Posted by Santanu Kr Dutta || Asom || Guwahati ||INDIA
"Can an Indian MiG-21 defeat a Pakistani F-16?"
If the MiG-21 and F-16 were thrown into an arena, one v one, at high noon without AWAC, jammer aircraft, refuelling and GCI etc, then yes of course! However, the odds favour the F-16 since it was designed to defeat the MiG-21 & MiG-23! The early F-16's didn't have BVR missiles but did have the AIM-9L all aspect IR missile. Believe that the later model MiG-21 actually did have BVR missiles! If the matchup was between late a model MiG-21 Bis and very early model F-16 the MiG-21 may have an advantage! F-16C/D Block 25 added BVR missile capability, Sparrow!
Thrown into an arena, one v one, at high noon without AWAC, jammer aircraft, refuelling and GCI etc! Modern fighters are NOT used like that they are a part of a very large team that is managed by AWAC watching the entire battle air space. If the MIGCAP could be distracted to chase after a couple of MiG 17's while the main attack force swooped in and clobbers their airbases. Using distraction, confusion and surprise sometimes North Vietnamese MiG-17's or MiG-21's were able to shoot down A-4's, F-105's, F-8's and even F-4's.
It is also certainly possible for a Sopwith Camel fresh from the skies of First World War to defeat an F-22. Is it probable? Well, the former situation is a great deal more probable than the latter. Probability is probably what you’re asking about, even though the question used asks about the possibility.
Aerial combat is decided by the tactics used by the operator, to a much greater degree than the technological differences of the aircraft involved.
The MiG-21 Fishbed is a surprisingly good ground-controlled interceptor. As a GCI, the normal tactic would be to keep them on the ground, and thus hidden from the target’s radar, and hit them while climbing. The aerial combat weapons of the target (in this instance, the F-16) are not generally designed to target and deploy against an adversary approaching from behind and below. Conversely, the F-16 would be exposing its engine exhaust nozzle to the MiG-21’s heat-seeking missiles, whose guidance would lock almost as soon as it was armed.
A MiG-21 can defeat the F-16 provided it has been upgraded to today’s technologies. Sometime back several years ago, the Russians went ahead and modernised their MiG-21Bis to become the MiG-21–93. It was equipped with modern radar, advanced cockpit setup, Helmet cueing and surprisingly the deadly R-77 Adder. If the MiG got further upgraded by adopting the R-77ER which can fly 160km could be a game changer. If the F-16 was equipped with current weapons today, it would be a difficult situation for anyone to think what will the outcome of modern MiG-21 fighting against the F-16.
The MiG-21 can beat the F-16 if the F-16 was attacked by 2–4 MiG-21s. Many nations still have a sizeable fleet of Fishbeds and modernising them could be a cost-effective way when budgets are limited. The F-16 pilot will be no dummy. The Pilot knows what he/she is up against and need to employ tactics to make sure he/she has the advantage. The pilot takes note that the MiG pilot has modern BVR and SRAAM with helmet cueing. The only possible advantage for the Falcon pilot is shooting down his enemy from behind. If tangling the Fishbed pilot, the MiG pilot is able to shoot the Falcon off axis.
The F-16 would carry in air combat probably 4 x AIM-120C Amraam and 2 x AIM-9X Sidewinder with Helmet mounting sight. The MIG-21–93 would carry a smaller war load of 2 x R-77ER Adder and 2 x R-73 Archer short-range missiles equipped with Russia’s latest Helmet Mounted systems. The MIG-21–93 is equipped with new radar, new cockpit instruments, new canopy and wrap around windscreen, helmet-mounted system, new avionics and carry modern weapons such as the R-77 Adder and R-73 Archer as seen here on the modern looking MIG-21. A nation with a large inventory of MIG-21 force is ideal for such an upgrade. A nation will spend millions on per jet and will help the nation with the budget issue to covert an old MIG-21 into a modern fighter. If I have a choice between 100 MIG-21–93 or 10 F-16C, I would have gone for the MIG-21–93 if my air force objective is for defensive of air space and interception.
The F-16C/D Block 60 is one of the best multirole fighters in the market today that has conformal fuel tanks to extend the range of the viper. Equipped with 6 air to air missiles, it has a long range capability over the short-range MIG-21.
In clean condition, the F-16 is a more agile fighter than the MIG-21. However, given the Fishbed upgrades to the -93 models will give it a potential opportunity to fight a modern air war against more modern jets like the F-16
The F-16 will have an edge in engine power, situation awareness and range while the MIG-21–93 will have around 35–45 minutes in endurance on internal fuel. The F-16 is more agile in close dogfighting over the MIG-21 but a skilled pilot would take advantage of the MIG-21–93 capabilities by taking a shot at the F-16 at BVR!..The F-16 would have done similar. The R-77 Adder with the “Extended Range” model has a kill range of around 100km while the AIM-120C will have a similar kill range. The kill shoot round will go to the F-16 as the MIG-21–93 will carry a standard R-77 Adder missile with a nominal kill range of between 45–60km.
In close dogfighting, agility is put aside as both jets would have a Helmet Mounted system. The Pilot in the F-16 has a clear vision as compare to the Fishbed but this is minimal as the MIG pilot would swivel his aircraft to target his Helmet at the enemy jet. A MIG-21–93 could take a shot at the F-16 with a kill, depending on how is the skill of the F-16 pilot.
The MIG-21–93 model is the latest MIG-21 upgrades. Currently, India has upgraded 125 jets to the -93 model called “BISON”. The MIG-21 capability has increased by 4 fold its threat capabilities. The canopy has been replaced with a version from the MIG-29. It has a wrap around windscreen giving it a better and clear view!
As can be seen here, the MIG-21–93 capability is its carriage of R-77 and R-73. A similar upgrade was available for the MIG-23MLD Flogger-K.
In technical terms, we understand the F-16 has an edge in BVR and close dogfighting but in reality, it could be a level playing field which boils down to pilot skills level and understanding the strength and weakness of his jets and his enemy. From there, both pilots will play out their strength.
Officially called a MIG-21UBG. It is basically a MIG-21–93 models with some improvements.
When we look at the price vs capability to shot each other down, the winner goes to the MIG-21. In current face value on the secondhand market, a country equipped with MIG-21Bis could upgrade his jet to the MIG-21–93 if the country is unable to afford modern Russian jets such as the MIG-29 and Su-27. In today's secondhand value, a MIG-21 could be had for US$500,000 per jet, especially the “Bis” model. Upgrade for each jet, including improvements and repairs to structural is in a couple of millions and be equipped with a modern cockpit with a better interface. The Pilot will have a much more modern radar and carry the R-77 and R-73 missiles and equipped with Chaff and Flare dispenser!.
For the price of the F-16 on the secondhand market such as the F-16C could be worth US$15 million each plus upgrades. As you can see, a nation could buy 7 MIG-21, upgraded to the “-93” model for the price of one F-16 not updated and upgraded. If upgraded, it could be in the region of between US$20–25 million depending on what upgrades the customer will want. If this is the case then between 10–12 MIG-21 could be had for 1 upgraded F-16C. A flight of 3–4 MIG-21–93 against a sole F-16 could lead to MIG-21 having the edge!. India is one nation that has selected the -93 model to upgrade 125 jets to “BISON”
Thanks for reading.
