Overview
The Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO codenamed the Fishbed) is a Soviet supersonic interceptor that was originally first flown in 1955 and entered service in the Soviet Air Forces in 1959. This aircraft is most well known for its service in the Vietnam War as well as in the Arab-Israeli Conflicts of 1967, 1973 and 1982.
Main Variants
Soviet Variants
- MiG-21 Fishbed-A - First variant, only 5 built
- MiG-21F Fishbed-B - First production variant, 93 built
- MiG-21F-13 Fishbed-C - Added ability to carry AA-2 Atoll
- MiG-21PF Fishbed-D - All-weather version with RP-21 radar
- MiG-21PFL Fishbed-D - Export version for North Vietnam
- MiG-21FL Fishbed-D - Export version for Third World Nations
- MiG-21PFS Fishbed-D/F - Added blown flaps and brake chute
- MiG-21PFM Fishbed-F - Added RP-21M radar and reintroduced cannons
- MiG-21R Fishbed-H - Recon version, added enlarged spine
- MiG-21S Fishbed-J - Fighter version of MiG-21R
- MiG-21M Fishbed-J - Export version of MiG-21S
- MiG-21I Analog - Tu-144 wing testbed
- MiG-21SM Fishbed-J - Engine upgrade of MiG-21S
- MiG-21MF Fishbed-J - export version of MiG-21SM
- MiG-21MT Fishbed-J - MiG-21MF with increased fuel capacity, not exported
- MiG-21SMT Fishbed-K - MiG-21SM with increased fuel capacity and larger spine.
- MiG-21ST Fishbed-K - MiG-21SMT with smaller tank, identical to MiG-21bis
- MiG-21bis Fishbed-L - Final variant of MiG-21 with R-25-300 engine for Soviet PVO Strany
- MiG-21bis Fishbed-N - MiG-21bis for Soviet Air Forces
P. R. Chinese variants
- Type 1962 Fishbed-C - MiG-21F-13s imported and used by the PLAAF in 1962
- Type 62 Fishbed-C - MiG-21F-13s assembled from kits from the Soviet Union
- J-7 Fishbed-C - MiG-21F-13 reverse engineered in the P.R.C.
