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Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

Updated: Wikipedia source

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (Russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-21; NATO reporting name: Fishbed) is a supersonic jet fighter and interceptor aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. Its nicknames include: "Balalaika", because its planform resembles the stringed musical instrument of the same name; "Ołówek", Polish for "pencil", due to the shape of its fuselage, and "Én Bạc", meaning "silver swallow", in Vietnamese. Approximately 60 countries across four continents have flown the MiG-21, and it still serves many nations seven decades after its maiden flight. It set aviation records, becoming the most-produced supersonic jet aircraft in aviation history, the most-produced combat aircraft since the Korean War and, previously, the longest production run of any combat aircraft.

Infobox

Type
Fighter and interceptor aircraft
National origin
Soviet Union
Designer
Mikoyan-Gurevich
Status
In service
Primary users
Soviet Air Forces (historical) Indian Air Force (historical)
Number built
11,496 (10,645 produced in the USSR, 840 in India, 194 in Czechoslovakia)
Manufactured
1959–1986
Introduction date
1959 (MiG-21F)
First flight
16 June 1955 (Ye-4)
Variant
Chengdu J-7

Tables

· Development › Production
Moscow
Moscow
Gorky
Moscow
83 MiG-21F; 513 MiG-21F-13; 525 MiG-21PF; 233 MiG-21PFL; 944 MiG-21PFS/PFM; 448 MiG-21R; 145 MiG-21S/SN; 349 MiG-21SM; 281 MiG-21SMT; 2013 MiG-21bis; 231 MiG-21MF
MiG-21U (all export units); MiG-21PF (all export units); MiG-21FL (all units not built by HAL); MiG-21M (all); 15 MiG-21MT (all)
Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Gorky
Tbilisi
83 MiG-21F; 513 MiG-21F-13; 525 MiG-21PF; 233 MiG-21PFL; 944 MiG-21PFS/PFM; 448 MiG-21R; 145 MiG-21S/SN; 349 MiG-21SM; 281 MiG-21SMT; 2013 MiG-21bis; 231 MiG-21MF
17 MiG-21 and MiG-21F; 181 MiG-21U izdeliye 66–400 and 66–600 (1962–1966); 347 MiG-21US (1966–1970); 1133 MiG-21UM (1971 to end)
Gorky
83 MiG-21F; 513 MiG-21F-13; 525 MiG-21PF; 233 MiG-21PFL; 944 MiG-21PFS/PFM; 448 MiG-21R; 145 MiG-21S/SN; 349 MiG-21SM; 281 MiG-21SMT; 2013 MiG-21bis; 231 MiG-21MF
Moscow
MiG-21U (all export units); MiG-21PF (all export units); MiG-21FL (all units not built by HAL); MiG-21M (all); 15 MiG-21MT (all)
Tbilisi
17 MiG-21 and MiG-21F; 181 MiG-21U izdeliye 66–400 and 66–600 (1962–1966); 347 MiG-21US (1966–1970); 1133 MiG-21UM (1971 to end)
Libya vs Egypt conflicts: MiG-21s in air-to-air combat · Operational history › Libyan–Egyptian War
22 July 1977
22 July 1977
Date
22 July 1977
Side
Libyan Arab Republic Air Force
Aircraft scoring kill
Mirage 5DE
Victim
1 MiG-21MF
23 July 1977
23 July 1977
Date
23 July 1977
Side
Egyptian Air Force
Aircraft scoring kill
MiG-21MFs
Victim
3 (or 4) LARAF Mirages + 1 LARAF MiG-23MS
1979
1979
Date
1979
Side
Egyptian Air Force
Aircraft scoring kill
MiG-21MF
Victim
1 LARAF MiG-23MS
Date
Side
Aircraft scoring kill
Victim
22 July 1977
Libyan Arab Republic Air Force
Mirage 5DE
1 MiG-21MF
23 July 1977
Egyptian Air Force
MiG-21MFs
3 (or 4) LARAF Mirages + 1 LARAF MiG-23MS
1979
Egyptian Air Force
MiG-21MF
1 LARAF MiG-23MS

References

  1. "AZ" – abbreviation for Russian "Авиационный Завод" – АЗ (Aviation Plant).
  2. Now called Nizhny Novgorod.
  3. Mikoyan MiG-21
  4. Lotnicza Polska
    https://web.archive.org/web/20110606022813/http://lotniczapolska.pl/MiG-21-%E2%80%93-naddzwiekowy-olowek-,231
  5. Vasconcelos, Miguel (2013). Civil Airworthiness Certification: Former Military High-Performance Aircraft (Report). United States Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration.
  6. odin
    https://odin.tradoc.army.mil/WEG/Asset/6e76cf95da7f7ee76e8f4b3d643c027e
  7. How to Make War: A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Warfare in the Twenty-first Century
  8. "Afterburner/Engine simulation question - ED Forums"
    https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=125066
  9. Soviet Hammer
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170702092826/http://www.soviethammer.info/blog/799377-mig-21bis
  10. www
    http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fighter/j7.html
  11. "English translation of a Soviet manual of the MIG-21, specifically the MIG-21F-13"
    https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP80T00246A030200200001-3.pdf
  12. Abrams 2025, p. 8.
  13. Abrams 2025, p. 6.
  14. Abrams 2025, pp. 6–7.
  15. Military Watch Magazine
    https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/nkorea-fighter-8million-mig21bis-kazakh-indigenous-upgrades
  16. India and the Soviet Union: Trade and Technology Transfer
  17. The Economic Times
    https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/meet-retired-air-marshal-brijesh-jayal-who-flew-indias-first-supersonic-fighter-jet-into-the-country/articleshow/123384337.cms?from=mdr
  18. The Economic Times
    https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/from-warhorse-to-legend-mig-21-to-bow-out-after-62-years-in-indian-skies/articleshow/122821727.cms
  19. Bharat Rakshak
    https://web.archive.org/web/20110608192646/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965War/Chapter7.html
  20. The Wire
    https://thewire.in/security/mig-21-squadron-retired-curtain-closing-iaf-most-abiding-fighter
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