MiG-21
Quick Summary
The MiG-21 is a lightweight, single-engine Soviet interceptor aircraft developed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau. First flown in 1955 and entering service in 1958, it was capable of flying at twice the speed of sound. The basic version was a simple, low-cost day fighter that was highly maneuverable, easy to maintain, and could operate from unimproved airfields. It became a principal high-altitude interceptor for North Vietnam and formed the backbone of Arab air forces through the 1970s. The MiG-21 was produced in over 9,000 units across 32 versions for the Soviet Union and more than 40 other countries, with a licensed version also produced in China.12
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MiG…surpassed in 1955 by the MiG-21, a lightweight, single-engine interceptor capable of flying at twice the speed of sound. The basic version, which entered service in 1958, was a simple, low-cost day fighter that was highly maneuverable, easy to maintain, and able to operate from unimproved airfields. It became the…
Read More…surpassed in 1955 by the MiG-21, a lightweight, single-engine interceptor capable of flying at twice the speed of sound. The basic version, which entered service in 1958, was a simple, low-cost day fighter that was highly maneuverable, easy to maintain, and able to operate from unimproved airfields. It became the…
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military aircraftMach 2The MiG-21 was a small delta-wing, single-seat aircraft designed as a specialized daylight interceptor, but it soon proved amenable to modification for a broad range of missions and became the most widely produced jet fighter ever. It was a formidable threat to U.S. airmen over North…
Read MoreThe MiG-21 was a small delta-wing, single-seat aircraft designed as a specialized daylight interceptor, but it soon proved amenable to modification for a broad range of missions and became the most widely produced jet fighter ever. It was a formidable threat to U.S. airmen over North…
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