This article lists current and former operators of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21.

Current operators

Angola

Angolan Air Force (FAPA-DAA): 23 in service as of 2023. The first MiG-21 deliveries to Angola included 12 MiG-21MFs, delivered from the USSR starting in January 1976. They belonged to a unit entirely staffed by Cubans. In 1981–1982, 20 MiG-21PFM fighters were delivered second-hand from the USSR, as well as two MiG-21UM trainers. In 1983, 30 MiG-21bis were delivered, followed by another 32 in 1984. Two MiG-21R reconnaissance aircraft were also delivered during the same period. They have been reported as having been phased out of service by 2007, although Flight International claimed that 23 MiG-21s remained active in December 2021.

MiG-21s served with the following units: 9th Fighter Training Squadron 24th Air Instructional Regiment 25th Air Combat Fighter Regiment 11th Fighter Squadron 12th Fighter Squadron - replaced by MiG-23 in 1987 13th Fighter Squadron - replaced by MiG-23 in 1987

Little is known about the combat record of Angolan MiG-21s. On March 13, 1976, a pair of FAPA-DAA MiG-21MFs destroyed an Air Zaïre Fokker F27 on the ground at Lumbala Airport using S-24 rockets. Several Angolan MiG-21MFs are known to have been lost in air-to-air combat, all to the South African Air Force. The first one was shot down on November 6, 1981, by gunfire from a Mirage F1CZ flown by Johann Rankin. Another two MiG-21MFs were damaged on October 5, 1982, again by Mirage F1CZs. Although both of them returned safely to their base, they were subsequently written off.

Cuba

Cuban Air Force: 4 in service as of 2023. In 1962, 44 MiG-21F-13s were transferred to the Revolutionary Air Defense Forces (DAAFAR). From 1964 to 1967, 12 MiG-21PFMs were received. Subsequently, a possible MiG-21PFMA was delivered from Poland, but was replaced by MFs. In 1966, two MiG-21U (izd . 66-400) and two MiG-21U (izd . 66-600) were delivered. In 1968, four MiG-21Rs were delivered. Between 1972 and 1974, 60 MiG-21MFs were delivered, forming two squadrons, one of which was sent to Angola. From 1981, 72 MiG-21bis (izd . 75A) were received. In 1968, six MiG-21UMs were delivered.There were also plans to introduce the MiG-21US, but these were abandoned due to the availability of other training aircraft. In total, there are 202 aircraft of all series, but according to Cuban sources, DAAFAR has an additional 68 aircraft of all types to replace aircraft lost in accidents or defections during service, meaning that a total of 270 MiG-21s were sent to the Cuban Air Force. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the number of operational aircraft rapidly decreased through cannibalization. In 1994, only some of the MiG-21bis were retired. In 1995, all of the MiG-21F-13s, which did not have radar, were retired. Some of the aircraft were subsequently put into reserve and supplemented. Two MiG-21PFMs (s/n:384, s/n:1006) were donated to museums, while the remaining ten were sent to North Korea. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the operational rate gradually decreased, and currently only four MiG-21MFs are in operation.

In 1990, MiG-21s were known to be assigned to the following units: 1a Brigada de Guardia "Batalla de Sta Clara" 11o Regimiento de Caza (Santa Clara) 111o Escuadrone 112o Escuadrone 2a Brigada de Guardia "Playa Girón" 22o Regimiento de Caza (Baracoa) 221o Escuadrone 222o Escuadrone 3a Brigada de Guardia "Cuartel Moncada" 31o Regimiento de Caza (Camagüey) 311o Escuadrone 312o Escuadrone

Guinea Air Force of Guinea: 3 in service as of 2023. 8 'MiG-21MF' and one 'MiG-21U' delivered in 1986. Five restored to airworthy condition in Russia and returned to service; one of these crashed into a TV tower in 2007. Three still in service as of December 2021.

