MiG-21 Bison (Great Britain)

This page is about the Indian jet fighter MiG-21 Bison (Great Britain). For other versions, see MiG-21 (Family).

▄MiG-21 Bison

▄MiG-21 Bison

Britain

VIII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
12.3	12.3	12.3

Class:

PREMIUM

Fighter

Jet fighter

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Description

During the 1990s, India decided to undergo an upgrade program for their fleet of MiG-21bis aircraft, based on the newly unveiled MiG-21-93 modernization package. After a lot of negotiation and prototyping, it was decided that with Mikoyan OKB's help, HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics) would produce the "kits" to upgrade the aircraft. The MiG-21Bis-UPG aircraft, affectionately named the "MiG-21 Bison" was a specially tailored upgrade package that left out some of the original upgrades of the 21-93, but also incorporated some indigenous avionics and systems that the original did not. One such system was the TARANG radar warning receiver and jammer suite. The Bisons were slated to remain in indian service as rear-line interceptors until at least 2025, however, due to political reasons, this was cut short and all MiG-21s in the IAF's fleet were retired in 2024.

The ▄MiG-21 Bison was introduced in Update "Seek & Destroy". As a premium aircraft, it provides a great alternative to the F-4J UK for researching the higher ranks of the tech tree. The MiG-21 Bison is a heavily upgraded MiG-21bis airframe, and at its battle rating, the extremities of such upgrade begin to show. While the aircraft has incredible weaponry and avionics for its battle rating, the missile count and overall flight performance begins to show its limits when facing superior aircraft in uptiers such as F-15s, Su-27s, and JAS-39s. The Bison is also one of the very few aircraft in-game fitted with a GTM (Air to Ground) tracking mode in its radar, allowing it to lock on to ground vehicles and maritime targets, and track their movement from far away. This, coupled with targeting of the KAB-500Kr TV guided bombs, allows the Bison to execute quick and precise interdiction strikes. Just be careful of the low amount of ordnance and countermeasures on this aircraft.

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

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

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	___	___	16000	__._	__._	__._	__._	750
Upgraded	2,303	2,240		35.6	37.0	262.0	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	___	___	___	~__	~__

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< ___	< ___	< ___	-

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
Tumansky R-25-300		1	_,___ kg		___ kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)			Max Gross Weight
Weight (each)	Type		_m fuel	__m fuel	__m fuel
1,140 kg	Afterburning axial-flow turbojet		_,___ kg	_,___ kg	_,___ kg	_,___ kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (___%/WEP)
Condition	100%	___%/WEP	_m fuel	__m fuel	__m fuel	MGW
Stationary	___ kgf	___ kgf	_.__	_.__	_.__	_.__
Optimal	___ kgf (_ km/h)	___ kgf (_ km/h)	_.__	_.__	_.__	_.__

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

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

Repair cost

AB2 083

RB6 315

SB7 096

Crew training10 000

Experts1 800 000

Aces3 600

Research Aces2 700 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

2 × 100 / 320 / 550 %

2 × 256 / 256 / 256 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor New boosters Wings repair Engine	Fuselage repair G-suit Airframe Cover EFS	ns23_belt_pack Flares/Chaff Mk82 UB-16 R-73E Mk83 UB-32 ns23_new_gun R-27R1 FAB-500 S-24 R-27T1 KAB-500Kr B-8M1

Armaments

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

Offensive armament

The MiG-21 Bison (Great Britain) is armed with:

• 1 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannon, belly-mounted (200 rpg)
• 60 x large calibre countermeasures

Suspended armament

The MiG-21 Bison (Great Britain) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3	4	5
100 kg OFAB-100 bombs		4		4
250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs	1	1		1	1
500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs		1		1
500 kg KAB-500Kr bombs		1		1
500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs	1	1		1	1
1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs		1		1
ZB-500 incendiary bombs		1		1
S-5K rockets	16	16, 32		16, 32	16
S-8KO rockets		20		20
S-24 rockets	1	1		1	1
R-27R1 missiles		1		1
R-27T1 missiles		1		1
R-73E missiles	1				1
490 l drop tanks	1		1		1

