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Overview
The MiG-21M was an upgraded export version of the MiG-21S. It shared most features with the MiG-21S, including airframe, avionics, and engine. However, it was the first MiG-21 variant to feature a built-in GSh-23L cannon, allowing the usage of the under-fuselage hardpoint without sacrificing cannon armament. 89 were purchased by the LSK, making the MiG-21M the most numerically significant MiG-21 variant in East German service.
*In the 1980s, MiG-21Ms were upgraded to carry R-60s, and many were additionally fitted with RP-22 radars and/or R-13-300 engines, bringing them more or less in-line with the MiG-21MF. For balance and progression reasons, this is not the configuration discussed
History
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The MiG-21, Briefly
The first generation of MiG-21s, the F and F-13, were conventional gunfighters later supplemented by a pair of R-3S missiles. The following MiG-21PF was an all-missile interceptor with the internal cannon removed, the idea at the time being that cannons were obsolete. The PF also introduced an uprated R-11FS-300 engine and a number of aerodynamic improvements offering increased flight performance. This was followed by a modification, the PFM, with a belly-mounted gunpod in place of the ordinarily fitted fuel tank. In German service, this variant was designated the SPS-K to avoid confusion with an earlier avionics upgrade to the PF that had already taken the PFM designation. The final member of the second generation of MiG-21s was the MiG-21S, based on the PFM but with a new RP-22 radar, increased fuel capacity, and new wings with double the hardpoints at four. This version was unique as it was never exported. Some were later refitted with R-13-300 engines as found in-game.
Third Generation
Even with these upgrades, the MiG-21 had room to grow. Avionics and engine power had fallen far behind Western counterparts, and the gunpod of the second-gen aircraft was heavy and high-drag. The gunpod also reduced range as it blocked out the ventral fuel tank. While the MiG-21S somewhat addressed this by plumbing the new wing pylons to allow fuel tanks there, this then reduced missile carriage.
So in the late 60s MiH began developing a pair of new MiG-21 variants, the SM for domestic use and the M for export. Both were based on the S and were had essentially identical structure except for featuring a built-in GSh-23L. The M featured an RP-21MA radar, this being the older RP-21 largely upgraded to RP-22 standard as well as the same R-11FS(K)-300 as previous generations. The SM meanwhile was similar except mounting the RP-22 radar and fitted with the new, more powerful R-13-300 engine. The SM can be found in-game in its export version the MF, and also formed the basis for the SMT. Because of the increased complexity of the SM, the MiG-21M entered production first, making it the first third-generation MiG-21.
Service
East Germany ordered a total of 89 MiG-21Ms with deliveries in 1969 and 1970. These MiG-21s were received poorly by pilots despite their avionics and weapon upgrades- the M was heavier than the SPS-K but powered by the same engine, resulting in reduced flight performance. Nonetheless, the MiG-21M formed the primary fighter component fo the LSK, at least for a few years. The introduction of the MiG-21MF in 1972 and the MiG-21bis in 1975 meant that the MiG-21M’s time as a fighter was limited. When these superior variants entered service, the MiG-21M was relegated to secondary roles such as strike, ground attack, reconnaissance, and even nuclear strike. The MiG-21M would serve in these roles until Reunification, when the MiG-21Ms were briefly transferred to Luftwaffe storage before being scrapped or donated to various museums and private collectors.
Specifications:
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Airframe
Length: 13.58m
Span: 7.15m
Height: 4.13m
Wing area: 22.95m^2
Empty weight: 5,950kg
Loaded weight: 7,062kg
Takeoff weight: 7,750kg
MTOW: 9,400kg
Powerplant
1x R-11F2SK-300
38.3kN max thrust without afterburner
60.6kN max thrust with afterburner
1.07 max TWR (empty mass, WEP)
2x SPRD-99 JATO pods
Adjustable thrust: 12.56-31.69kN (each)
Adjustable burn time: 17.8s-9.8s
*I’d recommend something on the higher thrust, shorter burn time end
Avionics
RP-21MA radar
SPO-3M RWR
Flight performance
Maximum speed (11km): 2,230km/h (Mach 2.1)
Maximum speed (sea level): 1,203km/h (Mach 0.97)
Max climb rate: 160m/s
Max g load: +12/-6
Armament
GSh-23L
23mm twin-barrel Gast cannon
23x115mm
710m/s
3,396RPM
200 rounds ammunition
Underwing pylons x4
Total max load: 1,200kg
1x R-3S
1x R-3R
1x R-13M
The R-13M is an improved version of the R-3S missile using technology from captured AIM-9Ds. It can be seen as a middle ground between the AIM-9D and E, with moderately improved flight performance but also an uncaged seeker. Alternatively, it’s a slower, shorter-ranged AIM-9G with less overload and no radar slaving. Unlike its successor the R-13M1, the R-13M was widely exported and served as the primary IR missile for Warsaw Pact nations between its introduction in the early 70s until the mid 80s when the R-60 became available. The R-13M has actually been added and removed from the game on several occasions.
1x RS-2US
Beam-riding multi-purpose missile. Designed to destroy both air and ground targets, it was not particularly effective at either.
1x OFAB-100
4x OFAB-100 (inner pylons only)
1x OFAB-250sv
1x OFAB-500M-54 (inner pylons only)
1x S-24
1x UB-16 (16x S-5K)
1x UB-32 (32x S-5K)
The MiG-21M has CCIP for cannons and rockets.
490L drop tanks for the belly and outer wing hardpoints
The MiG-21M in-game
The MiG-21M would be an all-around good fighter with decent secondary strike capabilities. I’d place it at a BR of 10.0 between the MiG-19S and MiG-21MF, filling the substantial 9.3-10.7 fighter gap that Germany has.
Pros:
- Still highly agile and with decent speed and climb rate
- Excellent missile armament
- GSh-23L has high fire rate and damage output
- SPO-3M RWR
Cons:
- Lowest flight performance of any MiG-21 except perhaps the F-13
- No countermeasures*
- GSh-23L has low velocity and limited ammunition
- SPO-3M is extremely limited
*The MiG-21M is physically capable of mounting the SPS-141 pod. However, it seems that it lacked the systems to actually make use of it, these only being fitted to the bis and MF-75. Then again, the SPS-K gets the 141 in-game so I could be wrong.
Gallery
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The MiG-21M can be distinguished from the MF or bis by the lack of a periscope atop the canopy
SPRD-99 RATO pods were compatible with every MiG-21 variant from the PFM onwards and were widely used. Might give the relatively sluggish MiG-21M (and other MiGs) a bit of help getting off the runway
Standard armament was a pair of R-3Rs and a pair of R-13Ms. Soviet doctrine had an IR missile followed up by a SARH missile to increase the probability of at least one hitting
MiG-21M post-reunification
Like other MiG-21s (and Soviet Bloc aircraft in general, and not just in German service), the MiG-21Ms were originally bare metal to save weight, but were later painted to reduce wear and corrosion
German MiG-21s: from left, MF, M, SPS-K, F-13
Sources
