MiG-21MF (Germany)
| This page is about the German jet fighter MiG-21MF (Germany). For other versions, see MiG-21 (Family). |
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Contents
Description
During the late '60s and early '70s, East Germany would start receiving second and third generation MiG-21 airframes to replace their aging MiG-21F-13 fleet. The primary upgrade among these was the MiG-21MF, standing for Modernizirovannyy Forsirovannyy (Modernized, Uprated) to denote the overhaul in avionics and the uprated engine of this type. This upgraded model, touting a different radar system over its predecessors, and an updated airframe shape with increased fuel load, and most importantly, armed with the deadly R-60 air-to-air missile, would form the backbone of the East German air force until the arrival of the MiG-21bis and later the MiG-23MF aircraft into the East German fleet.
The ◊MiG-21MF (NATO Code: Fishbed-J) was introduced in Update 1.95 "Northern Wind". Like the other third-generation MiG-21 airframes, this one features a built in GSh-23 cannon under the fuselage, meaning it does not have to sacrifice the cannon to take countermeasures. In addition to that improvement, the MiG-21MF has a potent arsenal of weaponry for its battle rating, namely the R-60 air-to-air missile. Combined with its incredible high speed manoeuvrability and overall gameplay loop, the MiG-21MF is a very potent fighter aircraft for its tier. Do be wary, however, that while the MiG-21MF is indeed lighter than its Soviet counterpart, the MiG-21SMT, the SMT has a far better engine, which allows it to win dogfights easier assuming both planes start on equal footing.
General info
Flight performance
The ◊MiG-21MF has mediocre flight performance in every aspect among top rank jets. It will get out-accelerated by British Phantoms or MiG-21 bis, outturned by Draken or Mirage, and out-sped by 2nd gen US Phantoms (F-4E/EJ), Starfighters or MiG-21 bis. The delta wing provides great angle-of-attack (AoA) while turning but it also mean the plane loses huge amount of speed doing so. This means that staying behind enemy in 1 vs. 1 is fairly simple, but when there are multiple bandits one might lose all their speed and become an easy missile target if turning too much.
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 13,000 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 2,196 | 2,178 | 16000 | 34.0 | 35.1 | 139.6 | 131.0 | 750 |
| Upgraded | 2,295 | 2,240 | 32.3 | 33.0 | 192.8 | 165.0 | ||
Details
| Features | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear | Drogue chute |
| X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| Limits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
| Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
| 1365 | 700 | N/A | 500 | 450 | ~12 | ~6 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 650 | < 600 | < 950 | N/A |
Engine performance
| Engine | Aircraft mass | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine name | Number | Basic mass | Wing loading (full fuel) | ||||
| Tumansky R-13-300 | 1 | 5,962 kg | 359 kg/m2 | ||||
| Engine characteristics | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) | Max Takeoff Weight | |||||
| Weight (each) | Type | 11m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 38m fuel | ||
| 1,135 kg | Afterburning axial-flow turbojet | 6,651 kg | 7,170 kg | 7,774 kg | 8,258 kg | 9,900 kg | |
| Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB) | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP) | ||||||
| Condition | 100% | WEP | 11m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 38m fuel | MTOW |
| Stationary | 3,825 kgf | 6,483 kgf | 0.97 | 0.90 | 0.83 | 0.79 | 0.65 |
| Optimal | 3,825 kgf (0 km/h) |
6,977 kgf (1,200 km/h) |
1.05 | 0.97 | 0.90 | 0.84 | 0.70 |
Survivability and armour
The MiG-21MF lacks armour plating. It also has one engine unlike some other planes. This means that the survivability is very low, even among jets. Getting hit is something that should be avoided at all cost, because should the plane survive it, even small wing damage will force the pilot to return to base. The plane has a radar warning receiver (RWR), and countermeasures, including flares and chaff.
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Your main priority is to get to the R-60s as soon as possible, this will require you to unlock two tier III modifications. Unless you particularly want to research the ground attack ordnance you will be wanting to unlock "Wings repair" and "New 23 mm cannons" at tier III. Therefore you should research "Offensive 23 mm belts" as your first modification at tier I. This will then unlock tier II modifications where you can research "R-3S" and your choice of "New boosters" or "Airframe" (up to you in which order you unlock these), it may be appealing to unlock missiles first to help with the grind but you should keep in mind that the R-3S missiles are slightly worse than the AIM-9B, which means they cannot be fired in even a gentle turn or climb. Once tier III modifications are accessible, you can unlock "Wings repair" and "New 23 mm cannons" in whichever order you want and then go for the R-60s. Once the R-60s are available you can unlock the remaining modifications in whatever order you see fit, however it is highly recommended to go for G-suit and engine upgrades first.
