War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

Merkava Mk.3D (USA)

2021-01-24T00:46:45Z

U28172343: /* Pros and cons */ spelling (denotating --> detonating)

{{About
| about = American medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Merkava (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=us_merkava_mk_3d
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
|market=items_Merkava Mk.3D (USA)
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a gift rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update "Raining Fire"]] as a reward for the [[wt:en/news/6878-event-wargame-strategist-en|2020 Wargame "Strategist" event]].

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


'''Armour type:'''

* Cast homogeneous armour (Hull, turret)
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Sides)
* Composite screens* (Turret front, hull front left, sideskirts)
** with NERA elements**

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 60** mm (78-90°), 60 mm (66-73°) (+ 30* mm (74°) ''left'') ''Upper glacis'' 90 mm (36°), 50 mm (59°) + 20 mm (60°) ''Lower glacis'' || 50 mm (12°) + 15 mm || 30 mm (0-39°) || 20 mm
|-
| Turret || 170 mm + 40* mm (0-68°) ''Turret cheeks'' 30-400 mm (0-78°) + 100 mm ''Gun mantlet'' 40 mm (68-81°) + 50* mm (78°) ''Upper'' || 60 mm + 5 mm (0-60°) || 40 mm || 40 mm ''Front'' 20 mm ''Rear''
|-
! Armour !! Roof
|-
| Cupola || 30 mm
|-
! Effective protection !! Front
|-
| Turret || '''Turret front:''' 200 mm ''Kinetic'' 1,500 mm ''Chemical''
|-
|}

'''Notes:'''

* Tracks are 30 mm thick
* Road wheels are 20 mm thick

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,860|rbMinHp=1,061}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

A tip for grinding it:

Unlock parts first, horizontal drive, FPE, Adjustment of fire then M322. Everything after these can be unlocked after.

The M322 round offers up to 625 mm of penetration, it is able to penetrate most tanks at distance with ease allowing for other parts to be unlocked faster.

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|IMI MG251 (120 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[IMI MG251 (120 mm)|120 mm IMI MG251]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 46 || rowspan="2" | -7°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 32.4 || 44.8 || 54.4 || 60.2 || 64.0 || rowspan="2" | 8.71 || rowspan="2" | 7.70 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 6.70
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 20.2 || 23.8 || 28.9 || 32.0 || 34.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| M325 || HEATFS || 480 || 480 || 480 || 480 || 480 || 480
|-
| M339 || HE-TF || 65 || 65 || 60 || 58 || 53 || 50
|-
| M322 || APFSDS || 625 || 622 || 613 || 601 || 588 || 575
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| M325 || HEATFS || 1,078 || 15.81 || 0.05 || 1 || 2,360 || 65° || 72° || 77°
|-
| M339 || HE-TF || 900 || 17 || 1.5 || 3 || 3,660 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| M322 || APFSDS || 1,705 || 4.3 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 78° || 80° || 81°
|-
|}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''46''' || 45 ''(+1)'' || 43 ''(+3)'' || 42 ''(+4)'' || 6 ''(+40)'' || 1 ''(+45)'' || No
|-
|}
Notes:

* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
* Rack n°5 is a ready rack containing 5 shells.
* This rack gets filled first when loading up the tank and is also emptied first.
* The depletion order at full capacity is: 5 - 1 - 2 up to 4.
* Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1 to 4 into rack 5. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready rack.
* The double rack n°4 depletes row by row from top to bottom (starting with the right rack).

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|4}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|5}}

{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|FN MAG 60-40 (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 900 (200) || 577 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[FN MAG 60-40 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm FN MAG 60-40]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 5,950 (200) || 600 || N/A || N/A
|-
| Commander's cupola || 1,750 (200) || 600 || -5°/+50° || -60°/+120°
|-
| Loader's cupola || 1,750 (200) || 600 || -5°/+50° || ±120°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


The Merkava Mk.3D offers an excellent cannon and great manoeuvrability, along with great frontal armour protection. The front of the tank is heavily armoured with angled armour plates, providing protection of over 300 mm. The only main weakness of this legendary tank is it's side and rear armour. On the sides, the NERA armour only covers the top half, above the composite screen plates.
The composite screen plates can provide over 500 mm or protection. On the rear, the spaced armour only protects the crew compartments with 900 mm of air protection. Internally, the storage bins are covered in a fireproof container, with no ammunition stored in the turret. This reduces the risks of the ammunition being destroyed by a fire.

