One of the best fighter of all time ever built, Mig-21-Fishbed, shocked the world by its first appearance over the Vietnam's sky by its phenomenal agility.  Flying as twice as the speed of sound - mach 2- and was one of the most maneuverable fighters.  it easily out turned the US fighter F-4 Phantom in Vietnam War, and all other fighters in the West.  Enter service in 1959 in Soviet's airforce.  There have been total 25,000 aircraft serviced in many countries' airforces around the world.  One more time, it consisted to the West that USSR was the good competitor in the arm race and perhap the most dangerous "enemy" whom US and Allied nations had ever enountered.

       Even though range is the weakness  of Mig-21, and so are the acquisition equipment or range, no one could ignore the Fishbed's performance.  It doesn't have any computers or fancy navigation equipment, but still proved itself as a ultimate dog - fighting machine.

    Technical Information:

    Manufacturer             Mikoyan-Gurevich OKB
    Designation              Mig-21
    NATO Code              Fishbed
    Type                           Fighter
    Crew                          One pilot
    Length                        15 m
    Height                         4.5 m
    Wingspan                  7.5 m
    Wingarea                  23 m^2
    Empty Weight           6050 kg
    Max Weight              10050 kg
    Engines                     Single
    Powerplant               Tumansky R-25 turbojet
    Thrust (each)            16535 lbs
    Range                       1800 km
    Ceiling                      16000 m (54500 ft

Mig-21-93

      Mean while MIG MAPO introduces its new version of Mig-21 - Mig-21-93.   A prototype has successfully shot down an aerial target with a beyond visual range Vympel RVV-AE missile (R-77/AA-12 Adder). The active radar-guided RVV-AE and Phazotron Kopyo (Spear) light-weight multimode radar are key elements of the MiG-21-93 upgrade being developed for Indian air force aircraft.

A subsonic target was destroyed in a direct hit by the RVV-AE, which was fitted with a telemetry package in place of the warhead. The launch was made at 12km (6nm) in a head-on engagement. The target was at 20,000ft (6,100m) and the fighter at 13,000ft. The test was intended to include two firings, the second with in armed missile, but its launch was cancelled following destruction of the target.  The Kopyo radar has a 57km detection range against a 5 m^2 (54ft^2) radar cross section, or fighter-sized target. It can track eight targets and shoot at two simultaneously. A target shoot down using the Vympel R-73 (AA-11 Archer) infrared guided short-range air-to-air missile was completed in April. Test firings of the Vympel R-27 (AA-10 Alamo) semi active radar air-to-air missile and Zvezda Kh-25MP (AS-12 Kegler) antiradar missile are planned.  Alexander Manucharov, MAPO chief designer and the MG-21-93 programme leader says that about half the planned test flights have been completed, while the development and evaluation programme is on schedule. Manucharov expresses concern about the low reliability of avionics components supplied by Indian industry.

      Meanwhile, Peru has ordered 30 RVV-AEs. Design bureau Vympel, which normally builds only prototype weapons, says the low production volume means it will build the missiles. Peru acquired secondhand MAPO MiG-29 Fulcrums from Belarus in 1995, and later signed a maintenance contract with MAPO that includes an upgrade to carry the long-range missile.
 

Two Mid-21 Fishbed heading one o'clock

Mig-21-Fishbed viewed from the left