Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed, a lightweight air-combat fighter, is one of the most famous military aircraft in the world. No other warplane has been manufactured in such large numbers (over 10,000 in the Soviet Union and about 2,000 in China and India) since World War II. Nor has any other fighter served with so many air forces (the current count is 56). This global success was the MiG design bureau’s fourth in succession in the immediate postwar era. Powered by one Tumansky R-11F-300 rated at 12,675 lb (w/ afterburner), the MiG-21 was easy to maintain, tough in the harshest environments, and very affordable. It was designed to climb fast to high altitudes, at all heights, and to excel in close combat. This book covers all MiG-21 upgrades and variants, as well as combat and armament specifications. Over 300 photos are used to illustrate the story of the MiG-21. It features technical diagrams and gives a comprehensive development history. Other topics include design, development, structural detail, international production, trials, comparisons, and much more.