MiG-21MF (Germany)

This page is about the German jet fighter MiG-21MF (Germany). For other versions, see MiG-21 (Family).

◊MiG-21MF

◊MiG-19S

◊MiG-21bis-SAU

◊MiG-21MF

◊MiG-19S

◊MiG-21bis-SAU

Germany

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
10.3	10.7	10.7

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:260 000

Purchase:710 000

Description

The ◊MiG-21MF is a rank VII German jet fighter with a battle rating of 10.3 (AB) and 10.7 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.95 "Northern Wind".

It is a single-engine delta-wing supersonic interceptor with conventional tail and fully-moving elevators. As of Update "Hot Tracks", it is the only German plane able to carry air-to-air missiles better than AIM-9B/R-3, the only plane with ballistic computer, and the only plane above BR 10.0.

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 time33 s

Max altitude16 000 m

EngineTumansky R-13-300

Type

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight10 t

The ◊MiG-21MF has mediocre flight performance in every aspect among top rank jets. It will get out-accelerated by British Phantoms or MiG-21 bis, outturned by Draken or Mirage, and out-sped by 2nd gen US Phantoms (F-4E/EJ), Starfighters or MiG-21 bis. The delta wing provides great angle-of-attack (AoA) while turning but it also mean the plane loses huge amount of speed doing so. This means that staying behind enemy in 1 vs. 1 is fairly simple, but when there are multiple bandits one might loose all their speed and become an easy missile target if turning too much.

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	2,196	2,178	16000	34.0	35.1	139.6	131.0	750
Upgraded	2,295	2,240		32.3	33.0	192.8	165.0

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	Empty mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
Tumansky R-13-300		1	5,860 kg		355 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)			Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		8m fuel	20m fuel	29m fuel
1,135 kg	Afterburning axial-flow turbojet		6,505 kg	7,455 kg	8,168 kg	9,900 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition	100%	WEP	8m fuel	20m fuel	29m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	3,825 kgf	6,483 kgf	1.00	0.87	0.79	0.65
Optimal	3,825 kgf (0 kph)	6,977 kgf (1,200 kph)	1.07	0.94	0.85	0.70

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

The MiG-21MF lacks armor plating. It also has one engine unlike some other planes. This means that the survivability is very low, even among jets. Getting hit is something that should be avoided at all cost, because should the plane survive it, even small wing damage will force the pilot to return to base. The plane lacks radar warning receiver (RWR), which is a notable downside compared to the Soviet MiG 21 SMT.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 942 → 4 277

RB9 320 → 13 551

SB8 131 → 11 822

Total cost of modifications222 500

347 000

Talisman cost2 800

Crew training200 000

Experts710 000

Aces2 800

Research Aces1 080 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

130 / 340 / 600 %

232 / 232 / 232 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor Research: 9 100 Cost: 14 000 340 New boosters Research: 10 000 Cost: 16 000 380 Wings repair Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 Engine Research: 18 000 Cost: 28 000 680	Fuselage repair Research: 9 100 Cost: 14 000 340 Airframe Research: 10 000 Cost: 16 000 380 G-suit Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 Cover Research: 18 000 Cost: 28 000 680	ns23_belt_pack Research: 9 100 Cost: 14 000 340 UB-16 Research: 9 100 Cost: 14 000 340 Flares/Chaff Research: 9 100 Cost: 14 000 340 UB-32 Research: 10 000 Cost: 16 000 380 R-3S Research: 10 000 Cost: 16 000 380 FAB-250 Research: 10 000 Cost: 16 000 380 ns23_new_gun Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 S-24 Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 R-3R Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 EFS Research: 18 000 Cost: 28 000 680 R-60 Research: 18 000 Cost: 28 000 680

Your main priority is to get to the R-60s as soon as possible, this will require you to unlock two tier III modifications. Unless you particularly want to research the ground attack ordinance you will be wanting to unlock "Wings repair" and "New 23 mm cannons" at tier III. Therefore you should research "Offensive 23 mm belts" as your first modification at tier I. This will then unlock tier II modifications where you can research "R-3S" and your choice of "New boosters" or "Airframe" (up to you in which order you unlock these), it may be appealing to unlock missiles first to help with the grind but you should keep in mind that the R-3S missiles are slightly worse than the AIM-9B and can only be fired when pulling less than 2G, which means they cannot be fired in even a gentle turn or climb. Once tier III modifications are accessible, you can unlock "Wings repair" and "New 23 mm cannons" in whichever order you want and then go for the R-60s. Once the R-60s are available you can unlock the remaining modifications in whatever order you see fit, however it is highly recommended to go for G-suit and engine upgrades first.

Armaments

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

Offensive armament

The MiG-21MF (Germany) is armed with:

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

Suspended armament

The MiG-21MF (Germany) 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-60 missiles
• 64 x S-5K rockets + 2 x R-3S missiles
• 64 x S-5K rockets + 2 x R-60 missiles
• 2 x S-24 rockets + 2 x R-3S missiles
• 2 x S-24 rockets + 2 x R-60 missiles
• 4 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 2 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs + 2 x R-3S missiles (500 kg total)
• 2 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs + 2 x R-60 missiles (500 kg total)

The ◊MiG-21MF has access to ballistic computer for the guns and rockets.

