This is a list of variants and specifications for variants of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, which differed considerably between models.
Variants All information in this section adapted from MiG-21 (2008).Gordon, Yefim. Mikoyan MiG-21 (Famous Russian aircraft). Hinckley: Midland, 2008. .
Development and preproduction – Generation Zero (1954–1956) (1954) Preliminary swept-wing design around the Mikulin AM-5A non-reheated turbojet. Instead of building it, the design was quickly reworked into the Ye-2. (1954; NATO: "Faceplate") Swept-wing prototype with Mikulin AM-9B reheated turbojet, armed with three NR-30 cannon, and could carry one UB-16-57 rocket pod. Fitted with RSIU-4 VHF radio, Uzel IFF interrogator, ARK-5 Amur automatic direction finder with RUP landing approach computer, MRP-48P Dyatel marker beacon receiver, SRO-2 Khrom IFF transponder, Sirena-2 RWR, SRD-1M Radal'-M radar rangefinder linked to an ASP-5N computing gunsight. Ye-2 made its maiden flight on 14 February 1955, but programme was abandoned when the more powerful Mikulin RD-11 turbojet became available. (1955; aka "MiG-23") Ye-2 design modified for RD-11 turbojet. Six built. Identical to Ye-5 except for wings: Ye-2A had swept wings. Fitted with RSIU-4V radio, ARK-5 ADF with RUP module, MRP-48P marker beacon receiver, Bariy-M IFF transponder, Sirena-2 RWR, SRD-1M Radal'-M radar rangefinder with ASP-5N-V3 computing gunsight. MiG-23 (1957; Izdeliye 63) Ye-2A was assigned the production designation MiG-23. It was to be much like the prototype, but with SRD-5M Baza-6 radar rangefinder and an SRO-2 Khrom IFF transponder, amongst other changes. Of twelve units planned for 1957, only five were built; these were powered by R11-300 turbojets (production version of RD-11) and had one (centreline) hardpoint to carry a 400-litre drop tank, a UB-16-57 rocket pod or a FAB-250 bomb. All work on this aircraft was ordered to be terminated in 1958, and the units built were reused for various special test programmes. (1955) The first delta wing prototype of the MiG-21. Proof-of-concept testbed: initially fitted with non-afterburning Mikulin AM-5 engine and later with afterburning RD-9E. (1956) Swept-wing, experimental high-altitude mixed-power interceptor. Ye-2 airframe modified to fit Dushkin S-155 rocket motor, with RD-9E cruise engine. Design work started in 1954, Three prototypes built, with first flight on 9 January 1956. Programme terminated after crash of Ye-50/3 on 7 August 1957. (1956) The Ye-50A was a refinement of the Ye-50 based on the Ye-2A with R11E-300 cruise turbojet. Production planned with the designation MiG-23U (U = Uskoritel ("Booster")), but only one completed owing to unavailability of the R11E-300 turbojet. Ye-50P (1958) Proposed missile armed derivative of Ye-50A. (1956) Delta wing prototype powered by Mikulin AM-11 turbojet. Some changes besides the engine were made from the Ye-4, including addition of a second hydraulic system and revised airbrakes. The initial designation was I-500. Two built. (1956; Izdeliye 65; NATO "Fishbed-A") The first series of fighters, production version of Ye-5. Five units built at Tbilisi, but not continued due to efforts having been redirected towards the more advanced Ye-6/MiG-21F. The aircraft that were built found work as testbeds.
