019. Planning to replace with MiG 29 variants.Former operators.