===How to combat enemy tanks===

Using the '''M325 HEATFS''' Round: is a '''H'''igh '''E'''xplosive '''A'''nti '''T'''ank '''F'''in '''S'''tabilised round, with a velocity of 1,078 meters per seconds, with a war head mass of 15.81 Kg. This round provides a maximum penetration of 480 mm at all ranges. To get the best from this round, you must aim for weakly armoured places on the enemy tank, generally the weakest places are the sides and rear of the enemy tank. At rank seven, most MBT's are heavily armoured with ERA plates which can defeat these types of rounds, with ease. However, it does not mean these rounds are usless, in-fact they are very good, instead of being able to single shot an enemy tank, it only requires an additional reload or two. The first shot, will most likely knock off and destroy the ERA plate. The second shot, will penetrate and knock the tank out.

Using the '''M339: HE-TF''' Round: is a '''H'''igh '''E'''xplosive '''T'''imed '''F'''used round, with a velocity of 900 meters per seconds, with a war head mass of 17 Kg. The maximum Penetration of the round is 65 mm, which is more than enough to penetrate the roofs of the enemy tanks, at rank seven. This round allows you to knockout targets which are hiding behind rocks, vehicles, houses and other objects. The round works by recording the distance to the target then denoting on them. To get the best out of this round fire above the target, allowing it to explode thus the enemy tank gets knocked out by being penetrated by the roof.

Using the '''M399: APFSDS''' Round: is one of the best rounds in the game it provides up to 625 mm of penetration. It is able to virtually penetrate almost any armour in the game at incredible lengths, at close range it is able to make the enemy tanker, go, pop.

===How to combat enemy helicopters===
The Merkava Mk.3D has four machine guns, one 12.7 mm mounted on the cannon, with an additional 7.62 mm machine gun mounted on each of the Commander's & Loader's cupola's and finally a coaxial 7.62 mm. The Merkava Mk.3D, is able to handle airborne threats extremally well, with it's LWS/LR system it alerts you to when someone is locking on with a laser range finder, which are installed in most if not all high ranking helicopters.
When a notification pops up, switch to gunner sight and enable the thermal sight, look around in the sky and you will see brightly lit dot - if it flying away from you ignore it. If it is coming closer, keep an eye on it and wait until it is close enough for you to engage it.

However, if it has fired it's ATGM's pop smoke and retreat behind an object, until it's missile has blown up. Then locate it and fire the four machine guns, it will be able to bring it down. Or a using the M332 or M325 round a single hit in the fuselage will knock it out.

===Capitalising on the terrain and environments===
=====Capitalising on urban maps and environments:=====

When engaged in combat on a map which features an urban close range environment, the Merkava Mk.3D provides great threat to any enemy tanker. The manoeuvrability, is one of the best in the game, it is able to pivot on the spot and change course. If that is due to a sudden appearance of enemy tank which has appeared or if the strategic interest has changed, the MK.3D is able to handle it. To get the best out of the Mk.3D, either flank around the urban parts of the map or stay & utilise the compact urban environment.

To utilise the compact urban environment, stay close to buildings, use the buildings to your advantage. Using the buildings will allow you to dominate the battle zone, it's 120mm cannon is able to destroy enemy tanks with ease, especially at close ranges. It is important not to stay in the middle the roads or open areas which offers no concealment. The Merkava Mk.3D, is a tall tank, it is taller than the '''''[[M1_Abrams_(Family)|M1 Abrams family of tanks]]''''' This means, you can be seen and shot at by the enemy team, it is not a sleek low profile tank like the '''''[[HSTV-L|HSTV-L.]]'''''

=====Capitalising on rural maps and rural terrain:=====

To capitalise on rural maps head into the forest, and stay in the forest it's important not to leave the forest or rural terrain like this. This type of terrain offers great protection and makes the Merkava Mk.3D almost invisible to the enemy. The thermal profile is reduced by the vegetation, which blocks the heat signature. It's very important to use the correct camouflage, which helps to make you harder to detect.