Initial mass production – generation one (1957–1961) (1957) Improved delta-wing fighter prototypes, powered by R11-F300 engine, with lower-set stabilizers. Three built. (1958) Rocket-boosted high-altitude interceptor project, terminated before construction. (1959; Izdeliye 72; NATO "Fishbed-B")
F = Forsirovannyy ("uprated") Single-seat day fighter aircraft. It was the first production aircraft, with 93 machines being made (20 in 1959, 73 in 1960). The MiG-21F carried 2160 liters of fuel in six internal fuel tanks and was powered by an R11F-300 turbojet engine with 5740 kgf of thrust. The earliest units were fitted with one NR-30 and two NR-23 cannon, subsequent aircraft were armed with two 30-mm NR-30 cannons 60 shells each, it was also capable of carrying two bombs ranging from 50 to 500 kg each. Avionics included PUS-36D weapons sequencing module, R-800 communications radio, ASP-5NV-U1 computing gunsight, and SRD-5MN Baza-6 radar rangefinder. (1960) A production MiG-21F was modified in 1960 to test nuclear strike capability on the MiG-21 airframe. (1958) Prototypes based on MiG-21F used for testing the Vympel K-13 (NATO: AA-2 'Atoll') missile system. The aircraft were later reused for other tests. ("Ye-66") (1959) Ye-6T/1 prototype, number 31 Red, was refitted with R11F2-300 engine to break the world speed record. "Ye-66" was a "fake" designation used on the documents submitted to the FAI; it was not the official designation. Konstantin Kokkinaki set a new world speed record on September 16, 1960 in this aircraft, reaching a top speed of 2499 km/h (1552 mph) on a 100 km closed course. (FAI says the 100-km record set on that date by Vladimir Kokkinaki was 2148.66 km/h; it says an E-66 averaged 2388 km/h for 100 km on 31 October 1959.) Ye-6T/1 ("Ye-66A") (1961) After setting a new world speed record, Ye-6T/1 "31 Red" was rebuilt again to try to set a new world altitude record. To this end it had a U-21 rocket booster added to a fairing in the tail, and kept the upgraded R11F2-300 turbojet. "Ye-66A" was a "fake" designation used on the documents submitted to the FAI; it was not the official designation. On April 28, 1961, Georgi Mosolov set the new altitude record at 34,714 m (113,891 ft), breaking the previous record set by an American pilot in an F-104 Starfighter by 2899 m (9,511 ft). (1961) Second prototype Ye-6T reused to test skid-type landing gear for use on dirt strips. (1961) Ye-6T with canards fitted, tested 1961–1962. (aka Ye-7) (1958) P = Perekhvatchik ("interceptor"), 13 = refers to K-13 missile system Two MiG-21 sans suffixe (izdeliye 65) were converted to use K-13 missile system as part of a development project for an interceptor armed with the K-13 missile. Due to the MiG-21P-13 project lagging behind schedule, it was decided to produce the existing MiG-21F with the capability to use the K-13 missile system, resulting in the MiG-21F-13. The development continued, however, eventually resulting in the MiG-21PF. (1960; Izdeliye 74; NATO "Fishbed-C")
F = Forsirovannyy ("Uprated"), 13 = refers to K-13 missile system Short-range day fighter; the MiG-21F-13 was the first MiG-21 model to be produced in large numbers. Unlike the MiG-21F, the MiG-21F-13 had only one NR-30 cannon on the starboard side, with only 60 rounds; however, it added the capability to use the K-13 missile system, of which two could be carried on underwing hardpoints. On early-production MiG-21F-13s the launch rails were of the APU-28 type; later models had these replaced by APU-13 rails. The launch rails were removable, allowing the MiG-21F-13 to carry two UB-16-57 unguided rocket launchers, two S-24 rockets on PU-12-40 launch rails or two FAB-100/250/500 bombs or ZB-360 napalm tanks. The F-13 had further upgrades: an improved ASP-5ND optical gunsight and an upgraded SRD-5ND ranging radar. The MiG-21F-13 was also built under licence in China as the Chengdu J-7 or F-7 for export, as well as in Czechoslovakia as the Aero S-106, though the S-106 designation was not used for long; subsequently, the Czech-built units were referred to as "MiG-21F-13" just like the Soviet-built aircraft.
Czechoslovak designation for MiG-21F-13 and Aero S.106 (Czech-built MiG-21F-13) converted to carry reconnaissance pods. (1974) R = Razuznavatelen ("Reconnaissance") Bulgarian designation for MiG-21F-13 aircraft locally modified to carry an AFA-39 camera. (1961; NATO "Fishbed-E") Experimental STOL version of MiG-21F-13 with JATO boosters.
Interceptors – generation two (1961–1966) (1961; Izdeliye 76; NATO "Fishbed-D") P = Perekhvatchik ("Interceptor"), F = Forsirovannyy ("Uprated") Production version of the all-weather interceptor. These were powered by the R11F2-300 turbojet and, starting with the seventh production batch, fitted with the RP-21 radar (the first six batches used the older TsD-30T radar (aka RP-9-21). Further, the weapons control system was modified from that of the F-13 to allow use of the RS-2US (aka K-5MS) beam-riding AAM in addition to the IR-seeking K-13. MiG-21PF (1961; Izdeliye 76A)
Version for export to Warsaw Pact countries; only difference from domestic version was the IFF equipment. (1966; Izdeliye 76A) L = Lokator ("Radar") Version of MiG-21PF tailored to a Vietnamese requirement. The "L" designation may be short for lokator to reflect the different sensor suite in this version as compared to the standard PF.