Default weapon presets

3 x 490 l drop tanks 64 x S-5K rockets 64 x S-5K rockets 4 x S-24 rockets 40 x S-8KO rockets 2 x R-73E missiles 2 x R-27R1 missiles 2 x R-27T1 missiles 8 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (800 kg total) 4 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (2,000 lb total) 4 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (1,000 kg total) 2 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (2,000 lb total) 2 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,000 kg total) 2 x 500 kg KAB-500Kr bombs (1,000 kg total)

Usage in battles

The best way to use the Bison is to fly at medium to low altitude and use map terrain as cover from BVR missiles, notching and deploying chaff when necessary. The outstanding thrust vectoring R-73s are your main weapon of choice with this vehicle, go for bombers or unaware fast targets above you, there is plenty of large countermeasures to ensure your survival when getting into a firing position. Take advantage of the helmet aiming to get tough angle locks, leading your missile to fire ahead of the enemy. The only real limit of the R-73 is you only get a single pair of them. Your backup offensive weapons are the R-27 (radar or IR): the radar variant makes for interesting playstyles and the aircraft is equipped with a serviceable radar but isn't reliable at any large range, the IR version is no R-73 by any means but it does have a longer range, larger warhead, and boasts impressive characteristics nonetheless. Save these larger missiles for less manoeuvrable targets such as bombers and attackers. Finally, be sure to constantly scan your RWR and radar systems to get a view of the battlefield and potential targets and risks.

Do keep in mind that this is a 1950s airframe flying against 1990s modern jets. Speed, sensors, and payload are not the strong suits of this aircraft, use your turn radius, airbrakes, and strategy to outmatch any difficult enemies, the missiles at your disposal will do most of the work if you can get a launch. This aircraft has very limited ground ordnance and is better off as an air superiority fighter, however, if one wishes to use this plane in the CAS role, there is a few options such as the Soviet KAB-500Kr (500 kg) TV guided bomb and a number of Soviet and NATO unguided bombs and rockets. Fly low and fast and deploy countermeasures during and after each attack run. Of note, at its BR the 23 mm cannon is an afterthought with very limited ammo, only use it to finish off enemies or against slow targets, missiles are the main armament at this range.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Very capable R-73E and R-27 missiles which can be used with a Helmet-Mounted Sight
• Improved RWR which allows for greater combat awareness
• Pulse-Doppler radar
• Good manoeuvrability
• Excellent acceleration in level flight and in a dive
• Small airframe

Cons:

• Only 4 missiles
• Weak energy retention
• MiG-21bis airframe which may be lacking at the BR
• GSh-23L has very bad velocity making it difficult to aim
• Limited arsenal for ground attacking

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: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).

Devblog

In the early 1990s, Mikoyan and its partner companies launched an upgrade and modernization package for the MiG-21Bis with the aim of offering it to the many operators of the type over the world. Their aim was to prolong the service life of the aircraft against rapidly advancing newer types of aircraft coming along at the time and on competing offer.

Taking to the skies for the first time in 1995, the new 21-93 variant would see the integration of many modern features, such as R-73 and R-27. The latter made possible thanks to its upgraded pulse-doppler Kopyo radar developed from the Yak-141 / MiG-29 series of radar. A new canopy would be introduced, along with a modernized Heads-Up-Display and Helmet mounted sight to make full use of the R-73s capabilities.

India would officially pursue a contract in 1996, with the HAL company handling domestic modernization work after an initial batch of aircraft modified in Russia. India was already one of the largest operators of the type, having the MiG-21 in service since the 1960s across various types. The new upgrade was planned to take the type into the 21st century for the Indian Air Force. Known officially as the MiG-21UPG (For Upgrade) but later as the "Bison". Internally the cockpit was also reworked to include HOTAS controls. New integrated countermeasures were installed along the wing roots on the upper surface, providing additional protection and survivability in combat.

The Indian Air Force plans to retire all MiG-21 Bison aircraft by 2025, replaced in service by the domestically developed HAL Tejas.

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

• [Devblog] Pre-order: MiG-21 Bison