MiG-21

Single-engine interceptor/fighter. Entered service in 1960. Most widely-used Soviet fighter in postwar era. Many exported to foreign air forces.
This tailed-delta fighter was in production for more than twenty years. Early MiG-21's were simple good-weather interceptors with a simple ranging radar, inadequately armed and with a very short operational range. Later versions were vastly more capable. They could be recognized by larger nose cones, housing radar, and enlarged fuselage spines. They were also equipped with new and more powerful engines, and blown flaps. 'Mongol' is the trainer version. Recently a series of upgrades of MiG-21s has begun, usually with Western electronics. India did build MiG-21s until 1987; China still builds MiG-21s, exporting them with the 'F-7' designation. Over 10000 must have been built.

Prototypes:
• E-4 - tailed delta fighter with dissapointing performance;
• E-5 - modification of E-4 with new engine;
• E-6 - modification of E-5 with canard foreplanes;
• E-7 - prototype of MiG-21PF;
• E-9 - prototype of MiG-21PFMA;
• 'Fishbed-B' - pre-production version;

Modifications, experimental:
• A-144/MiG-21I - fitted with the wing of the Tu-144 supersonic airliner
• E-33 - one of record-setting versions;
• E-66 - version with additional rocket booster;
• E-76 - just another record-setting version;

Modifications, production:
• MiG-21 - pre-production series. One 5100kg a.b. TDR Tumansky R-11. 1956.
• MiG-21F Fishbed-C (120K) - first mass production modification.
  MiG-21F is the first large scale production version, built also in Chechoslovakia and as a Xian J-7 in China. Simple good weather fighter.
  One 5750kg(a.b.) TDR R-37F? (Updated R-11?). M2. 1958.
  More: 1 (67K).
  Link: MiG-21F "Fishbed" based at United States Air Force Museum.
• MiG-21PF Fishbed-D/E - MiG-21PF - the second basic production version. All-weather interceptor with search-tracking radar in enlarged inlet cone. Increased inlet diameter and enlarged forward fuselage. More fuel in proportionally waisted mid-fuselage. Internal guns deleted to modify front airbrake. Larger main landing gear with buldges below and above wing roots. Pilot boom moved above inlet. 'Fishbed-E' is a version with 2 GSh-23mm guns on fuselage pylon and redesigned brake parashute housing. One 5950kg TDR R-11F.
  More: 1.
• MiG-21FL - MiG-21FL is an export version of MiG-21PF with RL-2 'Spin Scan-B' radar. License built in India as IAF type 77. One 6200kg TDR R-11F-300. M2.
• MiG-21PFS - MiG-21PFS is similar to MiG-21PF but with SPS blowing flaps as a standard option.
• MiG-21PFM Fishbed-F - another mass production version incorporating PF and PFS improvements with increased fin chord and RL-2 'Spin Scan-B' radar
• MiG-21PFMA Fishbed-J - MiG-21PFMA is improved multirole PFM with more powerful 'Jay Bird' radar; Additional wing pilons for drop tanks; 0/0 ejector seat; angle off attack indicator; multipurpose underfuselage (fuel tank or gun pack) and wing (K-13A missiles or bombs or rocket packs) pylons; optional GSh-23L gun.
• MiG-21F-13 Fishbed-C - ?
• MiG-21MF - similar to MiG-21PFMA with new lighter engine and some other minor changes. One 6600kg Tumanski R-13-300. 1970.
  More: 1, 2.
• Mig-21bis Fishbed-L/N - Multirole version of new-generation PFMA/MF line. Further revision to the dorsal fairing and introduction of more advanced avionics. "Fishbed-N" version got a new 7500kg Tumanski R-25 engine (with lower fuel consumption) and latest avionics.
  More: 1 (61K), 2 (102K), 3 (48K), 4 (40K), 5 (31K).
• MiG-21U/UM/US/UTI Mongol - Two seat trainer versions of MiG-21.
  • MiG-21U Mongol A/B - initial trainer version, based on the MiG-21F, but with two cocpits in tandem, larger mainwheels and tyres appearing on the PF version. Other specific features are one-piece forward aibrake, pilot tube above inlet (unlike on the F), and deleted armament. Later versions (Mongol-B) had increased-chord vertical tail surfaces, deeper dorsal spine and repositioned parachute housing.
  • MiG-21US (61K) - similar to MiG-21U, but with retractible periscope for instructor (rear cocpite) and SPS blowing flaps.
  • MiG-21UM based on the later MiG-21MF. It has four underwing pylons and R-13-300 turbojet.
• MiG-21F-93 Fishbed update - recent (export?) upgrade of MiG-21 with new avionics and accomodation of modern veapon systems (AA missiles). 1995?
• MiG-21LW - Czech version
• MiG-21 Lancer (39K) (August 21, 1996) - It may look like a MiG-21 Fishbed on the surface, but underneath it is an upgraded MiG-21 Lancer for the Romanian Air Force. JDSM's editor Michael J. Gething visited Elbit of Haifa, Israel, and Aerostar of Bacau, Romania, for a full briefing on this important upgrade programme. See `Romania's Lancer Debuts' in the September issue of Jane's Defence Systems Modernisation.

Links:
• MiG-21 Page by Thomas Kraft - excellent one. No more comments.
• Another MiG-21 Page, at Hungary. Strong competior to two above.
• Has also a lot of pictures here.
• One more Hungarian MiG-21 Page.
• Collection of MiG-21 photos from different sources by Roy McCartey