Libya Libyan Air Force: 12 in service as of 2023. In 1976, Libya ordered 64 MiG-21bis fighters and MiG-21UM trainers. Nine of these were used to train and equip a force envisaged as the core of the future "Palestinian Air Force", which would be established once Palestine would have been "freed". 33 MiG-21s were still in service in 2006 according to an Israeli intelligence report; presently, there is one squadron, the 1021st based at Gamal Abdel Nasser AB near Tobruk, still operating MiG-21bis fighters and MiG-21UM trainers.

In 2014, Egypt delivered 7 MiG-21MFs to the Libyan National Army – Air Force. On 6 March 2016, six more ex-Egyptian Air Force MiG-21MFs arrived at Gamal Abdel Nasser Air Base. Together with several other Libyan MiG-21s these are operated from Gamal Abdul Nasser air base near Tobruk and have been used extensively in combat operations. At least three have been shot down or crashed since 1 January 2016. As of 2017, the LNA possessed 14 MiG-21s of which 3 were dual seat MiG-21UMs.

Mali

Malian Air Force: Twelve MiG-21bis and at least four MiG-21UM were delivered from the USSR, probably in 1985 or 1986, and two MiG-21MF arrived in 2005 from the Czech Republic, along with another MiG-21UM. As of December 2023, Mali has 9 MiG-21s in service.

Mozambique Mozambique Air Force: 8 in service as of 2023. 48 MiG-21bis were delivered from the USSR starting in 1983, for use against the RENAMO guerrillas. After the 1990 ceasefire they were all put into storage, and most of them had become unserviceable by 1992. The Mozambique Air Force was listed as having eight MiG-21s operational in December 2021.

North Korea Korean People's Army Air Force: 26 in service as of 2023. At least 200 MiG-21s, including 30 built in China, are generally accepted as having been delivered to the KPAAF. By 1966–67, 80 MiG-21F-13 were delivered, with the first 14 arriving in or before 1963. 65 MiG-21PFM were delivered 1968–1971 and 24 more in 1974. According to the US CIA, by 1977 there were a total of 120 MiG-21s in DPRK, but by 1983 this number had dropped to 50; 150 MiG-21PFM and MiG-21MF were reportedly delivered in 1985. In 1999, 38 MiG-21bis izdeliye 75A were delivered from Kyrgyzstan. In December 2021, 26 MiG-21s were listed as being in service by Flight International. 50 MiG-21 trainers of different variants were delivered, of which 30 are believed to be in service.

Though little is known about the North Korean air force, it is known that a KPAF MiG-21PFM shot down a US Army CH-47 helicopter on July 14, 1977. The KPAF also took part in the Vietnam War: A KPAF MiG-21 downed a USAF RF-4C on August 31, 1967; on January 14, 1968, another one shot down a USAF F-105D, and on February 12, 1968, a KPAF MiG-21 destroyed a USN F-4B.

Sudan Sudanese Air Force: 4 in service as of 2023. 18 MiG-21M fighters were delivered from the USSR starting in 1969, together with some MiG-21US trainers. Up to 22 MiG-21Ms and 4 MiG-21US trainers were also delivered between 1974 and 1977. By 1992 there were only seven fighters and two trainers remaining, with perhaps half being serviceable; they were reported as all being out of service in 2008, although it is reported that 12 second-hand MiG-21s were to be delivered from Ukraine in 2007, and Flight International listed four MiG-21s as active in December 2022. The only air-to-air action known to have involved Sudanese MiG-21s occurred on September 20, 1972, when two MiG-21Ms forced several Libyan AF C-130Hs to land at Khartoum International Airport.

Yemen Yemeni Air Force: 19 in service as of 2023. The service inherited MiG-21s from the air forces of both North and South Yemen following the 1994 civil war. 24 MiG-21bis and 4 MiG-21UM were later overhauled in Odesa; however, Yemen failed to pay for eight of them, and they were never returned. 19 MiG-21s were reported operational as of 2023.

