photo request mig-21 with 6 missiles

By: PhantomII - 8th April 2008 at 03:59 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Dual-adaptors for the R-60 I believe.

I've looked into this before, and apparently the Fishbed can carry the dual R-60 launchers on any of the four underwing hardpoints, but the maximum number of missiles the aircraft can carry is six. I think this has to do with weapons control limitations or something of that sort.

Thus, four R-60 and two R-13 or six R-60 is the max number of weapons you would see.

The same limitation applies to the MiG-23 I think (six missiles max).

Since the R-60 is a better weapons than the R-13, it has always surprised me that you don't see more loadouts on the MiG-21 that include four R-60's on dual adaptors plus outboard wing mounted external tanks. Thus you have room for three external tanks and you still get four AAM's. Food for thought anyways....

Here's a picture I have of a Croatian (maybe?) MiG-21 with six R-60's (you can see three, but I'm assuming there are three on the other wing as well).

The second picture I have is of what I think is a Serbian MiG-21 with four R-60's and two R-13's (again, only three missiles are available, but I'm assuming there are six in total.)

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By: flex297 - 8th April 2008 at 11:59 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Here's a picture I have of a Croatian (maybe?) MiG-21 with six R-60's (you can see three, but I'm assuming there are three on the other wing as well).

The second picture I have is of what I think is a Serbian MiG-21 with four R-60's and two R-13's (again, only three missiles are available, but I'm assuming there are six in total.)

First one is Serbian AFTER split with Montenegro. Second one is Serbian, too, but couple of years earlier (with Montenegro) ;) I know, the whole Balkan issue is damn confusing ever for us, Europeans..

By: niksi - 8th April 2008 at 15:05 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

You are quite right flex about this. To be more exact left picture was taken just after "divorce" of Serbia and Montenegro and is a Fishbed on QRA while the one on the right is taken in 1997 from an air show held in Batajnica Air Base. The country was called then Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (until 2003 when it was renamed to Serbia and Montenegro).
Here is my little contribution. First one represents a MiG-21 bis on QRA some 20 years ago or so, in then Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with 2 R-13 and 4 R-60, while the second one should be again from the air show that was held in 1997.

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By: googeler - 8th April 2008 at 19:43 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

it has always surprised me that you don't see more loadouts on the MiG-21 that include four R-60's on dual adaptors plus outboard wing mounted external tanks. Thus you have room for three external tanks and you still get four AAM's. Food for thought anyways....

Here's one:
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Weapons/AAMs/R60/R-60B.jpg.html
You don't see them that often because it is a very draggy loadout, plus the space between them is mighty small, might not be an operational loadout - remember that thread abouth the MiG-23BN with 500 kg bombs on the fuselage pylons and centerline fuel tank?

By: PhantomII - 9th April 2008 at 06:03 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Sorry I confused my insignias, but flex was kinda to correct me. Thanks flex.

Anyways, I agree the SARH R-13 and four R-60 loadout does make sense, but I guess I was thinking that the SARH R-13 (and the R-13 in general) isn't as common now as it previously was. It would seem a modern replacement would be a weapon in the class or the Derby, but I don't suppose there are any Fishbeds with Derby right now.

By: googeler - 9th April 2008 at 06:47 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Theoretically, Romanian MiG-21 Lancer C (those with the white-gray camo) could support Derby. They have Elta EL-2032 radars and the inboard pylons are wired for Python III. Only a software update and the missiles plus rails would be needed.
Anyway, there is no need (nor funds) for Derby in peacetime QRA, so you won't see them on our MiGs.

By: googeler - 9th April 2008 at 09:02 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

So I believe Fishbed can loads 8 missiles if situation need according to both inboard and outboard pylons can carried 2 missiles.:eek:

No, it can't. Its fire-control computer can only handle 6 missiles maximum. That's why you'll never see a Fishbed with 8 Aphids on dual launchers.

By: qwerty - 9th April 2008 at 16:48 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

No, it can't. Its fire-control computer can only handle 6 missiles maximum. That's why you'll never see a Fishbed with 8 Aphids on dual launchers.

Let's not forget the fuel issue. If you want any worth while range you must carry at least one 480 liter tank and even then you have very limited duration. Even if it was possible to carry 8 missiles I don't think it would make sense to carry more than 4 missiles on a point defense fighter with such limited range as the MiG-21. The most advanced Fishbeds in service at the moment are the Indian Bisons since they can carry BVR missiles and guided bombs (and guided A2G missiles as well?). I have seen them carrying:

For even greater range it might be possible to carry:

I don't know if this is possible:

I know there used to be a 800 liter tank available for the Fishbed but I haven't seen it used all that often. The 480 liter unit seems to be much more popular. Chinese PLAAF and PLANAF operated F-7 fighters in particular quite often carry the scaled up 720 liter tank.

By: googeler - 9th April 2008 at 17:02 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

I know there used to be a 800 liter tank available for the Fishbed but I haven't seen it used all that often.

The 800 liter tank is not particulary popular among Fishbed pilots, reportedly the MiG is a bit heavy on the control and less responive with it attached, especially if you also have stores on the wings.