Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed: Books - History

The MiG-21 - The Legendary Fighter/Interceptor in Russian and Worldwide Use, 1956 to the Present

This book presents a detailed look at the design and development of the legendary MiG-21, including its powerplant, armament, upgrades, and variants. The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 was the standard fighter/interceptor aircraft of the Warsaw Pact and it stood up to its western counterparts for decades.

This single-engine, supersonic jet fighter entered service in 1959, and in addition to the Soviet Union, almost every eastern European military operated the Mach 2 fighter, including East Germany (which flew more than 500 aircraft of this type), Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia, and others.
With approximately 11,000 of all types built, the MiG-21 has been produced in greater numbers than almost any other combat aircraft in history, and has also seen combat with such countries as Vietnam, China, Syria, Iraq, Angola, and others.

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (Osprey)

The MiG-21 (NATO reporting name Fishbed) firmly holds the title of the world's most widely built and used jet fighter, with more than 10,000 units rolling off the lines of three plants in the former Soviet Union. The type was also built under license in India and Czechslovakia, and without license in China until the late 2000s.
Designed as a Mach-2 light tactical fighter, its original prototype, the Ye-6/1, was first flown in 1958. The first production variant of the type, designated the MiG-21F, appeared in 1960 and its improved sub-variant, the MiG-21F-13 (Type 74, NATO reporting name Fishbed-C), was made available for export by 1961. It was a simplified daytime short-range, clear-weather interceptor and tactical fighter.

Contents: Introduction - Design and Development - Technical Specifications and Variants - Operational History - Conclusion - Bibliography and Further Reading.

Silver Birds over the Estuary - The MiG-21 in Yugoslav and Serbian Air Force service 1962-2019

The MiG-21 has been built in greater numbers than any other combat aircraft since 1945. It also saw service with more air forces than any other type manufactured over the last 70 years. Locally designated the 'L' (for Lovac or fighter), for more than half a century over 260 MiG-21s in 12 different versions and sub-variants formed the backbone of the Yugoslav Air Force and Air Defence Force (JRV i PVO) and later the Serbian Air Force (RV i PVO).
Entering service at the peak of the Cold War, the MiG-21 quickly replaced the US-supplied North American F-86E and F-86D Sabres in the Yugoslav inventory. The first version, MiG-21F-13, was followed by the MiG-21PFM in 1967, and MiG-21M/MF in 1970. Serving with the 204th Fighter Regiment, the task of these fighters was the air defence of Belgrade, capital of Yugoslavia.

Whenever a new and more advanced variant became available, older types were handed over to other units. This is how the 117th Fighter Regiment came into being, based at the famous underground air base outside the town of Bihac. The Pristina-based 83rd Fighter Regiment followed in 1972.
In Tito's Yugoslavia, the MiG-21 was also deployed for strategic reconnaissance. In 1968-1969, the JRV i PVO introduced the MiG-21R to service, which became the primary photo- and electronic reconnaissance platform of the entire military. The importance of the fleet was further increased in 1984, when US-made Fairchild KA-112 LORAP containers were added to their arsenal.

The final and most widely used version became the MiG-21bis, delivered to Yugoslavia in the 1977-1983 period. By the time of the dissolution of the country, in 1991-1992, it formed the backbone of the fleet and saw intensive combat service as a fighter-bomber during the conflicts in Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Of particular interest during this period was the widespread use of diverse ordnance of native and NATO-origins.

The book is based upon the author's extensive research in Serbian and Croatian archives, museums and interviews with veterans that flew this type. Most of the photos in this volume have never been published before.

MiG-21 Units of the Vietnam War (Osprey)

Having honed their piloting skills on the subsonic MiG-17 and transonic MiG-19, the Vietnamese Peoples' Air Force (VPAF) received their first examples of the legendary MiG-21 supersonic fighter in 1966.
Soon thrown into combat over North Vietnam, the guided-missile equipped MiG-21 proved a deadly opponent for the USAF, Navy and Marine Corps crews striking at targets deep into communist territory.

Most of the VPAF's 12+ aces scored their bulk of their kills in the MiG-21, which was then the best fighter produced by Russia's premier fast jet manufacturer, Mikoyan Gurevich.
Well over 200 MiG-21s were supplied to the VPAF, and the numerous models and the schemes they wore are chronicled in great detail in this unique volume.

MiG-21

Die MiG-21 war der Luftüberlegenheitsjäger des Ostens und faktisch alle Staaten des Warschauer Vertrages nutzten dieses enorm vielseitige Kampfflugzeug. In zahllosen Versionen bot die agile Maschine ihren westlichen Pendants über Jahrzehnte Paroli und war ein gefürchteter Gegner.

Mehr als 10.000 Exemplare aller Varianten entstanden ? damit ist die MiG-21 bis heute eines der meistgebauten Kampfflugzeuge nach dem 2. Weltkrieg. Auch die NVA hatte rund 500 Maschinen im Einsatz. Die MiG-21 wurde in 43 Staaten exportiert; etliche Länder produzierten den Typ zudem in Lizenz.

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