Former operators

Afghanistan Afghan Air Force. The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Air Force received 40 MiG-21F-13 (. 74) in 1973, and from 1979, 70 MiG-21MF (. 96F), 50 MiG-21bis (. 75A and 75B) and 6 MiG-21UM (. 69A) were delivered. Small numbers of aircraft left behind by the Soviet Air Force after their withdrawal were taken up by the DRAAF, including MiG-21PFS (. 94A) and MiG-21PFM (. 94A). Following the overthrow of the communist government, the armies of some warlords operated MiG-21s. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Air Force was set up by the Taliban, and was known to have operated at least one MiG-21PFM, 8 MiG-21MF, 5 MiG-21bis, one MiG-21U (. 66-400) and three MiG-21UM. All are now out of service (derelict and/or destroyed).

MiG-21s were operated by the following units in the late 1980s: 322nd Fighter Regiment (FR) (Bagram): 4 squadrons of 20 MiG-21MF/bis and 2 MiG-21UM each 393rd FR (Mazar-e-Sharif): 3 squadrons of 20 MiG-21MF/PFM/bis and 2 MiG-21UM each MiG-21s saw combat during the civil war in 1994 and 1995, with Northern Alliance MiG-21s destroying one MiG-21, three Su-22s and one other fighter belonging to the Dostum–Gulbuddin Militia Air Force; the DGMAF is known to have destroyed one NA MiG-21, the kill scored by a Su-22. The Taliban's IEAAF MiG-21s are known to have shot down two Mi-8 helicopters of the Northern Alliance, while an NA MiG-21 is credited with a kill of an IEAFF Su-20. Four DRAAF MiG-21s are known to have been shot down by Pakistani F-6s and Mirage IIIs in 1986.

Algeria Algerian Air Force (QJJ). First received MiG-21F-13s starting in 1965, a total of 40 delivered; 20 were provided to Egypt in 1967 for the Six-Day War. Of these, six landed at an airbase just captured by the Israelis in the war – one pilot destroyed his plane, the other five were captured, and four of these were shipped to the US for evaluation by the USAF. In the late 1960s, some MiG-21FLs were delivered as well. Six MiG-21R were reportedly delivered, too. 52 MiG-21MF were also received, as well as some MiG-21UMs. 47 MiG-21bis' were ordered in 1975. Lastly, in 1978, an order was placed for 40 MiG-21s. Some MiG-21s were traded to Ukraine as part of a package for 36 MiG-29S; similar deals may have been made with Belarus, who provided Algeria with 36 more MiG-29S aircraft. The last MiG-21s were withdrawn from service by 2003.

Before 1993, MiG-21s served with the following units: 11e Escadron de Chasse (Fighter Squadron) - flying MiG-21FLs from Tindouf as of September 1973. 12e Escadron de Chasse - operating MiG-21FLs and MiG-21Rs from Aïn Oussera as of September 1973. 14e Escadron de Chasse (Tindouf) – MiG-21MF 15e Escadron de Chasse - flying MiG-21FLs from Béchar as of September 1973. 17e Escadron de Chasse - acting as MiG-21 operational conversion unit starting in 1974. 19e Escadron de Combat - multi-role unit flying MiG-21MFs from Bou Sfer as of September 1973. 23e Escadron de Combat - multi-role unit flying MiG-21MFs from Boufarik as of September 1973. Deployed to Egypt in October 1973 and disbanded afterwards. 120e Escadron de Chasse (Aïn Oussera) 140e Escadron de Chasse (Ouargla) 153e Escadron de Chasse (Bou Sfer) 630e Escadron de Chasse (Bou Sfer) After 1993, MiG-21s were assigned to the following units: 113e Escadron de Chasse (Tindouf) 143e Escadron de Chasse (Ouargla) 153e Escadron de Chasse (Béchar) 193e Escadron de Chasse (Bou Sfer)

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Air Force: 5 in service as of 2023. Around 12 received from Ukraine. Five were reportedly based at Kyurdamir and to be withdrawn following purchase of MiG-29s, but were still reported as being active in December 2021. The MiG-21 was phased out in 2023-24.

Bangladesh Bangladesh Air Force. Received 12 MiG-21MF and 2 MiG-21UM second hand from Soviet Union in 1973.They were later phased out around 2006-2007, making way for newer aircraft like the F-7 BGI and MiG-29.

Bulgaria