M = Modifiziert ("Modified") Not to be confused with the "real" MiG-21PFM which is izdeliye 94. This was an East German designation for MiG-21PF aircraft with upgraded RP-21 radars. (Izdeliye 76A) R = Radar ("Radar"), F = Forțaj ("Reheat"), M = "Modernizat" ("Modernised") Romanian designation for the MiG-21PF.
Remote-controlled drones converted from MiG-21PF; also designated M-21 (M = mishen, "target"). (1965; Izdeliye 77)F = Forsazh ("Reheat"), L = Lokator ("Radar") Export (Third world) model of the MiG-21PF. Downgraded from baseline MiG-21PF with older and less powerful R11F-300 engine, no provision for carrying RS-2US beam-riding missiles and a simplified, downgraded version of the RP-21 radar, designated R1L. Wide-chord fin and brake chute fairing at its base. Built under license in India as the Type 77. (1961)SPS = Sduv Pogranichnovo Sloya ("Boundary Layer Blowing") Testbed to develop flap-blowing system, rebuilt from Ye-6V/2. (1963; Izdeliye 94; NATO "Fishbed-D/F")P = Perekhvatchik ("Interceptor"), F = Forsirovannyy ("Uprated"), S = Sduv Pogranichnovo Sloya ("Boundary Layer Blowing") Production version of Ye-7SPS.MiG-21PFS (Izdeliye 94; NATO "Fishbed-D")The first nine production batches of the MiG-21PFS were externally identical to the MiG-21PF but with blown flaps and brake chute fairing at the fin's base.MiG-21PFS (Izdeliye 94; NATO "Fishbed-F")From batch 10 to batch 19, the large-chord vertical stabiliser first seen on the MiG-21FL was introduced, but the aircraft retained the SK ejection seat and one-piece, forward-opening canopy of the MiG-21PF.MiG-21PFS (Izdeliye 94; NATO "Fishbed-F")From c/n 941314 onwards, MiG-21PFS aircraft had the wide-chord tail, a KM-1 ejection seat and a two-piece, sidewards-opening canopy.Further development of the Ye-7SPS; prototype for MiG-21PFM.
(1964; Izdeliye 94; NATO "Fishbed-F")P = Perekhvatchik ("Interceptor"), F = Forsirovannyy ("Uprated"), M = Modernizirovannyy ("Modernised") The production version of the Ye-7M was a modernised MiG-21PF, with an upgraded RP-21M radar, SRZO-2 Khrom-Nikkel IFF transponder and other changes in avionics. Further, later-production PFMs reintroduced cannon armament, in the form of the capability to carry a GSh-23 cannon and 200 rounds in an underbelly pod. Following tests in 1966, MiG-21PFM aircraft built after 1968 could carry the Kh-66 air-to-surface missile.MiG-21PFM (1964; Izdeliye 94A; NATO "Fishbed-F")Export version with a different IFF system and no capacity to carry S-24 rockets or ZB-62 napalm tanks.MiG-21PFM (Izdeliye 94N; NATO "Fishbed-F")Nuclear-capable version of MiG-21PFM. (Izdeliye 94A)Polish designation of standard MiG-21PFM. (Izdeliye 94N)Polish designation of nuclear-capable MiG-21PFM. (Izdeliye 94A)R = Radar, F = Fortaj ("Reheat"), M = Modernizat ("Modernised") Romanian designation for the MiG-21PFM. (Izdeliye 94A; NATO "Fishbed-F")SPS = Sduv Pogranichnovo Sloya ("Boundary Layer Blowing") To avoid confusion with the local "MiG-21PFM" designation given to the modified MiG-21PF (izdeliye 76A), the East German air force redesignated the "real" MiG-21PFM of izdeliye 94A as "MiG-21SPS." (Izdeliye 94A; NATO "Fishbed-F")K = Kanone ("Cannon") East German designation for MiG-21PFM (Izd. 94A) aircraft wired for using cannon pods.