Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force

Fujimi MiG-21PF, KP MiG-21bis, Fujimi MiG-21M, Eastern Express MiG 21Bison

When all is said and done, the IAF will almost certainly be remembered as the greatest exponent of the MiG 21. Indeed when you say you flew ‘Migs’ in the IAF you mean the MiG 21 and not any of the 23s, 25s, 27s or 29s. At its peak the IAF fielded some 550 MiG 21s. From the earliest 1963 PF version to the latest Bis Upgrade, MiG-21s have formed a credible detterent and a large chunk of the IAF’s fleet. Considered a potent machine with each subsequent modification along the 60s-70s and 80s, the latest upgrade also known as the MiG 21-93 has finally remedied the lack of a capable avionics/radar/EW/BVR weapon capability sorely missed on the earlier versions. So here is my tribute to this fantastic machine. These are the famous FL version-C991 in the 1971 war scheme, the MF version in one of two camouflage schemes that were used on the MiG (the other version simply replaced the sand yellow with ocean grey) in the markings of 37 sqn the “Black Panthers” and three 490 Liter tanks. Then the standard Bis in the air superiority grey of the eighties with a shark mouth from 32 sqn and armed with two R-13Rs and two 490L tanks. Finally the Bis Upgrade also called the Bison. This machine is armed with two R-77 RVV-AE AMRAAMSKIs and two R-73E close combat missiles. The serial is of the first of two machines converted in Russia. The main differences are in the new single piece windscreen, bubbled hood to accommodate the helmet mounted sight (no rear view periscope here) chaff and flare canisters on the wing roots and RWR antennae on the fin top. The ac is painted in the new all grey scheme which is a shade darker than the earlier grey of the Bis.