Overview

The Mikoyan i Gurevich MiG-21 has been built in greater numbers than any other combat aircraft since 1945. It also saw service with more air forces than any other type manufactured over the last 70 years. Locally designated the 'L' (for Lovac or fighter), for more than half a century over 260 MiG-21s in 12 different versions and sub-variants formed the backbone of the Yugoslav Air Force and Air Defence Force (JRV i PVO) and later the Serbian Air Force (RV i PVO). Entering service at the peak of the Cold War, the MiG-21 quickly replaced the US-supplied North American F-86E and F-86D Sabres in the Yugoslav inventory. The first version, MiG-21F-13, was followed by the MiG-21PFM in 1967, and MiG-21M/MF in 1970. Serving with the 204th Fighter Regiment, the task of these fighters was the air defence of Belgrade, capital of Yugoslavia. Whenever a new and more advanced variant became available, older types were handed over to other units. This is how the 117th Fighter Regiment came into being, based at the famous underground air base outside the town of Bihac. The Pristina-based 83rd Fighter Regiment followed in 1972. In Tito's Yugoslavia, the MiG-21 was also deployed for strategic reconnaissance. In 1968-1969, the JRV i PVO introduced the MiG-21R to service, which became the primary photo- and electronic reconnaissance platform of the entire military. The importance of the fleet was further increased in 1984, when US-made Fairchild KA-112 LORAP containers were added to their arsenal. The final and most widely used version became the MiG-21bis, delivered to Yugoslavia in the 1977-1983 period. By the time of the dissolution of the country, in 1991-1992, it formed the backbone of the fleet and saw intensive combat service as a fighter-bomber during the conflicts in Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Of particular interest during this period was the widespread use of diverse ordnance of native and NATO-origins. AUTHORS: Bojan Dimitrijevic is the Deputy Director of the Institute for Contemporary History, in Belgrade, Serbia. Milan Micevski is an entrepreneur from Belgrade, he has been exploring archives and collecting data on aviation history for more than three decades. 150 b/w & 15 colour photos, 6 colour profiles, 1 colour map, 11 tables

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9781913118693

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Augment your knowledge of the legendary MiG-21. Grab this enlightening effort. I loved it. Robustly recommended! * Cybermodeler * With lots of archive image, most not published before, there are also some fine colour artwork profiles along with a helpful map and a set of colour photos as well. [...] An interesting read for the aviation enthusiast and lots of useful content for modellers as well. * Military Model Scene *

Highly Recommended. -- AMPS Indianapolis

Augment your knowledge of the legendary MiG-21. Grab this enlightening effort. I loved it. Robustly recommended! -- Cybermodeler ...not only a great read but also a book that modelers will find useful. -- ModelingMadness.Com Highly Recommended. -- AMPS Indianapolis

Author Information

Bojan Dimitrijevic is the Deputy Director of the Institute for Contemporary History, in Belgrade, Serbia. Educated at the Universities of Belgrade and Novi Sad, CEU Budapest and University of Bradford, he was custodian of the Yugoslav Aviation Museum before, serving as advisor to the Minister to the Serbian MoD, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the President of Serbia, and as Assistant to the Minister of Defence. His has researched the military history of Yugoslavia, and the Balkans in the Second World War, Cold War, and conflicts since, he has published over 50 books and 100 scientific articles in Serbia and abroad. Milan Micevski is an entrepreneur from Belgrade, he has been exploring archives and collecting data on aviation history for more than three decades. He is considered one of the leading experts in the field of the Yugoslav Air Force as well as Soviet Aviation in former Yugoslavia. With Bojan Dimitrijević, he has so far co-authored seven books on different aspects of Yugoslav Air Force history, and has worked with other authors two other volumes.

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