MiG-21 Fishbed

The MiG-21 entered Soviet Air Force service around 1959, with production continuing across multiple variants through the 1970s and 1980s. Over 11,000 aircraft were built in the USSR and under license in countries including India and Czechoslovakia, making it one of the most-produced supersonic jet fighters in history.

As of the 2020s, the MiG-21 has been retired by most major operators, but a few air forces including India with its MiG-21 Bison variant and North Korea still maintain limited numbers. India has been progressively phasing out its remaining MiG-21 fleet, with final squadrons expected to be retired in the near future.

The MiG-21 has a maximum speed of approximately Mach 2.0 (around 2,175 km/h) and a relatively short combat radius of roughly 300–400 km depending on the variant and payload. Its limited range was a well-known weakness, especially compared to later Soviet interceptor designs.

In the Vietnam War, North Vietnamese MiG-21s proved effective against American F-4 Phantoms by using hit-and-run tactics and exploiting the MiG's small size and agility at lower speeds. The MiG-21 was less heavily armed than the F-4 but could force engagements on favorable terms in close-range dogfights.