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Military


Mig-23 / E-2A / "Izdelie 63" - 1956

The MiG E-2A "Izdelie 63" ("product 63"), MiG-23 - the first [of many] with this designation - was a front-line fighter with an AM-11 engine. An experimental batch was made at the Gorky Aircraft Plant No. 21. If all the previous models were created for maneuvering combat due to the advantage in flight performance, then the MIG 21 was approached with a different concept, when everything is decided by seconds, and the target is struck by one rocket shot.

The MiG-21 was created in accordance with the decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of September 9, 1953 as a light supersonic front-line fighter with a triangular wing and one engine AM-11 (RD-11) with a thrust of 5100 kgf, which has an advantage in comparison with twin-engine aircraft while maintaining high thrust-to-weight ratio the weight of the structure and fuel consumption per flight. Due to the fact that the design bureau did not yet have experience in building aircraft with such a wing, it was decided to build the aircraft in two versions: both with a triangular and with a swept (55°) wing for a comparative assessment of them during flight tests. Design Bureau E-2 and E-2A aircraft with a 55 ° sweep wing, as well as E-4 and E-5 with a triangular wing, were built. E-2 and E-4 had even less powerful engines AM-9B and RD-9E with a thrust of 3250 and 3800 kgf. The first flights on them were made on February 14 and June 16, 1955. Test pilots G.K. Mosolov and G.A. Sedov respectively.

When the new RD-11 was ready with a thrust of 5100 kgf, it was installed on E-2A and E-5 aircraft, which were lifted into the air on February 17 and January 9, 1956 by G.A. test pilots Sedov and V.A. Nefedov. During the tests, the issue was decided in favor of the delta wing, and the E-5 under the name MiG-21 ("65") was launched into serial production at the Gorky plant. In 1957, a series of E-2A aircraft under the name MiG-23 (“63”) was laid at the same factory, but later they were abandoned. Moreover, On the basis of the E-2 with a swept wing, an experimental E-50 fighter was manufactured and tested with a combined power plant as part of the RD-9E and S-155 rocket engines (the first flight was performed on January 9, 1956 by test pilot V.G. Mukhin ) It was also decided to build a modification of this E-50A with RD-11 and S-155 LRE named MiG-23U in series since 1957, however, as in the case of E-2A (MiG-23), this idea was not implemented.

The search continued for the optimal wing angle which would show maximum results at any stage of the flight from takeoff to landing. The search for the optimal wing led the designers to a rather logical result - a wing with variable sweep from 18 to 72 degrees, which made it possible to squeeze the maximum out of the plane at each stage of the flight. As a result, the MiG-23 was created, which made its first flight in 1967, and already in the 69th year it was put into service.

MiG-23 / E-8 - 1962

The E-8 (MiG-23 - the second with this designation) - an experimental aircraft on MiG-21PF units. The aircraft is equipped with a Tumansky R-21F-300 engine designed by N. Metskhvarishvili. The Ye-8 introduced a new engine, the R-21F-300, a vastly improved derivative of the R-11F-300 featuring an increased-diameter compressor inlet. The fuselage was completely redone. The features of the aircraft were PGO and the ventral air intake. In 1962, 2 aircraft were manufactured.

MiG-21 - Variants

MiG-21 has become one of the most famous and popular fighters in the world. On its modifications E-66, E-76 and E-33, 24 world records were set. The MiG-21 was mass-produced for more than 30 years in many modifications at three plants in the USSR, as well as in India, Czechoslovakia and the PRC, was in service with the air forces of 49 countries and participated in many military conflicts. In the Soviet Union, 10158 MiG-21 aircraft were built.

