The MiG-21 SPS-K is a premium jet found in the German tech tree, designed for air superiority and interception roles. It can carry a mix of missiles, providing multiple engagement options against enemy aircraft. While it lacks significant air-to-ground capabilities, its high speed and decent maneuverability make it a formidable opponent in air combat. However, without internal countermeasures or an onboard gun, you are forced to choose between carrying external countermeasures or equipping a gun pod.
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| R-3S, R-3R, R-60 and R-13M1 air-to-air missiles | Limited amount of air-to-air missiles |
| CCIP for gun and rockets | The gun is limited to just 250 rounds |
| Decent top speed and good maneuverability at high speeds | You have to choose between a gun pod and flares/chaff |
| The internal armor and compact profile provide the plane with enhanced survivability | Bad energy retention in turns |
| Good acceleration and climb rate | Radar struggles at low altitudes due to ground clutter |
| Radar can slave R-60s for easier target locking | Limited payload for ground attack |
Flight Performance
The MiG-21 SPS-K delivers exceptional flight performance, particularly at higher altitudes. At altitudes of a few thousand meters, you can expect speeds of 1,250+ km/h (above Mach 1), making it a fast jet for its rank and faster than many of its competitors including the AV-8A, Yak-38 and T-2. This makes it a formidable opponent in air-to-air combat. This high-speed capability allows it to quickly disengage from unfavorable situations or pursue fleeing targets with ease.
Powering the MiG-21 SPS-K is the Tumansky R-11F2S-300 engine, which provides 5,300 kgf of thrust. This powerful engine enables an impressive climb rate and great overall flight performance. While its high-speed capabilities excel at altitude, the MiG-21's agility can feel somewhat limited at lower speeds and in dogfights due to its poor energy retention.
Air-to-Air Capabilities
The MiG-21 SPS-K offers a versatile selection of missiles, including the R-3R, R-3S, R-13M1, and R-60, which can be equipped in various combinations to suit your playstyle. However, the lack of an onboard gun means you must choose between equipping a gun pod or countermeasures. Opting for the gun pod allows you to engage enemy aircraft and ground targets without relying solely on missiles. However, forgoing countermeasures significantly increases your vulnerability to missiles, especially those from aircraft like the A-10A or Su-25K, which carry deadly all-aspect missiles such as the AIM-9L or R-60MK.
When it comes to selecting missiles, both the R-3R and R-3S are solid options, though the R-3R is generally preferred due to its radar guidance. It allows you to engage targets in head-on scenarios, utilizing your radar to secure a lock, which is especially effective against enemies lacking chaff. In contrast, the R-3S is an infrared-guided missile that requires rear-aspect positioning, limiting its versatility compared to the radar-guided R-3R. While both missiles share a modest 10G overload, making them relatively easy to evade — even without countermeasures — the R-3R’s flexibility in engagement angles gives it a notable advantage. However, it is most effective at higher altitudes, as the aircraft’s radar lock can be disrupted by ground clutter at lower levels.
A more advanced option is the R-13M1, which boasts a higher G-overload of 20G, making it significantly harder for enemies to dodge. While offering a longer effective range and a top speed of Mach 2.4, the SPS-K is limited to just two R-13M1 missiles — one per pylon — unlike the R-3R and R-3S, which allow for a loadout of up to four.
Lastly, the R-60 stands out with its exceptional 30G overload capability, making it almost impossible to evade without flares. While its speed is comparable to the R-13M1, the R-60’s superior agility compensates for the speed disadvantage, ensuring it remains highly effective even in close-range engagements. However, the R-60’s rear-aspect limitation requires careful positioning. Nevertheless, the R-60 remains a top choice for hunting unprotected aircraft, such as the frequently encountered Su-7BMK, which lacks countermeasures. Like the R-13M1, only two can be equipped at once.
Air-to-Ground Armament
The MiG-21 SPS-K’s air-to-ground capabilities are quite limited compared to its air-to-air potential. It is equipped with two large S-24 rockets (one per pylon), which can cause significant damage, but their payload and range are limited. Additionally, the aircraft can carry up to 64 smaller S-5K rockets (16 or 32 per pylon), which, while less powerful, offer a higher volume of fire.
For bomb-carrying options, the MiG-21 can be equipped with either two 500 kg FAB-500M-54 bombs (one per pylon) or two 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (also one per pylon). While these rockets and bombs can be effective for striking ground targets, the MiG-21’s primary strength lies in air combat. Its air-to-ground armament is secondary at best and requires careful targeting and positioning to be effective.
Note that the SPS-K features a CCIP computer for rockets and the gun, but not for bombs, making it harder to destroy enemies with them!
Survivability
The MiG-21 SPS-K features a 60 mm bulletproof glass panel in front of the pilot and 10 mm of steel armor behind, providing improved protection against head-on attacks and the ability to withstand some low-caliber machine gun fire from enemy ground units. Additionally, the aircraft is equipped with a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) to alert the pilot of incoming threats and features a very small profile of just 7.2 meters. If you choose to equip countermeasures, the MiG-21 can carry up to 64 flares or chaff; however, this comes at the cost of forgoing the gun pod.
Usage in Battle
After considering everything mentioned so far, how you choose to play the MiG-21 SPS-K is ultimately up to you. Whether you focus on its impressive air-to-air capabilities or take on a more versatile role, the decision is yours. In air combat, the MiG shines with its variety of missiles, including the R-3R, R-13M1, and R-60, offering flexibility for engaging different types of targets. However, without an onboard gun and with limited countermeasures, you must be cautious in head-on engagements and when facing enemy missiles. As for air-to-ground operations, the MiG-21’s payload options are more limited, with a small selection of rockets and bombs. While it can inflict some damage on ground targets, its true strength lies in air superiority.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the MiG-21 SPS-K excels in speed, agility, and missile options. Its air-to-air capabilities are particularly strong, especially with the radar-guided R-3R and high-G missiles like the R-60. However, it requires careful management in both offensive and defensive situations. The lack of an onboard gun and limited countermeasures means you must always be mindful of enemy missile threats. While its air-to-ground capabilities are more restricted, the MiG-21 can still make a significant impact by quickly striking targets with rockets or bombs.
