The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 was the second Soviet supersonic interceptor and fighter. Designed by the Russian engineer Col. Artem Ivanovich Mikoyan, it performed its maiden flight in 1956, entering service in 1959 to replace the MiG-19. It was the most famous combat aircraft of the Cold War and it is still in service in several countries due to its low-cost and reliability. It first saw combat action in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. It was also used by North Vietnam from 1966 during the Vietnam War, during which it shot down many American fighters and bombers, many of which were F-4 Phantoms and F-105 Thunderchiefs.
Below, a Soviet Air Force's MiG-21PFM version taking off
Technical Characteristics
The Mikoyan MiG-21 was single-seat supersonic aircraft, which was fitted with mid-mounted delta wings (though they were actually mounted just below the midline of fuselage. Forming an almost perfect triangle, the wings are slightly cropped at the tip, with the leading edge swept at 57°. The tail horizontal stabilizers were an arrow-swept design. The all-metal fuselage was a simple light alloy monocoque of oval cross-section. It was also equipped with retractable, tricycle landing gear. The cockpit was pressurized and airconditioned. The ejection seat could be used at heights above 110 m. The aircraft was fitted with an RP-21A Sapfir radar, with a gyroscopic-stabilized radar dish, mounted in the nose of aircraft.
Armament
The MiG-21 was armed with a 30-mm NR-30 cannon, which was mounted in the lower right side of fuselage. It carried K-13 air-to-air missiles, and 250-kg bombs.
Specifications (MiG-21F)
Type: supersonic, jet interceptor and fighter aircraft
Length: 15.76 m (52 ft)
Wing Span: 7.15 m (23 ft)
Wing Area: 23 m²
Height: 4.5 m (15 ft)
Weight: 5.5 tons (empty)
Powerplant: R-11 F-300, two-spool after-burning turbojet
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.0 at high altitudes; Mach 1.7 at low altitudes.
Combat Range: 1060 km
Below, two Soviet MiG-21 Fishbed aircraft about to touch down at an airbase in 1962.
A MiG-21MF parked at a Yugoslavian military airbase in the 1970s.
An Indian Air Force's MiG-21F aircraft in flight
