MiG-21 SPS-K (Germany)

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

◄MiG-21 SPS-K

◄MiG-21 SPS-K

Germany

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
9.3	9.7	10.0

Class:

PREMIUM

Fighter

Jet fighter

Purchase:Bundle or Gift

Description

During the 1960s and '70s, East Germany had modified their MiG-21PFs into a new standard, which they indigenously called the MiG-21PFM (not to be confused with the Soviet designated MiG-21PFM, a heavily upgraded MiG-21PF using the second-generation MiG-21 body style). However, a problem quickly arose when the East German air force acquired the Soviet designated PFMs, as these planes were vastly different than the upgraded PFs sharing the same name. To avoid further confusion, all Soviet designated MiG-21PFMs in German service would be re-designated into the MiG-21SPS. However, yet again, a naming convention conundrum arose when the later variant of the Soviet MiG-21PFM (Izdelyie 94A) entered service, with the biggest change being the ability to carry a GSh-23 gunpod on the underbelly. To account for the new variant again, the Germans re-designated this variant into the MiG-21SPS-K, with the K standing for Kanone to denote its ability to take a cannon pod.

Introduced as a premium pack in Update "Ground Breaking", the MiG-21SPS-K takes on an entirely new playstyle for the Fishbed family, completely departing from the high-speed, high AoA hit and run tactics of previous aircraft due to its loadouts. Due to not having a real built-in gun, this aircraft is very reliant on its IR-guided R-60 and R-13M1 and radar-guided R-3R air-to-air missile selection. However, due to being a MiG-21PFM airframe, it is limited to two hardpoints only, meaning the player can only take a maximum of four missiles. The player can also choose between either a GSh-23 gunpod, or a SPS-141 countermeasures pod on the center pylon. Overall, the SPS-K is a unique premium as it differs greatly from the usual MiG-21's gameplay loop, having to rely a lot more on its ordnance and tools than its flight performance (which as with other MiG-21s, is very good as well).

The MiG-21 SPS-K was removed from the Gaijin store at the end of the 2023 May Sale. It was made available briefly to purchase with Golden Eagles during the 2023 "MiG-21's First Flight" celebration.

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 time36 s

Max altitude16 000 m

EngineTumansky R-11F2S-300

Type

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight10 t

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	2,210	2,195	16000	37.7	38.3	124.6	117.8	750
Upgraded	2,280	2,240		34.5	36.0	167.0	145.0

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	500	450	~11	~5

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 650	< 600	< 900	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
Tumansky R-11F2S-300		1	5,692 kg		342 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)				Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		10m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	35m fuel
1,120 kg	Afterburning axial-flow turbojet		6,340 kg	6,906 kg	7,513 kg	7,852 kg	9,500 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition	100%	WEP	10m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	35m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	3,536 kgf	5,304 kgf	0.84	0.77	0.71	0.68	0.56
Optimal	3,536 kgf (0 km/h)	5,398 kgf (1,200 km/h)	0.85	0.78	0.72	0.69	0.57

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 aircraft gets 60 mm bulletproof glass in front of the pilot and 10 mm of steel behind the pilot, making it more survivable in head-on attacks and making it be able to tank low caliber machine gun fire from enemy tanks. But even with the bulletproof glass, the pilot isn't immune to enemy fire, so you should still try to dodge any bullets aiming for you. The plane also gets self-sealing fuel tanks in the wings and over the engine.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost

AB2 024

RB7 515

SB6 938

Crew training10 000

Experts1 160 000

Aces2 800

Research Aces2 150 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

2 × 130 / 380 / 600 %

2 × 232 / 232 / 232 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor New boosters Wings repair Engine	Fuselage repair Airframe G-suit Cover	ns23_belt_pack Flares/Chaff UB-32 R-3S FAB-250 R-3R ns23_new_gun S-24 R-13M EFS FAB-500 R-60

Armaments

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

Suspended armament

The MiG-21 SPS-K (Germany) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3
23 mm GSh-23L cannons (250 rpg)		1
250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs	1		1
500 kg FAB-500M-54 bombs	1		1
S-5K rockets	16, 32		16, 32
S-24 rockets	1		1
R-3R missiles	1*, 2		1*, 2
R-3S missiles	1*, 2		1*, 2
R-13M1 missiles	1		1
R-60 missiles	1		1
Countermeasures		64
490 l drop tanks		1
* Single R-3R missiles can only be equipped in conjunction with a single R-3S missile on the same hardpoint

Default weapon presets

1 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannon (250 rpg) 2 x R-60 missiles + 1 x 490 l drop tank 4 x R-3S missiles 4 x R-3R missiles 2 x R-3R missiles + 2 x R-3S missiles 64 x countermeasures + 2 x R-13M1 missiles 64 x countermeasures + 2 x R-60 missiles 64 x S-5K rockets 2 x S-24 rockets 2 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (500 kg total) 2 x 500 kg FAB-500M-54 bombs (1,000 kg total) 1 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannon + 2 x R-60 missiles 1 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannon + 2 x R-3S missiles + 2 x R-3R missiles

Usage in battles

Air Realistic Battles

The MiG-21 SPS-K is a decent fighter jet for its Battle Rating (BR). With its wide range of available weaponry, it can be used as a fighter and as an attack aircraft destroying enemy bases or ground vehicles.

