MiG-21, A.I.Mikoyan/M.I.Gurevich 'Fishbed'/'Mongol'

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 (more and more powerful), 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-21's has begun, usually for export with Western electronics.

India did build MiG-21 until 1987; China still builds MiG-21, exporting them with the 'F-7' designation.

Over 10000 must have been built.

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Prototypes:

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

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Modifications, experimental and record setting:
• A-144/MiG-21I was 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;
• Ye-8 - experimental version with canards and underfuselage air intake (like one used later on the F-16).

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Modifications, production:
• MiG-21 - pre-production series;
• MiG-21F - first mass production modification;
• MiG-21PF - second basic production version, much more capable than MiG-21F;
• MiG-21FL - export version of MiG-21PF;
• MiG-21PFS - similar to MiG-21PF, with modified flaps;
• MiG-21PFM 'Fishbed-F' - mass production version with new RL-2 radar;
• MiG-21PFMA - improved multirole MiG-21PFM;
• MiG-21F-13 - first variant to carry AA-missiles;
• MiG-21MF - similar to MiG-21PFMA with new lighter engine and some other minor changes;
• MiG-21bis 'Fishbed-N' - ;
• MiG-21UM 'Mongol' - 2 seat trainer;
• MiG-21F-93 - recent (export?) upgrade;

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Few more MiG-21 pictures:
• Soaking under the rain... (30k) By Kimmo Ketolainen [email protected] at the FUNET FTP server
• Silouete (12k) with some technical data
• Collection of MiG-21 photos from different sources by Roy McCartey;

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MiG-21 reference:
1. Арсеньев Е., Баранов Д. Истребитель МиГ-21ПФ. Штрихи к портрету. // М-Хобби. - 2000. - №4. - С. 34-41.
2. Арсеньев Е., Фомин А. 60 лет конструкторскому бюро им. А.И.Микояна. // Авиация и космонавтика. - 1999. - №12. - С. 1-11.
3. Гордон Е.И. Рождение долгожителя. // Крылья Родины. - №№ 10-12/92, 1-6,9/93.
4. Гордон Е.И., Климов В. МиГ-21. - Т. 1. - М.: "Крылья Родины", 1994.
5. Гордон Е.И., Климов В. МиГ-21. - Т. 2. - М.: "Крылья Родины", 1994.
6. Ильин В.Е. Боевая карьера. // Крылья Родины. - 1993. - №9.
7. Кондратьев В. Рукотворные молнии. // Моделист-конструктор. - 1984. - №7. - С.17-20.
8. Котлобовский А.В. МиГ-21 в локальных конфликтах. - Киев: "АрхивПресс", 1997.
9. Пстыго И.И. Испытания. // Крылья Родины. - 1993. - №2. - С. 7.
10. Рябинкин Н.И. Современные боевые самолёты. - Мн.: "Элайда", 1997. - С. 19-25.
11. Цветков С. Финские "МиГи" 35-й год в строю. // Мир авиации. - 1997. - №2. - С. 51-52.
12. Эгенбург Э. Сверхзвуковой реактивный "МиГ". // Крылья Родины. - 1984. - №№ 2-7.

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MiG-21 pages:
• MiG-21
• Salnik Andrej's Homepage
• Cavanaugh Flight Museum - Mig-21
• MiG-21 at Virtual Aircraft Museum
• MiG-21, 'Fishbed'/'Mongol'
• MiG-21 at Yanko's Russian Weapons Catalog; (8/18/97)
• MiG-21 Page by Thomas Kraft - excellent one. No more comments.
• Another MiG-21 Page, at Hungary. Strong competitor to two above. Bi-lingual. Has also a lot of pictures here
• One more Hungarian MiG-21 Page!
• DOO Flightsimulator page by Oleg Devjatkin;

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Since 04/06/96 you are pilot number visiting the MiG-21 Page according to Digital Counter;

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Modified May 9, 1996

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