![]() ![]() Spy planes of both adversaries were caught in the MiG-21's gunsights too and gunsight camera pics of atleast two such engagements exist in the public domain. This article written by the Former Air Chief ACM Tipnis is worth a read: Rightly said sir, the MiG-21 was needlessly maligned by idiots in the press and some self-proclaimed aviation experts. ![]() Not quite comparable but giving you a context of longevity. And in the -Bison form knocked out even an F-16 63 years after it first flew!!! That's like a modernized Spitfire shooting down say a Mirage III jet in 1998. In performance parameters that mattered, in the hands of comparable pilots, the MiG-21 simply outclassed contemporary fighters such as the F-4 Phantom, F-104 Starfighter, English Electric Lightining, Saab Draken, Northrop F-5 and Mirage III. It is no fault of this outstanding machine that poor planning, worse decision making and endless delays with induction of the Tejas has forced this aircraft to remain in service 15 years too long.Īny objective list of the ten greatest fighters of all times would perforce include this tailed delta from the MiG bureau. For about 30 years from late 1960s to late 1990s this world beating tailed delta maintained our air defence against the two adversaries on our borders. The MiG-21 truly ushered the IAF into the modern world of supersonics, heat seeking missiles, radar equipped fighters etc. More MiG-21's served with the IAF than Su-30s, Mirage 2000s, Jaguars, MiG-27s, MiG-23s put together. It clocked more flying hours than any other fast combat jet. The MiG-21's impact and contribution to the IAF cannot be expressed in words. ![]()
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