MiG-21

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
A MiG-21 at Farnborough 2002
Description
Role	Light interceptor
Crew	1
First Flight
Entered Service
Manufacturer	MIG MAPO, Russia
Dimensions
Length	15.76 m	51 ft 8.5 in
Wingspan	7.15 m	23 ft 5 1/2 in
Height	4.12 m	13 ft 6.2 in
Wing area	m²	ft²
Weights
Empty	5350 kg	11,795 lb
Loaded	kg	lb
Maximum takeoff	9661 kg	21,299 lb
Powerplant
Engines	One Tumanskii R-25-300 turbojet
Thrust	69.58 kN	15,650 lbf
Performance
Maximum speed	2230 km/h	1385mph
Combat range	450-500 km	280-311miles
Ferry range	km	miles
Service ceiling	19,000 m	62,366 ft
Rate of climb	7200m/min	23,622 ft/min
Wing loading	kg/m²	lb/ft²
Thrust/Weight
Avionics
Avionics
Armament
Guns	One centreline twin-barrelled GSh-23 23mm cannon
Ordnance	2000 kg (4409 lb) on four underwing hardpoints

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO reporting name Fishbed) is a fighter aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It is the most common post-World War II aircraft, with the exception of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules.

The MiG-21 saw frequent action in the Vietnam War and was one of the most advanced aircraft at the time. However, many North Vietnamese aces preferred flying the MiG-19, due to the wingload on the MiG-21's wings. Employing a delta wing configuration, it was the first successful Soviet aircraft combining fighter and interceptor 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.

It was also used extensively in Middle East conflicts of the 1960s and 1970s, by the air forces of Egypt, Syria and Iraq against Israel.

It was used also in early stages of the wars in Afghanistan but soon outclassed by the newer MiG-23 and MiG-27.

The first prototype (called Ye-4, writed E-4) flew in 14 June 1956, entering service in 1958.

Versions:

• E-4 - firs prototype
• MiG-21 - first series of fighters
• MiG-21F (prototype E-6T)
• E-66 - record breaking version
• MiG-21F-13 - exportt version (block 74)
• MiG-21PF (prototype E-7, block 76)
• MiG-21SPS
• MiG-21PFM
• MiG-21PFMA (E-8, block 88)
• MiG-21M (version with R-13 engine)
• MiG-21MF (version with R-13 engine)
• MiG-21STM (E-9, block 94 and 96) (version with R-13 engine)
• MiG-21bis (version with R-25 engine)
• MiG-21U - two seater version (block 66)
• MiG-21US - two seater version (block 68)
• MiG-21UM - two seater version (block 69)

Currently MiG-21s, in the F/L/bis variants are currently produced under license by HAL of India. However, following a series of about 250 crashes over the last decade, and acquiring the nickname "flying coffin", the Indian Air Force has announced that the MiG-21 will be phased out of service.

Related content
Related Development	Chengdu J-7
Similar Aircraft	F-104 Starfighter - Dassault Mirage III
Designation Series	MiG-15 - MiG-17 - MiG-19 - MiG-21 - MiG-23 - MiG-25 - MiG-27
Related Lists	List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union and the CIS - List of fighter aircraft

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