MiG-21MF (Germany) - Revision history

U35000479: Added usage tips on bringing the R-3R to air battles

2024-08-05T16:34:45Z

Added usage tips on bringing the R-3R to air battles

U38088265: /* Armaments */

2024-03-16T13:24:57Z

‎Armaments

U76244044: /* Usage in battles */ clarified / corrected usage of radar in combination with missiles

2023-12-03T17:57:16Z

‎Usage in battles: clarified / corrected usage of radar in combination with missiles

U17786389: Added less known fact about guiding R-60 missile off the rail using IRST lock on target

2023-10-16T02:51:56Z

Added less known fact about guiding R-60 missile off the rail using IRST lock on target

U38088265: /* Description */

2023-10-06T08:30:39Z

‎Description

U28580205: /* Description */ Removed unneeded section

2023-10-06T08:02:51Z

‎Description: Removed unneeded section

U81436767: /* Description */ New Description Project

2023-10-05T23:56:02Z

‎Description: New Description Project

U76947064: Updated pros and cons

2023-08-08T23:40:41Z

Updated pros and cons

U115020311: /* Pros and cons */

2023-08-07T23:29:06Z

‎Pros and cons

U17577377: /* Description */

2023-01-11T11:18:00Z

‎Description

@@ Line 181: / Line 181: @@
 {{Navigation-Start|Default weapon presets}}
 {{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
 * 3 x 490 l drop tanks
 * 2 x 490 l drop tanks + 64 x countermeasures + 2 x R-3S missiles
@@ Line 197: / Line 198: @@
 <!-- ''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).'' -->
-While the '''{{Specs|name}}''' 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.
+While the '''{{Specs|name}}''' 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. Pilots may want to consider exchanging 1 or 2 of their R-60s for radar-guided R-3R missiles, as these can be locked on and fired at an unsuspecting opponent in head on engagements. To minimize the time given to enemies to react, aim to launch within 2 kilometers.
 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.

@@ Line 140: / Line 140: @@
 The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
-* A choice between two presets:
+* 1 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannon, belly-mounted (200 rpg)
 === Suspended armament ===
 {{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}
 <!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
-The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance presets:
+The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
-* Without load
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
-* 2 x R-3S missiles
+|-
-* 2 x R-3R missiles
+! !! width="9%" | 1 !! width="9%" | 2 !! width="9%" | 3 !! width="9%" | 4 !! width="9%" | 5
-* 4 x R-3S missiles
+| rowspan="9" width="30%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_MiG-21bis.png]]</div>
-* 4 x R-3R missiles
+|-
-* 4 x R-60 missiles
+! [[OFAB-250sv (250 kg)|250 kg OFAB-250sv]] bombs
-* 4 x S-24 rockets
+| 1 || 1 || || 1 || 1
 |-
-! !! width="11%" | 1 !! width="11%" | 2 !! width="11%" | 3 !! width="11%" | 4
+! [[S-5K]] rockets
-| rowspan="7" width="25%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_MiG-21bis.png]]</div>
+| 16 || 16, 32 || || 16, 32 || 16
 |-
-! 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs
+! [[S-24]] rockets
-| 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
+| 1 || 1 || || 1 || 1
 |-
-! S-5K rockets
+! [[R-3R]] missiles
-| 16 || 16, 32 || 16, 32 || 16
+| 1 || 1 || || 1 || 1
 |-
-! S-24 rockets
+! [[R-3S]] missiles
-| 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
+| 1 || 1 || || 1 || 1
 |-
-! R-3R missiles
+! [[R-60]] missiles
-| 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
+| 1 || 1 || || 1 || 1
 |-
-! R-3S missiles
+! Countermeasures
-| 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
+| || || 64 || ||
 |-
-! R-60 missiles
+! 490 l drop tanks
-| 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
+| 1 || || 1 || || 1
 |-
 |}
 == Usage in battles ==

@@ Line 192: / Line 192: @@
 <!-- ''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).'' -->
-While the '''{{Specs|name}}''' 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. If you can manage to get an IRST lock on your target you can guide the R-60 missile off the rail in order to preserve some of the rockets energy.
+While the '''{{Specs|name}}''' 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.

@@ Line 192: / Line 192: @@
 <!-- ''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).'' -->
-While the '''{{Specs|name}}''' 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.
+While the '''{{Specs|name}}''' 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. If you can manage to get an IRST lock on your target you can guide the R-60 missile off the rail in order to preserve some of the rockets energy.
 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.

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 == Description ==
 <!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
-During the late 60s and early 70s, East Germany would start recieving second and third generation MiG-21 airframes to replace their aging MiG-21F-13s 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 ugpraded model, touting a different radar system over its predecessors, and a 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-SAU (Germany)|MiG-21Bis]] and later the [[MiG-23MF (Germany)|MiG-23MF]] aircraft into the East German fleet.
+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-SAU (Germany)|MiG-21bis]] and later the [[MiG-23MF (Germany)|MiG-23MF]] aircraft into the East German fleet.
-The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (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-23-2 (23 mm)|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 manouverbility 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 tree counterpart, the [[MiG-21SMT]], the SMT has a far better engine, which allows it to win dogfights alot easier assuming both planes start on equal footing.
+The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (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-23-2 (23 mm)|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 ==

@@ Line 235: / Line 235: @@
 '''Pros:'''
-* Access to four R-60 missiles with great tracking and G-tolerance
+* Access to four [[R-60]] missiles with great tracking and G-tolerance
-* High AoA
+* High AoA, very agile and light
-* Good ground attack loadouts
+* Middling ground attack loadouts
 * A small profile which is harder to hit
-* Decent fuel load allows for reheating for the whole match
+* Equipped with flares, chaff is available
-* Equipped with flares
+* One of the many MiG-21 variants capable of using a radar missile, being the [[R-3R]]
 '''Cons:'''
-* Terrible cannon armament
+* Unsatisfactory cannon armament
-* Terrible energy retention
+* Atrocious energy retention
 * No combat flaps
-* Large fuel burn when using afterburners
+* Excessive fuel burn when using afterburner
 == History ==