The Merkava Mk.3D 120 mm gun is able to snipe the enemy tanks from far and wide. to win do not keep firing from one spot, after every shot move to another location using the rural vegetation to make you stealthy and remain unseen. The MK.3D has a thermal sight, that allows you to find the enemy tanks in situations like this. The gunner sight also provides a zoom of 6 to 12x allowing for pin-point shots combined with the M322 round - makes for one of the most lethal tanks in the game.

=====Night Battles:=====

Do not expose the right hand side of the tank, due to the exhaust gas which will make it impossible for you to locate and knockout enemy tankers with the thermal sight. Instead, keep the left hand side of the tank exposed towards the enemy frontline. It's also as important keep an eye out for air threats such as '''''[[Ka-52]]''''', '''''[[Mi-28N]]''''', '''''[[EC-665_Tiger_UHT|EC-665 Tiger UHT]]''''', '''''[[AH-64D]]''''' and other helicopters.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Has access to one of the best penetrating APFSDS round in the game.
* Has access to timed HE, which can be set to detonate at a very specific distance, for example just behind enemy ammunition panel or above a light tank completely hidden behind cover
*Timed HE round has a less sensitive detonator than normal HE-type shells, so it can overcome common obstacles such as bushes and fences.
* Great survivability, thanks to its internal layout.
* Ammo storage is wrapped in a fire proof container, preventing it from detonating in-case of a fire, inside of the tank.
* Great manoeuvrability, able to pivot and turn on a dime.
* Certain redundant parts of the turret can be used as extra protection against chemical ammunition, or to bait shots from impatient opponents.
* Turret armour can withstand direct hits from enemy tanks.
* Engine & external fuel tank is able to prevent APFSDS from penetrating and knocking the tank out if shot at the front, head on.

'''Cons:'''

* Only has first generation gunner & thermals optics.
* Hits to the upper half of the hull can bypass all the screens and modules and go straight for the ammo or crew as the engine is not tall enough to absorb the shot - attacks from high ground are particularly dangerous.
*Due to the placement of the external fuel tank, which is placed in front of the engine. It absorbs the kinetic force of the round - Thus gets set on fire and blocks gunner view from the front with thick smoke.
* Engine exhaust is placed on the right hand side of the tank, the exhaust gas limits the gunner view, since the gunner can only see exhaust gas when traveling.
* In night battles, exhaust gas blocks out the right hand side of the vehicle from the gunner view.
* Weak side and rear amour, well placed shot here can knock the tank out.
* Tall profile compared to other tanks in this tier.

== History ==


The Merkava Mk.3 was an improved model of the Merkava Mk.2 that was introduced in 1989 for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). It featured improvements in firepower, mobility, and electronics. It was in production from 1989 to 2003 and remains the most numerous tank in service with the IDF.

One of the most major changes was the change to the main armament. The 105 mm gun of the Mk.2 was replaced by a 120 mm gun produced by Israeli Military Industries (IMI) in Israel. The engine was also replaced by a more powerful 1,200 hp diesel engine. The turret was also heavily modified to allow target tracking independent of the hull's movements. Additionally, a two-way phone was added for communication between the tank crew and friendly infantry, the ammunition stowage was redesigned for more safety, and laser designators were added. The weight was increased to 65 tons, but the more powerful engine increased the maximum speed to 60 kph.

The Merkava Mk.3 Baz was an improved model that was introduced in 1995. It featured a nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC) protection system, an air-conditioning unit, and an upgraded fire control system (FCS).

The Merkava Mk.3D was a further improvement that added modular composite armor on both the chassis and turret, visually most notable on the turret.

=== [[wt:en/news/6877-development-crafting-event-strategist-merkava-mk-3d-en|Devblog]] ===
Immediately after production of the Merkava Mk.2 began in 1983, Israeli engineers began working on the new Mk.3 version of the MBT. The Merkava Mk.3 introduced significant improvements over preceding variants in almost all aspects. Primarily however, the focus of the upgrades was centered around improving protection - by adding additional armor to the hull - as well as mounting the newly developed IMI MG251 120 mm smoothbore cannon, purpose-built for the new modification of the Merkava, in order to increase firepower.

