MiG-21-93 Multipurpose Fighter

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The MiG-21-93 is a supersonic single-seat fighter powered by a single 7.100-kgf R25-300 turbojet engine. The fighter is an upgraded derivative of the MiG-21bis aircraft, the last production version of the MiG-21 fighter family. Over 1959-1986, a total of 10,158 MiG-21s had been built, let alone the ones manufactured by India (574 aircraft) and Czechoslovakia (194) as well as the People's Republic of China (PRC) where they were made as the J-7 (F-7). 

MiG-21bis fighters were in production for the Soviet Air Force in 1972-1974 with the aircraft production plant in Gorky (nowadays-Nizhny Novgorod). 180 aircraft also were built by India under licence in 1983-1987. It is the latter that the MiG-21-93 upgrade programme was devised. Under the programme, the fighter's avionics suite is to be replaced, with its weapons suite to be expanded. Upgraded Indian MiG-21bis fighters (MiG-21bis UPG) are to be outfitted with the advanced Russian-built radar Kopyo and a helmet-mounted target-designator, the French-made navigation suite and video recorder system, as well as an Israeli-made passive countermeasures package. 

The fighter's upgraded communications and radionavigation suites as well as electronic countermeasures (ECM) equipment are to be Indian-made. The weapons suite comprises up-to-date air-to-air missiles, such as the R-27R1/T1, RVV-AE, R-73E as well as KAB-500Kr guided bombs. Other improvements include an advanced, more efficient power generator, a redesigned cockpit canopy for a better view, etc.

The first MiG-21-93 prototype was assembled by the Sokol aircraft plant in Nizhny Novgorod and first flew on 25 May 1995. The same plant upgraded the first pair of Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-21bis fighters. The first of them was flown out on 3 October 1998. Under the upgrade contract, the rest of the 125 fighters are to undergo upgrade at HAL's aircraft plant in the city of Nasik.

Three-view drawing

Technical specifications