MiG-21bis

This page is about the Russian jet fighter MiG-21bis. For other versions, see MiG-21 (Family).

MiG-21bis

MiG-21SMT

MiG-23M

MiG-21bis

MiG-21SMT

MiG-23M

USSR

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
11.0	11.0	11.0

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:150 000

Purchase:830 000

Description

The MiG-21bis is a rank VII Soviet jet fighter with a battle rating of 11.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "New Power".

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 time37 s

Max altitude16 000 m

EngineTumansky R-25-300

Type

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight10 t

The MiG-21bis has absolutely phenomenal acceleration and high-speed performance making it one of the strongest aircraft in the game. Firstly, the aircraft is quite fast, being able to reach 1365 km/h IAS on the deck (at low altitudes) before its wings rip - this means that it is usually capable of outrunning most enemies at its tier, such as Phantoms and the Mirage, with the exception of the F-104 Starfighters which can outrun it by a small margin. Secondly, the aircraft has the strongest overall acceleration of any aircraft in the game, meaning that it can reach its top speed very quickly. However, like all other MiG-21s, the MiG-21bis cannot turn well and tends to bleed speed at an alarming rate during turns. Extended dogfights should therefore be avoided, as the MiG-21bis will often end up on the losing side.

The MiG-21 has a strong set of control surfaces including an all-moving tail, which keeps the aircraft responsive up to high speeds (>1300 km/h). However, be aware that the aircraft has two limiting structural factors: the wings' rip speed and structural G limit. Wings will rip at 1365 km/h IAS, a speed the plane can reach relatively quickly given its phenomenal acceleration. The structural limit of 13G means stronger turns should thus be avoided as there is a risk that they will rip the aircraft's wings.

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	2,177	2,141	16000	37.7	38.5	191.4	179.8	750
Upgraded	2,305	2,240		36.4	37.0	262.7	225.0

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	524	450	~12	~6

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 650	< 600	< 950	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic Mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
Tumansky R-25-300		1	6,082 kg		369 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)				Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		10m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	36m fuel
1,140 kg	Afterburning axial-flow turbojet		6,749 kg	7,415 kg	8,082 kg	8,482 kg	10,000 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition	100%	WEP	10m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	36m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	4,040 kgf	7,224 kgf	1.07	0.97	0.89	0.85	0.72
Optimal	4,202 kgf (1,400 km/h)	9,312 kgf (1,400 km/h)	1.38	1.26	1.15	1.10	0.93

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

• 60 mm bulletproof glass - armoured windscreen
• 10 mm steel - bulkhead behind pilot
• Engine and fuel tanks take up most of the fuselage area behind the cockpit

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 838 → 4 092

RB8 121 → 11 710

SB8 295 → 11 961

Total cost of modifications264 000

413 000

Talisman cost2 900

Crew training240 000

Experts830 000

Aces3 000

Research Aces1 140 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

110 / 310 / 600 %

238 / 238 / 238 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 430 Compressor Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 430 New boosters Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 Wings repair Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 510 G-suit Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 Engine Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470	Airframe Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 Cover Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470	Flares/Chaff Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 430 ZB-500 Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 430 R-3S Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 430 FAB-250 Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 UB-16 Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 R-3R Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 ns23_belt_pack Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 510 FAB-500 Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 510 UB-32 Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 510 R-13M Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 510 ns23_new_gun Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 EFS Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 S-24 Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 R-60M Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)

Offensive armament

The MiG-21bis is armed with:

• 1 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannon, belly-mounted (250 rpg)

Suspended armament

The MiG-21bis 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-13M missiles
• 4 x R-3R missiles
• 2 x R-3R missiles + 2 x R-3S missiles
• 2 x R-3R missiles + 2 x R-13M missiles
• 4 x R-60 missiles
• 2 x R-3S missiles + 4 x R-60 missiles
• 2 x R-3S missiles + 64 x S-5K rockets
• 2 x R-13M missiles + 64 x S-5K rockets
• 2 x R-3R missiles + 64 x S-5K rockets
• 4 x R-60 missiles + 64 x S-5K rockets
• 2 x R-3S missiles + 2 x S-24 rockets
• 2 x R-13M missiles + 2 x S-24 rockets
• 2 x R-3R missiles + 2 x S-24 rockets
• 4 x R-60 missiles + 2 x S-24 rockets
• 2 x R-3S missiles + 8 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (800 kg total)
• 2 x R-3R missiles + 8 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (800 kg total)
• 2 x R-13M missiles + 8 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (800 kg total)
• 2 x R-60 missiles + 4 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (400 kg total)
• 8 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (800 kg total)
• 2 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 2 x R-3S missiles + 2 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (500 kg total)
• 2 x R-13M missiles + 2 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (500 kg total)
• 2 x R-3R missiles + 2 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (500 kg total)
• 4 x R-60 missiles + 4 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (400 kg total)
• 4 x R-60 missiles + 2 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (500 kg total)
• 2 x R-3R missiles + 4 x R-60 missiles
• 2 x R-13M missiles + 4 x R-60 missiles
• 6 x R-60 missiles

Usage in battles

This plane is fairly manoeuvrable at high speeds and since it accelerates very fast and climbs extremely well, it works well as an interceptor (you take off, reach around 1000 km/h, burstclimb at a 20-25 degree angle up to 6,000-7,000 metres and fire on anything you see in front of you) but this method has some risks.

First you're very prone to the Matra R530E and the infamous AIM-7 SARHMs (Semi Active Radar Homing Missiles) that can easily shoot you down since your plane becomes a brick at higher altitudes.

And sometimes, even if you achieve your interception objective, some enemies will fly in a different path, so they'll easily sneak up behind you and take you down if you're high or slow enough.

