Idk about the MiG-29 Sniper, but Israel doesn’t need the LanceR, as they can get the MiG-21 2000, which should be better with A2A (if it gets P4 and Derby), but will be a lil worse with CAS (can still carry laser guided bombs tho)
I think you are right. But maybe they could use the LanceR A as a premium attacker (alongside the MiG-21 2000 used as a fighter)
+1 for Israel
As much as I would like to see this and the MiG-29 is Israel, it seems Romania is just about officially a subtree given the recent addition of the Romanian SPAA to the Italian tech tree. It could also be a Swiss thing where “that’s where the vehicles reside for now”, but I’m almost positive it’s a sub nation.
As such, this aircraft would go to Italy if added, and I support it either way. +1.
Yes from me as well, I would even venture further abd say that all 3 variants of the LanceR should be considered
Yes, Smin confirmed that both Hungary and Romania are subtrees in the Italian tech tree.
Same thing with India in the UK TT.
would be nice to see this in the italy tree, maybe the devs give romania a whole subtree under italy as more romanian planes get added…
Very nice+1
Which variant of DASH specifically?
With MiG-21UPG, and MiG-29 Sniper being added, I see no reason why this shouldnt be added like next update. Also is it known if Derby was ever tested on lanceR C?
Specifically for the LanceR? No, but BVR capability was advertised on the MiG-21 2000, which is technically a earlier LanceR when Elbit was fully behind it (although I cannot find a photo of it having Derby)
+1 for all 3 in folder (ideally but after the sniper, I don’t have much hope)
+1 Some of the last MiG-21s in service.
I wonder what were the actual safety concerns (real or speculative)?
I am not that big into aviation details, but I am curious if these aircraft could theoretically be overhauled again to serve for longer? Or the issues are unresolvable, if so what might they be?
If anyone could answer, I’d appreciate it.
Lancers are not in service anymore, they were retired a couple of years ago.
The problem with them is that they had extremely high accident rates and low serviceability rates.
This is because of a number of factors:
- The airframes are old. As aircraft age, the metal they are made of begins to fatigue which can lead to cracking and vibrations.
- Replacement parts would either be from (very) old stock or manufactured new, which is expensive
- MiG-21s lack a lot of modern safety and quality of life features. Older jets typically require a lot more attention from the pilot just to run the thing, which can be mentally taxing and take away from the time they can devote to the things that are important.
- MiG-21s also have very poor ergonomics, MFDs can help resolve some of this but the visibility from that cockpit is atrocious.
- They have a low range and low loiter time, which is important for modern air policing.
This is what I was interested in. So you think it is impossible to resolve this specific issue? You’d need to build an entirely new jet then? Even if you had the right manufacturing for spare parts.
Nothing’s impossible, North Korea is still using the MiG-15 after all, but a simple cost-benefit analysis will show that it is far more worthwhile to pursue a new jet then try and save a relic that existed before modern computer assisted design and material science.
I’d argue that at least the ground attack version of the jet is still viable.
But, if it is coming down to limited budget, then I understand.
Possibly, but the bottom line is they became too unsafe to fly. Under any high-intensity conflict they would simply fold like a house of cards.
What I meant was that if you restore them (as you said “nothing is impossible”). Then a ground attack MiG-21 can still make sense for toss bombing/rocketering or launching stand-off weapons. Essentially what Ukrainian MiG-29s are doing.
I think there are a number of Arab, Asian or African nations out there who’d be more than happy to have such jets in their inventory. Regardless of how poor their cockpit is. Which is why I was wondering, why not restore and offer them up for sale?
Unless, they are so degraded that it is impossible to restore them.
This is it. It’s not that you couldn’t use a MiG-21 for ground attack…
But the Romanian ones are in such a state that it is simply not economical to bother with them anymore.
But I still wouldn’t recommend any nation use the MiG-21. Better off going for some drones instead.