  • E-1 - a fighter with a triangular wing and an AM-9B engine (project). Designed in 1954.
  • E-2 - an experimental fighter with a swept wing and an AM-9B engine. Armament consisted of 2 cannons HP-30. The first flight on February 14, 1955 (test pilot G.K. Mosolov).
  • E-2A ("product 63", MiG-23 - the first with this designation) - a front-line fighter with an AM-11 engine. An experimental batch was made at the Gorky Aircraft Plant No. 21.
  • E-4 - an experimental fighter with a triangular wing and an engine AM-9E (AM-9I). The first flight was June 16, 1955.
  • E-5 - prototype with a delta wing (57° along the leading edge) and an AM-11 engine. The first flight on January 9, 1956.
  • E-6 - a prototype with an R-11F-300 engine. Made 3 aircraft. The first flight on May 28, 1958 (test pilot V.A. Nefyodov).
  • E-6V - flying laboratory. In 1963, 2 aircraft were manufactured.
  • E-6T-3 - an experimental aircraft with PGO.
  • E-6U-1 - prototype training fighter. It was distinguished by a double cabin. Armament consisted of one 12.7 mm machine gun. The first flight on October 17, 1960 (test pilot P.M. Ostapenko).
  • E-7H - a carrier of nuclear weapons. Designed based on the MiG-21S.
  • E-7/8 - prototype of the scout. Designed based on the MiG-21PF.
  • E-8 (MiG-23 - the second with this designation) - an experimental aircraft on MiG-21PF units. The aircraft is equipped with a R-21F-300 engine designed by N. Metskhvarishvili. Fuselage completely redone. The features of the aircraft were PGO and the ventral air intake. In 1962, 2 aircraft were manufactured.
  • E-33 - a record version of the MiG-21U. Female athletes N. Prokhanova, L. Zaitseva, S.E. Savitskaya set a number of world records on it.
  • E-50 - an experimental fighter with a swept wing and rocket booster S-155. The first flight on January 9, 1956. 3 aircraft built.
  • E-66 - a record. On October 31, 1959, pilot G.K. Mosolov reached an average speed of 2388 km / h in the area of 15-25 km.
  • E-66A - modified record. April 28, 1961 G.K.Mosolov reached a dynamic ceiling of 34714 m.
  • E-66B - a record. It was a serial fighter without weapons and parts of equipment. On the plane, 2 solid fuel boosters were installed. In the fall of 1974, S.E. Savitskaya set a number of world records on it.
  • M-21 - a radio-controlled target. Developed jointly with OKB KAI and LII. Resource-based aircraft were converted into targets. Radar, a sight, a radio station, oxygen equipment, etc .; an automatic control system was installed with an AP-17 autopilot and steering machines, a cassette with IR traps, recording equipment.
  • M-21M - maneuvering radio-controlled target.
  • MiG-21bis (E-7bis, “product 75”) - the latest serial modification of the fighter. The aircraft is equipped with a R-25-300 engine. Armed with a GSh-23 cannon and R-60 missiles. In 1972-1974, 2030 aircraft were manufactured at the Gorky Aircraft Plant. For the Warsaw Pact mill, “product 75A” was produced, for the Middle East - “product 75B”, differing in the composition of the equipment. Delivered to Finland. Licensed in India.
  • MiG-21I (analogue aircraft, “product 21-11”) - experimental with an animated wing. In 1967, 2 aircraft were manufactured. Used to create the supersonic airliner Tu-144. A second copy is currently on display at the Air Force Museum in Monino.
  • MiG-21I (the second with this designation) - modernized. Designed in 1992. The aircraft has an on-board digital computer, RLPK “Spear”, and some equipment of the MiG-29 aircraft. The armament includes R-27R1, R-27T1, R-60M, and R-73E missiles.
  • MiG-21M (E-7M, “product 96”) - export version of the MiG-21S. It was distinguished by a built-in twin gun GSH-23L and 4 pylons for R-3 missiles. Produced at the Moscow factory "Banner of Labor" in 1968-1971. Delivered to the countries of the Middle East. Since 1973, licensed in India.