The 2nd way to play this plane is to fly at lower altitudes (below 2,000 m) and engage any target you may see, the risk here is that you're vulnerable to high-flying enemies that, again, can easily sneak up on you and take you down, so pay attention.

The 3rd way and probably the safest playstyle (recommended to stock players) is to "flank", or slightly sideclimb up to 4-5 km, wait until the majority of the enemy team is spotted and then come back to the battelfield and engage targets. It is safe because most (if not all) of your enemies, which are Phantoms and Mirages, will most likely play aggressively by climbing directly towards your team, so the only enemies you may encounter in your flank path are other stock players, AFK players, or, with a measure of unluckiness, cunning players that are aware of you. So pay attention when flanking and try to take the least frequented flight path (or the flyzone that is the farthest from the main battlefield or warzone).

Enemies you should pay attention to:

• Phantoms, particularly F-4E and EJ models: these should be your priority targets, F-4Es and F-4EJs are very well known for being extremely versatile and dangerous (even sometimes referred to as the best top tier jets in the game). These planes accelerate very well, can wield the dangerous AIM-9J AAMs that are able to pull 20 Gs of overload and very often can hit targets up to 3 km of range, have access to a very good amount of flares and have very responsive controls. However, a lot of Phantom pilots are very overconfident into their planes and will very often jump into a dogfight with you, as a MiG-21 which is a very bad idea for them. Everybody knows the motto "a slow jet is a dead jet" which is true but the MiG-21 has an ace up its sleeve against Phantoms: better low speed manoeuvrability and high speed manoeuvrability that can sometimes match the Phantom's turn rate! So if a Phantom attempts to dogfight you, go for it, they'll most likely lose, but only do so if your team is nearby or if there aren't any enemies nearby or you may end up getting taken out unexpectedly.
• The Mirage IIIC and the J35D Draken: These planes are also serious foes since they out turn everything at their BR (keep in mind that the J35D Draken is more manoeuvrable than the Mirage) so dogfighting them is a death sentence. They're also able to wield deadly missiles, the Draken wields the Swedish license built AIM-9P3s known as RB24Js and the Mirage has access to the extremely effective Matra R550 Magic 1 that pulls 30 Gs and has a higher top speed than other IR guided missiles. The best thing to do against these planes is to do a zoom climb to bleed their speed since they have a lower thrust to weight ratio than you and then do oblique turns since they both bleed a ton of speed when turning and have a lower acceleration than you do. And if they try to fire a missile at you? Don't worry, pop flares, turn off afterburner, and pull hard.

Radars

The MiG-21bis is equipped with a RP-21 Sapfir search and tracking radar. The radar is mounted in the nose of the aircraft.

RP-21 - Target Detection Radar
Maximum Detection Range	Guaranteed Detection Range	Max Azimuth Scan Angle	Max Elevation Scan Angle
30,000 m (theoretical)	20,000 m	±30.0°	-3.0°/+17.0°
RP-21 - Target Tracking Radar
Maximum Tracking Range	Minimum Tracking Range	Azimuth Tracking Angle	Elevation Tracking Angle
20,000 m	300 m	±30.0°	±17.0°

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Impressive climb rate of 225 m/s, making this plane the 2nd best top tier climber behind the F-104S and above the Phantom FGR.2 and FG.1
• Increased flight performance compared to earlier MiG-21s
• Very capable both against aerial and ground targets
• Has access to flares that are fired downwards, which means that missiles will be dodged easier
• Stunning acceleration
• Very good energy retention
• Can wield 6 R-60s
• Huge thrust to weight ratio

Cons:

• As all MiG-21s, it tends to bleed speed in turns, though not as much, thanks to the improved engine
• Vicious rudder lock at speeds above 700 km/h, can be frustrating when trying to get guns on target
• Pretty bad low speed manoeuvrability
• Doesn't respond well to wing damage - if a wingtip is lost, landing this plane will be very difficult, and if a wing is lost, the plane should be considered as lost

History

Devblog

By the late 1960's, the Soviet high command sought to increase the effectiveness of the MiG-21 jet fighter, especially at lower altitudes, while at the same time knowing that this could only be achieved by developing a more powerful engine for it. As a result, in 1971, the order to develop what would essentially become the MiG-21bis was issued by the Soviet high command.

As both the power plant manufacturer - Tumansky - as well as the MiG aircraft design bureau were already working on improvements, this order only officially recognized their work, and as a result, by 1972 the MiG-21bis was ready.

Unlike preceding variants, the MiG-21bis managed to strike a balance between performance and endurance. Additionally, the aircraft was fitted with an improved radar and a systems monitor, which made maintenance substantially easier. Furthermore, the maximum number of missiles the aircraft could carry was increased to six while it also received the option to carry the new R-13M air-to-air missile with increased range, higher G-loading and better seeker tracking over the preceding R-3S. Very manouverable R-60 missiles can be carried as well.

The first MiG-21bis was constructed in 1972 and was adopted into service in the same year. Well over 2,200 units of the MiG-21bis would be manufactured, including licence-built versions. The MiG-21bis was one of the most widely produced variants of the aircraft and saw widespread use with numerous operators around the globe. In fact, some modernized modifications are still in combat use today.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the MiG-21bis from live.warthunder.com.

Images

• MiG-21bis Devblog Images
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Videos

The Shooting Range #228 - Metal Beasts section at 00:25 discusses the MiG-21bis.

See also

Other top-rank MiG-21 aircraft:

• ▀MiG-21MF
• ␗J-7II

External links

• [Devblog] MiG-21bis: Ultimate Fishbed