Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21MF Aircraft Data
Photo ID 250296 by Alex Staruszkiewicz. Czech Republic Air Force Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 21MF, 7701
Single-engine, light, multi-role, fighter-bomber.

The Soviet Mig-21 'Fishbed' is an iconoclastic stalwart of Cold War military aviation. To this day, the Mig-21 and its numerous variants remain the most widely-produced fighter in history. The 'MF' is a third generation Mig-21, and widely used by the USSR and client states.

The biggest difference between the Mig-21MF and it's predecessor, the Mig-21M, was the fitting of a R-13-300 turbojet and a RP-22 RADAR. The Mig-21M is an export version of the Mig-21SM. The MF's engine and RADAR come from the Mig-21SM. The Mig-21MF was built in Gorky from 1971 to 1974.

Many of the Mig-21MF's in service have been superseded by the later Mig-21bis, or other Mig variants. The Czech Republic gave up their MF's for the Saab Jas-39C 'Gripens' in 2004. Many air arms in developing countries still rely on the Mig-21 for their air support tasks.
  • Country of Origin: USSR
  • First Flight: 2/14/55
  • Initial Service Date: 1959
  • No. Built: 1,200
  • No. In Service: 900 (approx.)
  • No. of Hardpoints: 5
  • Crew: 1

Power:

One Tumansky R-13-300 afterburning turbojet at 14,308 lbf

Weapons:

1 x internal GSh-23L 23mm. cannon with 200 rds.
4 x R-3S/R (AA-2 'Atoll') AAM's
2 x UB-32-57, or UB-16-57 unguided rocket pods.
4 x 250/500kg. unguided bombs
4 x R-60/M (AA-8 'Aphid') AAM's

Dimensions:

Length: 40 ft. 4 in.
Wing Span: 23 ft. 5.7 in.
Wing Area: 247.6 sq.ft
Height: 13 ft. 6 in.
Empty Weight: 11,790 lbs
Max. Weight: 20,720 lbs
Max. Ordnance Load: 2,865 lbs
Internal Fuel: 5,842 lbs

Performance:

Max. Speed: 1,386 mph
Service Ceiling: 59,700 ft.
Normal Range: 565 nm
Max. Range: 843 nm

Operators:

[Current MF operators]: Cuba (FAR, 60), Egypt (Air Force, 110), Ethiopia (Air Force, 48), Guinea (FAG, 8), India (IAF, 158), Libya (LARAF, 50), Mali (Air Force, 2), North Korea (KPAAF, 150?), Romania (FAR, 70), Sudan (SAF, 18), Syria (SAF, 135), Uganda (Air Force, 18), Vietnam (VPAAF, 60), Yemen (YAF, 21).

Random great photos of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21MF:

Photo ID 253292 by Matthias Becker. Czech Republic Air Force Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 21MF, 7701
Photo ID 127636 by Alastair T. Gardiner. Czechoslovakia Air Force Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 21MF, 1112
Photo ID 148738 by Lieuwe Hofstra. East Germany Air Force Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 21MF, 779
Photo ID 107220 by Chris Albutt. Poland Air Force Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 21MF, 6510
Photo ID 43842 by Alex Staruszkiewicz. Czech Republic Air Force Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 21MF, 7711
Photo ID 8765 by Lieuwe Hofstra. Czech Republic Air Force Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 21MF, 4307
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