MiG-21 Fishbed
One of the most widely exported Light Fighters of the 1960s. It carries six, lightweight heat-seeking missiles instead of the usual four.
— In-game description
The MiG-21 Fishbed is a light fighter from the 1960s era. While lacking in durability, its light weight manufacturing, and strong afterburner provides exceptional agility, and acceleration. It is equipped with 6 heat-seeking shorth range missiles and an internal precision rotary cannon with a high speed rate of fire. Although it has the lowest combined weapons damage, it compensates with a quantity of 6 missiles that have a large lock reticle angle, and a very fast lock speed. The MiG-21 Fishbed thrives in low-altitude terrain, where its tiny size, powerful afterburner, nimble agility, and ability to quickly fire all its missiles, makes it a menace to its adversaries. Its special trait is a drop tank of reserve fuel that adds an extra 9 seconds of burn time to its afterburner. Pilots skilled to handle the MiG-21 Fishbed will find it exciting to fly, and its acceleration and speed to be an advantage in Air Superiority.
Loadout
The MiG-21 Fishbed is equipped with short range
×6 heat-seeking missile, and a internal
internal precision cannon. The MiG-21 Fishbed is also equipped with
×3 flares, and
+9s reserve fuel.
Type | Max Damage (DPS) |
Ideal Range (km) |
Reticle Range (km) |
Spin-up Time (s) |
Spread | Overheat Time (s) |
Ammo | Armor Piercing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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108 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0 | very low | 5.2 | ∞ | none |
Guidance | Range Type | Range (km) |
Quantity | Damage | Speed (km/h) |
Turn Rate (°/s) |
Lock Angle (°) |
Lock Time (s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Short range | 2.1 | 6 | 60 | 3240 | 15 | 10 | 0.8 |
Special Ability
The MiG-21 Fishbed has a special ability called Super Afterburner. When activated, (press and hold) it temporarily provides an increase of top speed and ferocious increase of acceleration, with a satisfying turbine scream, at the cost of fuel consumption. There is a cool down period between uses. Afterburner fuel will replenish with time.
Veteran tips
The MiG-21 Fishbed's stand out attribute is its acceleration and speed. This coupled with good agility allows it to perform truly exciting maneuvers. At level one, the MiG-21 Fishbed starts with a base 9 seconds of afterburner fuel, plus an additional 9 seconds of fuel from its reserve fuel trait. Depending on usage of its super afterburner special ability, and equipment of mods, that 18 seconds of fuel can be increased or decreased. The MiG-21 Fishbed is equipped with an external fuel drop tank. The reserve fuel is displayed graphicly upon the Heads-Up-Display as a dual stage indicator. When the reserve fuel is depleted, the drop tank will detach from the airframe, and the fuel will only recharge to 9 seconds of afterburner use. Flying through a re-arm point will replace the drop tank and re-equip the MiG-21 Fishbed with another 18 seconds of fuel. Due to its low durability and low overall weapons damage, it is best to keep the MiG-21 Fishbed close to terrain where its small size and good agility keep it protected. It is best to limit its use to dog fighting with a peek-and-poke tactic.
Trivia
In-game, the MiG-21 Fishbed appears to be equipped with the Russian Molniay R-60 a short-range lightweight infrared homing air-to-air missile. This was a replacement for the Vympel K-13, which was a reversed engineered from a recovered, American AIM-9B Sidewinder. This AIM-9B Sidewinder was lodged in a Chinese MiG-17, launched from an America F-86 Sabre and failed to detonate during an air battle the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis in September 1958. During Beta Version the Mig-21 Fishbed was equipped with only 4 missiles and was the second available plane in the game. With its speed at what would be now considered a low hangar level, allowed it to terrorize Air Superiority matches.
Paints
The MiG-21 Fishbed has 8 different paints available, including the default, and Beta Exclusive.