Production of the Merkava Mk.3 began in the late 1980s, with the first vehicles reaching troops in December 1989. The Merkava Mk.3 remained in production until 2003 by which time around 650 vehicles were built. Thus, the Merkava Mk.3 belongs to the spearhead of Israel's armored units in the present day.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=medium_tank&vehicle=us_merkava_mk_3d Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|uSAKjBXX_X0|'''Holding The Line - {{PAGENAME}}''' - ''DEFYN''|WdOQXq-CgCQ|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''Napalmratte''|1gSNZiirWEI|'''The Shooting Range #219''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|gkyl7bowQ2k|'''Should You Grind The {{PAGENAME}}?''' - ''Sako Sniper''|TrwGDzUgUjE|'''{{PAGENAME}} - The Iron Chariot Ft. M322''' - ''JustinPlaysYT''}}'''Images'''<gallery mode="packed" caption="Merkava Mk.3D Devblog Images" heights="200">
File:Merkava Mk.3D WTWallpaper 001.jpg|
File:Merkava Mk.3D WTWallpaper 002.jpg|
File:Merkava Mk.3D WTWallpaper 003.jpg|
File:Merkava Mk.3D WTWallpaper 004.jpg|
File:Merkava Mk.3D WTWallpaper 005.jpg|
File:Merkava Mk.3D WTWallpaper 006.jpg|
</gallery>

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

* {{Specs-Link|us_merkava_mk_1}}
* {{Specs-Link|us_merkava_mk_2b_late}}

== External links ==


* [[wikipedia:Merkava#Merkava_Mark_III|[Wikipedia] Merkava Mark III]]
* [[wt:/en/news/6877-development-crafting-event-strategist-merkava-mk-3d-en|[Devblog] Crafting event "Strategist": Merkava Mk.3D]]

{{USA medium tanks}}

MiG-21PFM

2021-01-10T03:01:01Z

U28172343: /* Pros and cons */ From my experience with the pfm in sim

{{About
| about = Russian jet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = MiG-21 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=mig-21_pfm
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a gift rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update "Hot Tracks"]] as a reward for the [[wt:en/news/6981-special-operation-w-i-n-t-e-r-en|2020 Operation W.I.N.T.E.R.]] event.

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===
{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}

''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 13,000 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 2,211 || 2,196 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 37.6 || 38.1 || 123.2 || 115.9 || rowspan="2" | 750
|-
! Upgraded
| ___ || ___ || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="6" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear !! Drogue chute
|-
| X || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || ✓ 
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || N/A || 550 || 450 || ~11 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 650 || < 600 || < 900 || N/A
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}

''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
=== Offensive armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}

{{main|GSh-23L (23 mm)}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:

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

=== Suspended armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}

{{main|OFAB-250sv (250 kg)|FAB-500M-54 (500 kg)|Kh-66|R-3S|S-5K|S-24}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

* Without load
* 32 x S-5K rockets
* 64 x S-5K rockets
* 2 x S-24 rockets
* 2 x R-3S missiles
* 2 x Kh-66 missiles
* 2 x 500 kg FAB-500M-54 bombs (1,000 kg total)
* 2 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (500 kg total)

== Usage in battles ==

''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Mouse-guided Kh-66 missiles allowing for long distance air-to-ground engagements
* AA radar
* Good manoeuvrability at high speeds

'''Cons:'''

* Only 2 pylons for suspended weapons
* Bleeds lots of energy in sharp turns due to its delta wing design
* Low amount of ammunition
* No flares or RWR
* poor cockpit visibility (sb)
* no gun ballistic radar (rb/sb)

== History ==

Described as the "AK of airplanes", the MiG-21 is a robust, reliable, and easy to maintain jet fighter developed during the second generation of jet fighters that has since the 1950s earned a strong place in air forces of the Soviet Union as well as foreign operators such as North Korea, India, and Croatia. With many variants, the aircraft has had many life extensions over this 60+ year period of operation, with some aircraft in air forces having been in service for more than 30 years.

