MiG-21MF Fishbed

Design
The MiG-21MF is a Soviet-designed light fighter-interceptor with secondary ground-attack capability. It is maneuverable, but is considered to have extremely dated and primitive avionics, a lack of range, and high energy bleed-off in turning dogfights. Originally designed to be under direct control of a ground radar facility or even AWACS, later MiG-21 models do begin to remove some of its systems-based limitations.

Service History (Post-2011)
The MiG-21 saw service in the Mediterranean War with Egypt and Syria, taking serious losses at the hands of Israeli and US fighters. Although responsible for the downing of a Greek F-16, Greece and Turkey used their F-16s, Mirage 2000s, and F-4s to good effect in the same conflict, scoring in the neighborhood of ten kills.

The massive inventory of MiG-21s remaining in mixed condition across the former USSR became a thorn in the side of the Southern Alliance and US during the Second American Civil War, being used in large numbers by numerous mercenaries contracted by the coup government. Although easily defeated by American F-16s, F-15s, and F-4s at long ranges, when the MiGs closed to within visual range, the tables were often turned. Though some list numbers up to 20, USAF sources admit losses of 5 F-16s to MiG-21s, most during Operation White Eagle. These losses were primarily from Air National Guard squadrons, often including inexperienced pilots rushed through training into operational units. A MiG-21 is claimed to have shot down an F-4E of the 13th Provisional Fighter Squadron. though this was later attributed to an SA-7 SAM.

In-Game
The MiG-21MF is an Air Support unit available for any Mercenary army.