When you want to play as a fighter (which is its intended role), you can either take the R-3R, R-3S, R-13M1 or R-60 or any mix of these missiles with you. Since the SPS-K doesn’t have an onboard gun, you will also have to decide between taking the gun or the countermeasures.

If you take the gun, you will be able to engage enemy planes and ground targets without the need of missiles. However, this way you will lack countermeasures, making it very hard to evade missiles. With the lack of flares, be aware of enemies like the A-10A and Su-25K due to them carrying the all-aspect AIM-9L and R-60MK missiles which are lethal to you.

Using the R-3R and/or R-3S is a great way to destroy enemy planes, while it is recommended to rather use the R-3Rs since many enemies which you will face are not capable of taking chaff with them. The R-3R can also be used in Head-ons because of your radar while the R-3S can only be used rear-aspect (when being behind the enemy). However both of these missiles only have a maximum G-overload of 10G, making them easy to outmaneuver and thus evade - even without countermeasures.

Another option for making the MiG a lethal fighter are the R-13M1 missiles. These have a higher G-overload of 20G making them very hard to be dodged by enemies. They also feature a higher launch-range than the R-3R/S and are faster with the top speed being Mach 2.4. 

The last option for you to take, is the R-60 missile. While being slower than the R-13M1, it has an higher G-overload of 30G, making this missile practically unable to be dodged. The R-60 is a rear-aspect missile, but this shouldn’t stop you from considering taking it with you. When you take the 2x R-60s, try to find enemies that are flying to the bases and quickly follow them. Most of the planes will have flares but some, like the often-seen Su-7BMK, don’t have countermeasures. So it is best to search for planes who lack those.

When you consider destroying bases or ground targets, it is best to equip the S-5K unguided rockets and the gun. With the lack of missiles, you won’t be able to pose a big threat to enemy planes, however, you can still make use of your gun if you are being attacked. If you are skilled (and lucky) enough, you can also use the rockets against enemy planes when you run out of ammo.

Ground Realistic Battles

The MiG-21 can also be used as a CAS vehicle hovering the skies of the battlefield. If you want to use the MiG in GRB, it is best to equip the S-5K rockets and the gun. While flying to the battlefield, be aware of enemy planes intercepting you or enemy SPAAs searching for their next target. Due to the lack of countermeasures, you should instantly try to dive down or fly behind rocks/hills if available, when you see a missile aiming for you.

If you make it to the battlefield alive, you can use your gun to destroy light tanks and IFVs and your rockets to hit MBTs. Since the rockets aren’t that powerful tho, you should try to dive down directly onto the target you want to hit, while having your air brakes extended.

Once you have unleashed your power, make your way back to the airfield, rearm and repeat.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Has access to R-3R, R-3S, R-13M1, and R-60 air-to-air missiles
• Decent radar to slave R-60s for easier target locking
• In a downtier, it can dominate with its gun and flight characteristics
• Decent manoeuvrability at high speed
• Ballistic computer for rockets, making it good for quick attack runs on ground targets

Cons:

• Bleeds excessive amounts of energy during turns, making it very tricky to retain energy in dogfights
• Poor acceleration making to plane hard to fly in turnfights
• Has to give up the gun for flare/chaff pod
• RWR is only working in the rear angle, not all around
• Gun runs out of ammo quickly due to high rate of fire and low ammunition storage (250 rounds)

History

The MiG-21 SPS (also MiG-21 PFS) was a subvariant of MiG-21 PF. The acronym SPS comes from "сдув пограничного слоя" ("sduv pogranichnogo sloya") which means "blown flaps". For this, the engine was modified and received a new name R-11F2S-300, this engine redirected some air from the compressor to the flaps. The military wanted it to be able to take off from unpaved airfields, and these modifications shortened the takeoff run to 480 m on average and reduced the landing speed to 240 km/h. Two SPRD-99 (СПРД-99) boosters could be installed to shorten the takeoff run even more. It was mass-produced from 1961 to 1965.

Media

Skins

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

Videos

2 Premiums, One Playstyle: MiG-21 SPS-K & MiG-21S - Spit_flyer

The Little Plane That Couldn't - MiG-21-SPS-K - DEFYN

Should You Buy The MiG-21 SPS-K? - Premium Review - Sako Sniper

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;
• other literature.