The Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 21 first entered service in 1959, it evolved via numerous versions in to the famous MiG 21bis - code named "Fishbed" by NATO forces. A total in excess of 11,000 of these jet fighter bombers have been produced and were still serving in the Air Forces of over 40 nations in 2004. The picture above depicts a MiG 21PF. Main MiG 21 variants: - MiG 21F-13
The 1960 version was first MiG 21 to be armed with air-to-air missiles and was also built under licence in India, China and Czechoslovakia.
MiG 21PF
The MiG 21PF lost the cannon of the earlier versions but gained Sapfir radar and the improved performance R-11F turbojet engine.
MiG 21PF
This 1970 version regained a cannon, the GSh-23 twin barrelled cannon, after missile unreliability was recognised as a problem and also was fitted with a R-13-300 engine to meet the increased performance requirements of the military.
MiG 21bis
Entering active service in 1972 the "Fishbed", as NATO called it, was a major re-design combining the more powerful R-25 engine with a new improved missile system and radar resulting in a true any weather caperable fighter bomber. The MiG 21bis was also made under licence in India and remained in production until 1987.
MiG 21bis "Fishbed" specifications: Crew: Pilot only Engine: Single Tumanskii R-25 turbojet of 16,000 lb thrust with afterburner Maximum weight: 7960 kg Length: 15.76 m Wingspan: 7.15 m Service ceiling: 16,100 m Maximum speed: 2230 km/h (mach 2.3)
Armament: Single 23 mm twin-barrelled 200 round GSh-23 cannon Up to four Vympel K-13 or Molniya / Vympel R-60 infrared and radar guided air-to-air missiles Maximum bomb-load of two 500 kg and two 250 kg bombs Up to four air-to-ground rocket pods
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