The story begins in 1953, when the Soviet government issued a requirement for a lightweight aircraft capable of Mach 2 for its Frontal Air division of the Soviet Air Force. Having had experience in the field of swept-wing, fast jet fighters Mikoyan-Gurevich felt confidently about their ability to produce such an aircraft. An aircraft such as the MiG-21 was only able to come to fruition after multiple test models and research with various prototypes. Beginning with the Ye-1 the Mikulin AM-11 turbojet was fitted, which in turn created another model called the Ye-50. This second one-off prototype was essentially a Ye-1 with the addition of the AM-9Ye turbojet in place of the AM-11, as well as adding liquid-fuelled rocket boosters for added thrust. After the initial prototypes, the Ye-2 was designed with the idea of using the original AM-11 turbojet, but was left waiting and soon opted to use the AM-9B found on the existing MiG-19 "Farmer" series of aircraft also produced by Mikoyan-Gurevich. This third aircraft was leads ahead of the previous models, having had development so far along that on February 14th, 1955 it took to the skies for the first time. This aircraft had good results, but was also slow as well leaving much to be built upon. With this, a similar aircraft called the Ye-4 was built and flown on June 16th that same year. This aircraft had many design implementations found on the final MiG design, such as the small-area delta wings and conventional tailplane. However, this prototype wouldn't be much of an improvement over the previous prototypes, only proving marginally better in terms of performance. With the first flight of both the Ye-5 and Ye-501 prototypes occurring on January 9th, 1956, Mikoyan-Gurevich was confident production would begin soon and issued two company designations for each model. These being MiG-21 for the delta-wing modification as well as MiG-23 for the swept-wing design, the latter not to be confused with the swing-wing supersonic aircraft also built by MiG.

The western world would finally get a peek at this development on June 24th, 1956 when variants of each design flew over during the Aviation Day celebration at the Moscow Tushino airfield. Taking notice of this, NATO and western observers would quickly take note, leading to NATO giving the codenames "Faceplate" and "Fishbed" to the swept and delta wing designs respectively. Development didn't end there however, as more prototypes were built and flown. Three Ye-6 aircraft were soon seen wearing the tailed-delta wing design seen on the previous Ye-5 but featuring clipped wingtips as well as a redesigned nose cone. With flight testing underway by May 20th, 1958, it was soon brought to a halt when the Ye-6/1 prototype lost its engine during a test flight. An effort was made by the test pilot to get it restarted but was in vain as the aircraft was lost, with the test pilot following shortly after injuries sustaining from the accident. However, with these setbacks testing and development would soon turn into production as the aircraft soon succeeded the requirement set by the Soviet government, hitting a speed of Mach 2.05. Production forms followed, and the western world would get a look in 1961 during a public appearance at the final production version of the MiG-21. The MiG-21 served continuously in the Soviet Air Force, and later the Russian Air Force, for many years following its introduction, orders and deliveries having been placed in 1957 that continued into the next year. While in service, the aircraft would first get the designation MiG-21F in 1959, and the aircraft would have a fruitful career with Russia as well as many foreign operators.

One notable example of the MiG-21, built off of the PFS airframe, was the PFM. This aircraft featured many improvements and reductions from the existing airframe. While retaining its ability for unpaved field operations this design featured the removal of the internal mounted gun under the nose. This variant also featured the addition of an inflated fuselage section behind the new split canopy design allowing for more space for electronics as well as fuel tanks within the fuselage. Stated before, it was designed without and internal gun forcing the aircraft to rely on suspended armaments such as missiles, rockets such as the RP-21M, and a belly-mounted GP-9 gun pod. Seeing production for the Soviet Air Force in Gorki from 1964 to 1965 and foreign production and export in Moscow from 1966 to 1968, the MiG-21PFM saw great success with foreign operators, seeing extended use throughout the years with air forces such as Poland, India, and Egypt in addition to the Soviet Union.

=== [[wt:en/news/6999-development-mig-21-pfm-en|Devblog]] ===
During the modernization of the second generation of MiG-21 fighters, the Soviet military authorities demanded the design team to modify the aircraft for takeoff and landing from unpaved airfields. As a solution, the engineers proposed equipping the aircraft with a system for blowing the boundary layer from the flaps, and the Tumansky and Metskhvarishvili design bureau began developing a version of the R11F-300 engine with an air stream from the compressor. The boundary layer blowing system significantly improved the take-off and landing characteristics of the aircraft, the takeoff and run lengths were reduced, and the landing speed drastically reduced. Along with other modifications and improvements, the serial modification of the MiG-21 with the boundary layer blowing system began to be produced under the MiG-21 PFS index, later upgraded to the MiG-21 PFM version. Aircraft of this modification were produced in fairly large numbers since 1964, both for domestic use and export. The MiG-21 PFM served in Vietnam and Afghanistan.

