MiG-21
1956
Front 3/4Click to expand
Most produced
The most-produced supersonic fighter in aviation history, with over 11,000 built. The AK-47 of jet fighters, serving with more than 60 nations.
History
The MiG-21 was designed as a lightweight, Mach 2 interceptor and became the most widely exported combat aircraft of the Cold War era. Its simple, rugged delta-wing design made it cheap to produce and easy to maintain in austere conditions. The MiG-21 saw combat in every major conflict from Vietnam to the Indo-Pakistani wars to the Gulf War. More than 60 nations have operated the type, and several countries continue to fly upgraded variants today. Its production total of over 11,000 makes it the most-produced supersonic aircraft in history.
Production & Heritage
Production Total11,496
DesignerArtem Mikoyan
Service Period1956
Technical Specifications
Engine1x Tumansky R-25-300 afterburning turbojet
Max Speed1351 mph
Range810 nm
Ceiling57,400 ft
Crew1
Wingspan23.5 ft
Length51.7 ft
Empty Weight11,464 lbs
Max Weight20,723 lbs
Engine Details
Engine ModelTumansky R-25-300
Engine Count1
Engine ManufacturerTumansky
Thrust15653 lbs
Performance
Max Speed (Mach)Mach 2.05
Cruise Speed550 mph
Rate of Climb23620 ft/min
Dimensions
Wing Area247 sq ft
Weights
Max Takeoff Weight20,723 lbs
Armament
Guns1x 23mm GSh-23L twin-barrel cannon
Missiles4x K-13 or R-60 air-to-air missiles
Capacity
Crew1
Tags
Designed by Artem Mikoyan