  • MiG-21MT (“96T product”) - export version of the MiG-21SMT. In 1971, the Znamya Truda plant produced a small batch.
  • MiG-21P (E-7) - interceptor for air defense aviation. Notable for the front of the fuselage of a larger diameter. On the aircraft installed radar RP-21. Designed in 1958. Made 3 prototypes.
  • MiG-21PD (“23-31”, “product 92”) - a prototype aircraft with an additional lifting engine. In 1966, the serial MiG-21PFM was converted (the fuselage was extended by 1 m and the RD-36-35 engine was installed).
  • MiG-21PF (E-7/4, “product 76”) - an upgraded interceptor. Differs in the forced R-11F2-300 engine. Produced at aircraft factories in Gorky since 1961 and Moscow since 1962. Since 1964, its export version for the Warsaw Pact countries was produced.
  • MiG-21PF-V (MiG-21PFL) - export interceptor for Vietnam. It was distinguished by the composition of the equipment.
  • MiG-21PFM (E-7M, “product 77”) - an upgraded version of the MiG-21PFS. It was distinguished by the composition of the equipment. Produced since 1963.
  • MiG-21PFM (“product 94”) - modified. The upgraded radar RP-21M was installed, the composition of the equipment was changed. Due to the installation of a new ejection seat, the design of the lamp was changed. Produced in the years 1964-1965 at the Gorky Aircraft Plant. Delivered to the countries of the Warsaw Pact.
  • MiG-21PFS (E-7SPS) - interceptor with a boundary layer blowing system. It was distinguished by the R-11F2S-300 engine.
  • MiG-21R (E-7R, “product 94R”) - tactical reconnaissance. Produced in the years 1965-1971 at the Gorky Aircraft Plant. Delivered to Egypt.
  • MiG-21S (E-7S, “product 95”) - fighter with an increased fuel supply and radar RP-22 “Sapphire”. Produced in Gorky in the years 1965-1968.
  • MiG-21SM (“product 95M”, “product 15”) - a modernized fighter with the R-13-300 engine. The composition of weapons has been increased. Produced in Gorky in 1968-1974.
  • MiG-21SMT (“product 50”) - an aircraft with an increased fuel supply. Produced in Gorky in 1971-1972.
  • MiG-21U (E-6U, “product 66”) - training version of the MiG-21F-13. In Tbilisi, from 1962-1966, 181 aircraft were manufactured. The export version was produced by the Znamya Truda plant in 1964-1968.
  • MiG-21UM (E-6UM, “product 69”) - a training version of the MiG-21PFM. Produced in Tbilisi since 1971. 1133 aircraft were manufactured. It was exported.
  • MiG-21US (E-6US, “product 68”) - a training version of the MiG-21S. Produced in Tbilisi in 1966-1971. 347 aircraft were manufactured. “Product 68A” was produced for export (until 1970).
  • MiG-21F (E-6, “product 72”) - the first production version of the fighter. Armed with 2 cannons HP-30. In the years 1959-1960 produced 99 aircraft.
  • MiG-21F-13 (E-6T, “product 74”) - a serial fighter armed with 1 NR-30 cannon and K-13 (R-3C) missiles. It was produced in 1960-1962 at aircraft factories No. 21 (606 aircraft) and the “Banner of Labor”, as well as under license in China and Czechoslovakia. Delivered to Poland, East Germany and Finland.
  • MiG-21FL - an export version of the MiG-21PFM interceptor (“77”). In the years 1966-1968 produced at the factory "Banner of Labor". Delivered to India, Iraq and other developing countries. In the years 1966-1973 produced under license in India by HAL.
  • MiG-21FM (“product 96F”, “product 98”) - export version of the MiG-21SM. Produced in Moscow in 1970-1975 and in Gorky since 1975. Delivered to the countries of the Middle East and Finland.
  • MiG-21-93 - modernized.
  • MiG-21-2000 - modernized by Romania together with Israel.
  • J-7 - Chinese version of the MiG-21F-13.





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