MiG-21MF (Germany)

This page is about the German jet fighter MiG-21MF (Germany). For other versions, see MiG-21 (Family).

◊MiG-21MF

◊MiG-19S

◊MiG-21bis-SAU

◊MiG-21MF

◊MiG-19S

◊MiG-21bis-SAU

Germany

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
10.3	10.7	10.7

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:260 000

Purchase:710 000

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Description

The ◊MiG-21MF is a rank VII German jet fighter with a battle rating of 10.3 (AB) and 10.7 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.95 "Northern Wind". It is a single-engine delta-wing supersonic interceptor with conventional tail and fully-moving elevators. As of patch 2.3 it is the only German plane able to carry air-to-air missiles better than AIM-9B/R-3, only plane with balistic computer and only plane above BR 10.0.

General info

Flight performance

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Drogue parachute

Reduces braking distance when landing on any runway

Max speed

at 13 000 m2 240 km/h

Turn time33 s

Max altitude16 000 m

EngineTumansky R-13-300

Type

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight10 t

The ◊MiG-21MF has mediocre flight performance in every aspect among top tier jets. It will get outaccelerated by British Phantoms or MiG 21 bis, outturned by Draken or Mirage, and outspeeded by 2nd gen US Phantoms (F-4E/EJ) or MiG 21 bis. The delta wing provides great AoA while turning but it also mean the plane looses huge amount of speed doing so. This means that staying behind enemy in 1v1 is fairly simple, but when there are multiple bandits one might loose all his speed and become an easy missile target if he turns 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	550	450	~11	~6

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 650	< 600	< 850	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Empty mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
Tumansky R-13-300		1	5,860 kg		355 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)			Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		8m fuel	20m fuel	29m fuel
1,135 kg	Afterburning axial-flow turbojet		6,505 kg	7,455 kg	8,168 kg	9,900 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition	100%	WEP	8m fuel	20m fuel	29m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	3,825 kgf	6,483 kgf	1.00	0.87	0.79	0.65
Optimal	3,825 kgf (0 kph)	6,977 kgf (1,200 kph)	1.07	0.94	0.85	0.70

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff

Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural1 365 km/h

Gear700 km/h

The MiG-21MF lacks armor plating. It also has 1 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.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 942 → 4 277

RB9 320 → 13 551

SB8 131 → 11 822

Total cost of modifications222 500

347 000

Talisman cost2 800

Crew training200 000

Experts710 000

Aces2 800

Research Aces1 080 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

130 / 340 / 600 %

232 / 232 / 232 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor Research: 9 100 Cost: 14 000 340 New boosters Research: 10 000 Cost: 16 000 380 Wings repair Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 Engine Research: 18 000 Cost: 28 000 680	Fuselage repair Research: 9 100 Cost: 14 000 340 Airframe Research: 10 000 Cost: 16 000 380 G-suit Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 Cover Research: 18 000 Cost: 28 000 680	ns23_belt_pack Research: 9 100 Cost: 14 000 340 UB-16 Research: 9 100 Cost: 14 000 340 Flares/Chaff Research: 9 100 Cost: 14 000 340 UB-32 Research: 10 000 Cost: 16 000 380 R-3S Research: 10 000 Cost: 16 000 380 FAB-250 Research: 10 000 Cost: 16 000 380 ns23_new_gun Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 S-24 Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 R-3R Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 EFS Research: 18 000 Cost: 28 000 680 R-60 Research: 18 000 Cost: 28 000 680

Your main priority is to get to the R-60s as soon as possible, this will require you to unlock two tier three modifications. Unless you particularly want to research the ground attack ordinance you will be wanting to unlock "Wings repair" and "New 23 mm cannons". Therefore if you want to reach the R-60s in the shortest time possible you should research "New 23 mm cannons" as your first modification. This will then unlock tier two modifications where you can research "R-3S" and your choice of "New boosters" or "Airframe"; it is 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 nearly useless (they are slightly worse than the AIM-9B and can only be fired when pulling less than 2G, which means they cannot be fired in even a gentle turn or climb). Once tier three modifications are amiable unlock "Wings repair" and "New 23 mm cannons" in whichever order you want, then go for the R-60s. Once the R-60s are unlocked you can unlock the remaining modifications in whatever order you see fit, however it is reccomened to go for G-suit and engine upgrades first.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The MiG-21MF (Germany) is armed with:

• 1 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannon, belly-mounted (200 rpg)

Suspended armament

The MiG-21MF (Germany) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 64 x S-5K rockets
• 96 x S-5K rockets
• 4 x S-24 rockets
• 4 x R-3S missiles
• 4 x R-60 missiles
• 64 x S-5K rockets + 2 x R-3S missiles
• 64 x S-5K rockets + 2 x R-60 missiles
• 2 x S-24 rockets + 2 x R-3S missiles
• 2 x S-24 rockets + 2 x R-60 missiles
• 4 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 2 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs + 2 x R-3S missiles (500 kg total)
• 2 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs + 2 x R-60 missiles (500 kg total)

Ballistic computer

The ◊MiG-21MF has access to ballistic computer for guns and rockets.

Usage in battles

Combining an ability to pull high angle-of-attack turns on demand, excellent acceleration, high top speed, and powerful dog-fighting weaponry, the MiG-21MF is a potent air superiority fighter. Good manoeuvrability allows the pilot to easily establish a tailing flight path on most enemies, and from there, it is very hard for the enemy to shake the MiG-21MF off of their tail. The MiG, for its part, can then utilize its powerful R-60 missiles or 23 mm cannons to destroy the enemy with ease.

Note that when using the Mig-21MF's air-to-air missiles, it is best to fire them at around 1-2 km of range. Any less than that, and the missile might not have enough time to manoeuvre and successfully track the enemy. At ranges above 2 km, the missile may not be able to catch a fast-moving target. As for the 23 mm offensive cannons, be careful to practice trigger discipline. A high rate of fire and a low ammo count means that it is only possible to fire the cannons for a few seconds before they need to be reloaded at the airfield.

As a dogfighter, the MiG-21MF excels due to its powerful weaponry, great acceleration, and a good turn rate. It can easily turn with F-4 Phantoms, although the J35D and Mirage IIIC both turn better. Against these two planes, it is best to avoid extended turn fights. Instead, gradually bleed their speed - they both have poor manoeuvring energy retention. At high altitudes, this plane is not as responsive, due to its high wing load and the low air pressure. This makes it much harder to dodge incoming missiles, so it is especially important to keep a high speed when at high altitude.

The MiG-21MF can also easily engage ground targets. Its cannons can destroy lightly armoured vehicles, and its 4 x S-24 rockets are extremely capable at dealing with even the most advanced MBTs. What's more, this plane has access to a ballistic computer which calculates the impact point of cannon shells, rockets, and bombs, making aiming against ground targets a breeze.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• R-60 missiles have very good tracking and G-tolerance
• More agile than many high-tier jets
• Cannons with a high rate of fire
• Good ground attack loadouts
• A small profile which is harder to hit

Cons:

• Low ammunition count
• Poor energy retention in extended turning engagements
• Flaps rip easily
• Poor manoeuvrability at low speeds

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.

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. 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'. 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.

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. 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.

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. 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.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the MiG-21MF (Germany) from live.warthunder.com.

Images

Videos

Tank busters discusses the MiG-21MF (Germany) at 4:19 - War Thunder Official Channel

See also

• MiG-21F-13
• MiG-21SMT
• MiG-21bis

External links

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/