Armaments
| Ballistic Computer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| CCIP (Guns) | CCIP (Rockets) | CCIP (Bombs) | CCRP (Bombs) |
 |
|
 |
|
Offensive armament
The MiG-21MF (Germany) is armed with:
- A choice between two presets:
- 1 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannon, belly-mounted (200 rpg)
- 1 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannon + 64 x countermeasures
Suspended armament
The MiG-21MF (Germany) can be outfitted with the following ordnance presets:
- Without load
- 2 x R-3S missiles
- 2 x R-3R missiles
- 4 x R-3S missiles
- 4 x R-3R missiles
- 4 x R-60 missiles
- 4 x S-24 rockets
- 64 x S-5K rockets
- 64 x S-5K rockets
- 4 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (1,000 kg total)
Custom loadout options
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| S-5K rockets | 16 | 16, 32 | 16, 32 | 16 | |
| S-24 rockets | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| R-3R missiles | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| R-3S missiles | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| R-60 missiles | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Usage in battles
While the ◊MiG-21MF itself is a pretty mediocre fighter, it has access to 4 deadly R-60 missiles. These missiles work the best when enemy is slow, so the recommended tactic is to wait a bit before engaging into the battle. Acquiring a radar lock will slave the R-60's seeker to the target which can help leading the missile before launch.
Due to the immense speed bleed in turns, it is strongly recommended to keep the speed high near enemies, unless one really wants to closely meet AIM-9J. Dropping below 800 km/h makes it really hard to dodge this missile. When an enemy is spotted, it is recommended to turn roughly into their direction, so when they engage, they'll have to make a 180° turn, which will give time for MiG pilot to disengage without risking getting hit by a missile.
Engaging in 1 v 1 situation can sometimes be done, but unless a faster opponent forces it (which happens rarely, as faster opponents turn worse than the MiG) it is only recommended if there are no other enemies nearby. However, do never turn-fight with Draken or Mirage. A good tactic for defensive dogfights is trying to make enemy overshoot, especially against Phantoms. Keep in mind however that you can outrun F-4C.
Specific enemies worth noting
- MiG-21 bis and MiG-21 SMT, if you play against the Soviets. They are faster and have better acceleration (bis in particular) but are slightly heavier and less agile
- Mirage IIIC, has very similar acceleration and top speed, but will outturn MiG-21 MF and has great Matra Magic missiles.
- F-4E/F-4EJ. They are armed with great missiles, fighting them at altitude is not recommended. One the deck they are faster and have better energy retention.
- J35 Draken, will always outturn you. It is very important to keep an energy advantage when attempting to fight the Draken, turn fighting is the worst thing possible against a Draken and tactics that involve retaining energy is best when attempting to fight the Draken. Forcing the Draken to dump its energy is the best way to fight against it.
Radars
The MiG-21MF is equipped with a Sapphire-21 search and tracking radar. The radar is mounted in the nose of the aircraft.
| Sapphire-21 - Target Detection Radar | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Detection Range |
Guaranteed Detection Range |
Max Azimuth Scan Angle |
Max Elevation Scan Angle |
| 30,000 m (theoretical) |
20,000 m | ±30.0° | -3.0°/+17.0° |
| Sapphire-21 - Target Tracking Radar | |||
| Maximum Tracking Range |
Minimum Tracking Range |
Azimuth Tracking Angle |
Elevation Tracking Angle |
| 20,000 m | 300 m | ±30.0° | ±17.0° |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Access to four R-60 missiles with great tracking and G-tolerance
- High AoA, very agile and light
- Middling ground attack loadouts
- A small profile which is harder to hit
- Equipped with flares, chaff is available
- One of the many MiG-21 variants capable of using a radar missile, being the R-3R
Cons:
- Unsatisfactory cannon armament
- Atrocious energy retention
- No combat flaps
- Excessive fuel burn when using afterburner
- Does not get R-13M1 missiles
- R-60s chase flares constantly
- Using afterburner on the deck can overspeed the aircraft even in a slight climb
History
The MiG-21MF (Germany) is a second-generation variant of the popular MiG-21 'Fishbed'. Operated by the East German Air Force (Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee; LSK) between 1972 and 1990, the aircraft was an export variant of the MiG-21SM, and is highly similar to its counterpart, the MiG-21SMT. Designated the 'Fishbed-J', the aircraft formed the bulk of the LSK in the late stages of the Cold War. All German MiG-21 aircraft were retired following the German Reunification, though some survive as museum aircraft to this day.[1][2]
