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 Defense 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 defense 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.
While operated by the RV i PVO, MiG-21s did not fly any combat sorties
during NATO's campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia of
1999 - better known as the 'Kosovo War'. Nevertheless, it was
intensively targeted by NATO's air power, resulting in destruction of
nearly half the fleet.
Although subsequently considered 'obsolete', and operated in
continuously declining numbers, the MiG-21bis continued soldiering on
with the RV i PVO, and even maintained quick reaction alert duty until
late 2015, when officially retired. The final handful of two-seat
conversion trainers is still in service as this volume is prepared.
The book is based upon the author's extensive research in Serbian and
Croatian archives, museums and interviews with veterans that flew this
type. Most of the photos in this volume have never been published
before.