M-21 Air-target

Mikoyan, Gurevich Design Bureau
M-21 Air-target. First flight: 1967 © Konstantinos Panitsidis
Photo archive K. Panitsidi

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Serial production: since 1985

The highly maneuverable radio-controlled target M-21 (M-21M) was developed on the basis of the MiG-21PF. The equipment was partially removed from the aircraft and replaced with special equipment:

-automatic control system with autopilot AP-17 (installed in the forward fuselage) -chaff and flare / signal-flare launcher
-equipment for registering the magnitude of a miss and the fact of a hit -onboard equipment for external trajectory measurements
-tracer for daytime observation. 

 

In 1985-2004 Lviv State Aircraft Repair Plant reworked 150 old MiG-21PF and PFM into unmanned aerial Targets M-21 © Konstantinos Panitsidis

In 1985-2004 Lviv State Aircraft Repair Plant reworked 150 old MiG-21PF and PFM into unmanned aerial Targets M-21.

 

The maximum speed of the target UAV at high altitudes (10.000 - 11.000 m) reached 1.800 km/h, with a maximum flight duration of 106 minutes and could maneuver with overloads up to 8,5 g. M-21 (M-21M) can take off both from unpaved and concrete runways. 

 

 

Three-view drawing

M-21 © Konstantinos Panitsidis



Technical specifications

DESIGNER OKB MiG
COUNTRY Russia
TYPE
Air-target
CREW -
POWER-PLANT One turbojet engine R-11F2-300
Thrust, kgf 1x6.120
DIMENSIONS  
Length, m 14,10
Height, m 4,71
Wing span, m 7,15
Wing area, m2 23,00
WEIGHT  
Maximum take-off, kg 8.400
Normal take-off, kg -
Empty aircraft, kg 5.150
Internal fuel, kg 2.200
Warload, kg -
PERFORMANCE  
Maximum speed, km/h 1.800
Maximum speed in low height, km/h -
Flight duration (endurance), min 106
Rate of climb, m/min -
Service ceiling, m 14.400
Minimum flight height, m 50
Maximum overload, g 8,5
Preparation time at the technical position for departure, min 40
ARMAMENT Has been removed and modified.




Photos Unmanned aerial target Μ-21 (MiG-21E, type 94M). Oleg Antonov state aviation museum, Ukraine, Kyiv.