Entering service in 1959, the MiG-21 Fishbed became the most-produced supersonic aircraft in history. Intended to be light fighter-interceptor, the delta-wing MiG-21 moved through a variety of teething problems before becoming an effective weapon for Soviet client states. Seeing action during the Vietnam War, the MiG-21 routinely battled American aircraft over the skies of Southeast Asia. Also used by Egypt, Syria, and Iraq, it fought against the Israelis in the conflicts of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. A favored aircraft of nations purchasing Eastern Bloc equipment due to its simple construction and ease of maintenance, the MiG-21 has been upgraded several times and exists in a myriad of variants. Still in use with over twenty countries, the MiG-21 has built a fifty-year service record that will continue to grow.
Photograph Courtesy of the US Air Force
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