The Fishbed
The MiG-21 ranks among the most recognizable jet fighters ever built. Developed in the Soviet Union, it first took to the air in 1955, and its many variants have been operated by more than 50 countries. Western militaries assigned it the NATO reporting name “Fishbed,” while some versions remained in service into the 21st century. Soviet factories produced more than 10,000 examples before manufacturing ended in 1985.
During the Southeast Asia War, the MiG-21 posed a serious threat to U.S. forces. It could match American jets for speed and was more maneuverable than the F-4 Phantom, its principal opponent.
North Vietnam operated more than 200 MiG-21s.
MiG-21: the Kalashnikov AK-47 of aircraft
Although Pentagon engineer Pierre Sprey acknowledged the MiG-21’s capabilities, he also described it as a seriously flawed fighter. What weaknesses could account for such criticism of one of the most widely produced jet aircraft in history?
Former U.S. Navy F-4 Phantom II pilot John Chesire addressed the issue on Quora. While noting that he was unfamiliar with Sprey’s specific criticisms, Chesire pointed out that Sprey had recently compared the MiG-21 favorably with the newer American F-35, stating:
“The F-35 is so bad it is absolutely hopeless when pitted against modern aircraft. In fact, it would be ripped to shreds even by the antiquated MiG-21…” (Source: Russia’s MiG-21 Would Rip Apart America’s F-35 – US Analyst).
John Chesire explained that, although he had never flown the MiG-21, he had flown against it and did not consider it a “seriously flawed jet fighter.” In his view, the aircraft had limitations, but the later variants were highly capable. Chesire recalled pursuing a newer “J” model in an F-4 at maximum speed for an extended period, only to see the MiG-21 pull away because it was unexpectedly faster. He noted, however, that the amount of drag carried by his aircraft that day might have influenced the outcome. Chesire identified several weaknesses, including short range, limited visibility, and inferior weapons systems. He also observed that MiG-21s appeared to suffer frequent crashes, although he was unsure of the reasons. Nevertheless, he considered the aircraft a formidable fighter for its era—simple, inexpensive, effective, and widely used. For Chesire, the MiG-21 was the aircraft equivalent of the Kalashnikov AK-47.
CONSTANT PEG
Although John Chesire pursued several MiG-21s during the Vietnam War, he was never able to draw one into a dogfight.
Chesire recalled that his assessment changed years later when he took part in the then-top-secret CONSTANT PEG program in Nevada. There, the MiG-21 confirmed his expectations as a tough and capable lightweight fighter.
He concluded that the Soviet Union had achieved its apparent objective of producing a rugged, simple, highly reliable, and easily maintained aircraft. The MiG-21 offered exceptional climb performance, high-altitude acceleration, and maneuverability, surpassing every other operational aircraft in service when it entered service in the early 1960s. Chesire added that these qualities remained impressive by modern tactical-fighter standards, provided that range and payload were not primary concerns. (Source: Global Security).
Photos by War Thunder via Pinterest and the U.S. Air Force