Usage in battles

While the ◊MiG-21MF 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.

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.

Engaging in 1 v 1 situation can sometimes be done, but unless a faster opponent forces it (which happens rarely, as faster opponents turn worse than the MiG) it is only recommended if there are no other enemies nearby. However, do never turn-fight with Draken or Mirage. A good tactic for defensive dogfights is trying to make enemy overshoot, especially against Phantoms. Keep in mind however that you can outrun F-4C.

Final thing to note is that because the plane has no RWR nor radar-guided missiles, it is strongly recommended to stick close to the ground. This will make it unable for enemies to track you on their radar and send a radar-guided missile. This strategy comes with a risk of having to deal with enemies that are higher than you, but without RWR the pilot won't even know if there is a missile coming towards him.

Specific enemies worth noting

• MiG-21 bis and MiG-21 SMT, if you play against the Soviets. They are faster and have better acceleration (bis in particular) but are slightly heavier and less agile
• Mirage IIIC, has very similar acceleration and top speed, but will outturn MiG-21 MF and has great Matra Magic missiles.
• F-4E/F-4EJ. They are armed with great missiles, fighting them at altitude is not recommended. One the deck they are faster and have better energy retention.
• J35 Draken, will always outturn you. It is very important to keep an energy advantage when attempting to fight the Draken, turn fighting is the worst thing possible against a Draken and tactics that involve retaining energy is best when attempting to fight the Draken. Forcing the Draken to dump its energy is the best way to fight against it.

Radars

The MiG-21MF 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:

• Access to four R-60 missiles with great tracking and G-tolerance
• High AoA
• Good ground attack loadouts
• Light and agile
• A small profile which is harder to hit
• Decent fuel load allows for reheating for the whole match

Cons:

• Jack of all trades, but a master of none
• Terrible cannon armament
• Terrible energy retention
• No Radar Warning Receiver
• No combat flaps

History

The MiG-21MF (Germany) is a second-generation variant of the popular MiG-21 'Fishbed'. Operated by the East German Air Force (Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee; LSK) between 1972 and 1990, the aircraft was an export variant of the MiG-21SM, and is highly similar to its counterpart, the MiG-21SMT. Designated the 'Fishbed-J', the aircraft formed the bulk of the LSK in the late stages of the Cold War. All German MiG-21 aircraft were retired following the German Reunification, though some survive as museum aircraft to this day.

Design and procurement

The East German Air Force received many MiG-21 variants due to their ties with the Soviet Bloc. 76 MiG-21F-13 aircraft had been delivered to the East German Air Force in the early 1960s, and they later received 50 MiG-21PF 'Fishbed-D' planes, which were known as the MiG-21PFM in East German service. This generated considerable confusion as the German MiG-21PFs had inadvertently been given the same name as the later, Soviet-made, MiG-21PFM 'Fishbed-F'. However, in the early 1970s, the LSK received its first 3rd-generation MiG-21s, the MiG-21MF. This aircraft was essentially an export variant of the Soviet MiG-21SM. 50 MiG-21MFs were delivered to the LSK between 1972 and 1974.

The MiG-21MF differs from the standard MiG-21SM by having a less powerful engine and simplified radar system, meaning that it accelerates slightly slower than its Soviet counterpart. It could reach a maximum speed of 2,230 km/h, and was flown by a single pilot. As an interceptor, it carried a 23 mm dual-barreled cannon with 200 rounds in a ventral pack, and was also capable of fitting a variety of munitions including bombs, rockets and missiles.

Service history

The MiG-21MF enjoyed a fairly uneventful service history with the LSK. The aircraft served with Jagdgeschwader (JG, fighter group) 8 and JG 9. It complemented the earlier MiG-21PFM and MiG-21F-13 aircraft in German service. Later on, it was complemented by the MiG-21bis, the final MiG-21 variant to serve with the German Air Force. At the time of the German reunification, many MiG-21s remained in German service. As the new combined Luftwaffe had no plans to continue using the Soviet-era interceptor, all MiG-21 aircraft were retired in late 1990 following the German reunification. Many of those aircraft were reserved as museum pieces, and several survive to this day in museums across the globe.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the MiG-21MF (Germany) from live.warthunder.com.

Images

Videos

"MiG-21MF - The Orange MiG [Air Forces] - BaconGaming

Tank busters discusses the MiG-21MF (Germany) at 4:19 - War Thunder Official Channel

MiG-21MF - Napalmratte

Should You Buy The MiG-21MF?? - Sako Sniper

See also

Related development

• MiG-21F-13
• MiG-21SMT
• MiG-21bis

External links

• [Wikipedia] Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
• [Air Vectors] The Mikoyan MiG-21 - MiG-21 Single-Seat Variants
• Official data sheet - more details about the performance

Works Cited

• Aviata. (2020). German MiG-21. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://aviatia.net/german-mig-21/
• Museum, D. (2020). Mikojan-Gurewitsch MiG-21 MF. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://www.deutsches-museum.de/en/flugwerft/collections/jet-aircraft/mig-21/