The East German MiG-19S looks similar to the other MiG-19 counterparts in War Thunder. However, the big difference the MiG-19S has is having three instead of two NR-30 autocannons, allowing the MiG-19S to more than easily shred an enemy aircraft with a single burst. In exchange for this extra gun power, the MiG-19S is unable to carry any air-to-air missiles. With the right tips and tricks, however, you can still maximize the MiG-19S' flight characteristics to get a jump on the opponent and shred them apart with three 30 mm shells at a time.
| Pros: | Cons: |
| Three powerful, high-velocity 30 mm cannons | No air-to-air missiles |
| Unparalleled thrust-to-weight ratio, providing excellent acceleration and climb rate | Poor ammunition count for cannon armaments |
| One of the fastest aircraft of its rank | Compresses at high speed, affecting maneuverability |
| Short take-off run for a high rank jet | Very susceptible to critical engine damage due to large engine module sizes |
| Access to a drogue chute for high-speed landings on shorter airfields | No search radar |
Flight characteristics
The MiG-19S 'Farmer' is a capable supersonic fighter boasting an incredible thrust-to-weight ratio, a highly competitive top speed, and lethal primary armaments. Thanks to the two after-burning turbojet engines, the MiG-19S can accelerate very well at all speeds and can use this thrust to achieve a considerable climb rate matched by nearly no other aircraft at its rank. In exchange for these great engines, however, MiG-19S pilots will find their fighter's maneuverability moderately worse than their opponents, with the MiG-19S's rudder being especially poor compared to its contemporaries. Elevator authority is not terrible, but subsonic fighter jets will easily beat a MiG-19S in a turning engagement.
Thanks to the plane's access to a drogue chute and the relatively strong landing gear, the MiG-19S is capable of pulling off high-speed landings, with a touchdown at over 350 km/h being easily possible. The plane's high thrust-to-weight also allows it to take off quicker than most other jets it will find itself with and against.
Survivability
As is typical of more modern aircraft, the MiG-19S does not take damage well. Though the pilot is well-protected against HE rounds from the front, almost the entirety of the plane's middle and rear fuselage is taken up by the MiG-19S's two engines, which are thus incredibly easy to hit. Due to the plane's heavy reliance on the power of those engines, any damage to either or both of them causes massive problems for the MiG-19S. Loss of thrust harms the plane immensely, as the MiG-19's lack of maneuverability leaves it with little options against a persistent foe while it has damaged engines. The MiG-19 can also suffer from asymmetric thrust (when one engine is more damaged than another), causing the plane to struggle heavily at low speeds due to the weak rudder potentially struggling to compensate.
Armaments
The MiG-19S's 30 mm NR-30 cannons are highly devastating thanks to their high caliber. They also boast an excellent muzzle velocity comparable to the British 30 mm ADEN cannon, aiding the pilot against high-speed targets such as other supersonic jets. Their positions, all close to the nose of the aircraft, further improve the performance of these cannons.
However, the MiG-19S carries a paltry 70 rounds per gun, which combines with the high fire rate of 1,000 RPM to punish poor aim and careless trigger discipline heavily. This reduces the MiG-19S's ability to engage in prolonged battles, forming one of its core weaknesses.
Suspended armaments range from just two bombs on the outer pylons to four rocket pods on all four pylons, with eight rockets in each pod. However, unlike the other MiG-19s available in the game, the MiG-19S does not have access to even the R-3 missile for use in aerial combat; thus, the MiG-19S does not have any ability to reach out and destroy an enemy target beyond typical gun range.
Using the MiG-19S in battle
MiG-19S pilots will need to rely on the power of their engines above all else to come out victorious in battle. Little at a similar rank can match the raw power of the MiG-19S's dual afterburning engines, which allow the pilot the safety to deal with slower aircraft at his or her own pace as the defender slowly loses their energy.
Though the MiG-19S's top speed is lower than some of its contemporaries, such as the F-4C Phantom II or J-7II, the MiG-19S instead boasts an immense thrust-to-weight ratio when the afterburner is active, allowing pilots to engage in energy-burning maneuvers with faster opponents, who will struggle to keep up with the acceleration of the MiG-19 when recovering speed afterward. A smart MiG-19S pilot will abuse this to turn seemingly untouchable, faster opponents into easy prey. A reliable tactic when an enemy is on your tail is entering an upward spiral. The MiG's monstrous Thrust-to-Weight Ratio and turn rate will leave most opponents in the dust, forcing the enemy to either disengage or bleed away energy in a futile attempt to keep up. Pilots must keep in mind that some opponents like the Mirage IIIC, J35D, and, to a lesser extent, MiG-21 can turn inside the MiG-19S and shoot you full of holes, so this strategy should be applied with discretion.
Due to the MiG-19S's very low ammunition count, pilots must consider their shots carefully. The MiG-19S has an amazing climb rate and energy retention, even with high fuel loads, so it may often be better to save ammo, hitting the afterburner to climb away and attempt another attack run later. The MiG-19S excels in the late game when enemies have run out of missile armament and energy, so players should be mindful to keep an ammo reserve to capitalize on this period.
Though the MiG-19S's selection of secondary armaments is limited, it can nonetheless use those armaments alongside the high top speed to perform hit and run attacks on valuable targets, such as Anti-Air in Combined Battles.