Design and procurement
The East German Air Force received many MiG-21 variants due to their ties with the Soviet Bloc. 76 MiG-21F-13 aircraft had been delivered to the East German Air Force in the early 1960s, and they later received 50 MiG-21PF 'Fishbed-D' planes, which were known as the MiG-21PFM in East German service.[1] This generated considerable confusion as the German MiG-21PFs had inadvertently been given the same name as the later, Soviet-made, MiG-21PFM 'Fishbed-F'.[1] However, in the early 1970s, the LSK received its first 3rd-generation MiG-21s, the MiG-21MF. This aircraft was essentially an export variant of the Soviet MiG-21SM. 50 MiG-21MFs were delivered to the LSK between 1972 and 1974.[1]
The MiG-21MF differs from the standard MiG-21SM by having a less powerful engine and simplified radar system, meaning that it accelerates slightly slower than its Soviet counterpart. It could reach a maximum speed of 2,230 km/h, and was flown by a single pilot.[2] As an interceptor, it carried a 23 mm dual-barreled cannon with 200 rounds in a ventral pack, and was also capable of fitting a variety of munitions including bombs, rockets and missiles.[1]
Service history
The MiG-21MF enjoyed a fairly uneventful service history with the LSK. The aircraft served with Jagdgeschwader (JG, fighter group) 8 and JG 9. It complemented the earlier MiG-21PFM and MiG-21F-13 aircraft in German service. Later on, it was complemented by the MiG-21bis, the final MiG-21 variant to serve with the German Air Force. At the time of the German reunification, many MiG-21s remained in German service.[1][2] As the new combined Luftwaffe had no plans to continue using the Soviet-era interceptor, all MiG-21 aircraft were retired in late 1990 following the German reunification. Many of those aircraft were reserved as museum pieces, and several survive to this day in museums across the globe.[2]
Media
- Skins
- Images
- Videos
See also
- Related development
External links
- [Wikipedia] Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
- [Air Vectors] The Mikoyan MiG-21 - MiG-21 Single-Seat Variants
- Official data sheet - more details about the performance
References
Works Cited
- Aviata. (2020). German MiG-21. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://aviatia.net/german-mig-21/
- Museum, D. (2020). Mikojan-Gurewitsch MiG-21 MF. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://www.deutsches-museum.de/en/flugwerft/collections/jet-aircraft/mig-21/
| Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau (Микоя́н и Гуре́вич Опытное конструкторское бюро) | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | MiG-3-15 · MiG-3-15 (BK) · MiG-3-34 |
| I-225 | |
| Jet fighters | MiG-9 · MiG-9 (l) |
| MiG-15 · MiG-15bis · MiG-15bis ISh | |
| MiG-17 | |
| MiG-19PT | |
| MiG-21F-13 · MiG-21PFM · MiG-21S (R-13-300) · MiG-21SMT · MiG-21bis | |
| MiG-23M · MiG-23ML · MiG-23MLD | |
| MiG-27M · MiG-27K | |
| MiG-29 · MiG-29SMT | |
| Export/Licensed | ␗MiG-9 · ␗MiG-9 (l) |
| ◊MiG-15bis · ◔MiG-15bis · J-2* | |
| MiG-17AS · ◔MiG-17PF · J-4* · Shenyang F-5* | |
| ◊MiG-19S · J-6A* | |
| ◄MiG-21 SPS-K · ◊MiG-21MF · ◔MiG-21MF · ▄MiG-21bis · ◔MiG-21bis-SAU · ◊MiG-21bis-SAU · ◊MiG-21 "Lazur-M" · ▄MiG-21 Bison · J-7II** | |
| ◊MiG-23BN · ◊MiG-23MF · ◔MiG-23MF · ◊MiG-23MLA | |
| ◔MiG-29 · ◊MiG-29 · ◄MiG-29G | |
| *Licensed and domesticated with Chinese designations. | |
| **Unlicensed, reverse-engineered and domesticated with Chinese designations. | |
| See Also | Shenyang · Chengdu |
| Germany jet aircraft | |
|---|---|
|
Luftwaffe |
| He 162 | He 162 A-1 · He 162 A-2 |
| Me 163 | Me 163 B · Me 163 B-0 |
| Ho 229 | Ho 229 V3 |
| Ar 234 | Ar 234 B-2 · Ar 234 C-3 |
| Me 262 | Me 262 A-1a · Me 262 A-1a/Jabo · Me 262 A-1a/U1 · Me 262 A-1/U4 · Me 262 A-2a |
| Me 262 C-1a · Me 262 C-2b | |
|
LSK |
| Fighters | ◊MiG-15bis · ◊Lim-5P · ◊MiG-19S |
| ◊MiG-21MF · ◊MiG-21bis-SAU · ◊MiG-21 "Lazur-M" | |
| ◊MiG-29 | |
| Attackers | ◊MiG-23BN · ◊MiG-23MF · ◊MiG-23MLA |
| ◊Su-22UM3K · ◊Su-22M4 | |
| ◊IL-28 | |
|
Luftwaffe |
| F-84 | ◄F-84F |
| F-86 | ◄CL-13A Mk 5 · ◄CL-13B Mk.6 · ◄F-86K |
| F-104 | ◄F-104G |
| F-4 | ◄F-4F Early · ◄F-4F · ◄F-4F KWS LV |
| G.91 | ◄G.91 R/3 · ◄G.91 R/4 |
| Tornado | ◄Tornado IDS WTD61 · ◄Tornado IDS MFG · ◄Tornado IDS ASSTA1 |
| Other | Alpha Jet A · ◄Sea Hawk Mk.100 |
| Ex-LSK | ◄MiG-21 SPS-K · ◄MiG-29G · ◄Su-22M4 WTD61 |
|
Swiss Air Force |
| ◌Hunter F.58 · FFA P-16 | |