== Media ==

<gallery mode="packed" caption="MiG-21 PFM Devblog Images" heights="200">
File:MiG-21 PFM WTWallpaper 001.jpg|
File:MiG-21 PFM WTWallpaper 002.jpg|
File:MiG-21 PFM WTWallpaper 003.jpg|
</gallery>

== See also ==

''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6999-development-mig-21-pfm-en|[Devblog] MiG-21 PFM]]
* Military Factory - Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 "Fishbed": [https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=68 website]
* Stephan Wilkinson - The Iconic MiG-21 "Fishbed": [https://www.historynet.com/the-iconic-mig-21-fishbed.htm website]

{{USSR jet aircraft}}

Su-7BKL

2021-01-03T02:26:58Z

U28172343: Assessed the pros and cons, added some new ones from my experience flying it in rb and sim

{{Specs-Card
|code=su-7bkl
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Raining Fire"]].

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===
{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 11,000 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 2,166 || 2,151 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 27.5 || 28.5 || 168.0 || 159.6 || rowspan="2" | 1,250
|-
! Upgraded
| ___ || ___ || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="6" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear !! Drogue chute
|-
| X || X || ✓ || ✓ || X || ✓ 
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || N/A || N/A || 473 || ~10 || ~3
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 700 || < 650 || < 600 || N/A
|-
|}

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="5" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="2" | {{Annotation|Basic Mass|Mass of the aircraft with pilot and engine oil, but no fuel or weapons load}} || colspan="3" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | Saturn AL-7F-1-250 || 1
| colspan="2" | 8,446 kg || colspan="3" | 343 kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="4" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff Weight
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! 9m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 31m fuel
|-
| 2,200 kg || colspan="2" | Afterburning axial-flow turbojet
| 9,380 kg || 10,522 kg || 11,560 kg || 11,664 kg || 15,010 kg
|-
! colspan="3" | {{Annotation|Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)|The maximum thrust produced by each engine, while mounted in the aircraft. NOTE: Thrust varies significantly depending on speed & altitude.}}
! colspan="5" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
|-
! Condition || 100% || WEP
! 9m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 31m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 5,848 kgf || 8,257 kgf
| 0.88 || 0.78 || 0.71 || 0.71 || 0.55
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 6,664 kgf (1,000 km/h) || 9,974 kgf (1,000 km/h)
| 1.06 || 0.95 || 0.86 || 0.86 || 0.66
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}

Pilot: Pilot is protected by light aluminum plates and an armoured glass windscreen. These will not stop 20 mm AP frontally, but offer decent protection from the rear.

Engine: The engine is only protected by fuel tanks underneath. These can reduce the damage from shrapnel, but it is otherwise unprotected.

Flight controls: The flight control's cables go underneath the fuselage, and have a good chance to stay in one piece when hit.

The aircraft does not come with flares nor RWR, it will struggle against anything higher than its BR.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
=== Offensive armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}

{{main|NR-30 (30 mm)}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:

* 2 x 30 mm NR-30 cannons, wing-mounted (80 rpg = 160 total)

=== Suspended armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}

{{main|OFAB-250sv (250 kg)|FAB-500M-54 (500 kg)|S-3K|S-5K|S-24}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

* Without load
* 96 x S-5K rockets
* 160 x S-5K rockets
* 6 x S-24 rockets
* 42 x S-3K rockets
* 6 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (1,500 kg total)
* 4 x 500 kg FAB-500M-54 bombs (2,000 kg total)
* 4 x 500 kg FAB-500M-54 bombs + 2 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (2,500 kg total)

== Usage in battles ==

''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Good horizontal flight speed
* Large variety of mounted weapons
* Powerful cannons capable of accurate strafing runs together with the ballistics computer (rb/sb)

'''Cons:'''

* Mediocre controllability
* subpar roll rate, even with the boosters module
* No guided weapons

== History ==

''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''

== Media ==

''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==

''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==

''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
* ''other literature.''

{{AirManufacturer Sukhoi}}
{{USSR jet aircraft}}