Two Iconic Legends of the Sky, the F-4 and MiG-21, Are Saying Goodbye to the Sky

Synopsis:

The MiG-21 Fishbed was a true Soviet high-speed (Mach 2), simple design, low maintenance, low upkeep and low cost 2nd generation supersonic fighter/interceptor. The MiG-21 Fishbed is the most produced supersonic jet fighter in aviation history with 11,496 units.  

The American F-4 Phantom II, which took to the skies after it, was the most advanced, supersonic (Mach 2), BVR (beyond visual range) radar-guided missile-launching, complex, multi-system, high maintenance and maintenance costs, high-priced, 3rd generation supersonic, multi-role, fighter/interceptor and bomber aircraft of its time. The F-4 Phantom II is also the most produced supersonic jet fighter in the history of the Western World, with 5,195 units produced.

Note: For jet aircraft generations and development, see Ref. Ref.-1.

1950-1960 Period:

The MiG-21 NATO code name: "Fishbed" is a supersonic jet fighter/interceptor designed and built by the Mikoyan Gurevich Design Bureau.

The MiG-21 is a 2nd generation jet fighter, although the first versions were 2nd generation, later versions can be considered as 2+ or even 3rd generation jet fighters. 

The MiG-21 has been flown by over fifty countries on four continents and is still in service in some countries more than half a century after its first flight. The MiG-21 is the most produced supersonic jet fighter in aviation history with 11,496 units.  

The MiG 21 jet fighter is a continuation of the Soviet jet fighters that began with the subsonic MiG-15, MiG-17 and supersonic MiG-19. The MiG-21 was the most successful of a series of experimental Mach 2 Soviet designs, either rear-sloping like the Sukhoi Su-7 or experimental with delta wings and frontal air intakes.

The MiG-21, which made its maiden flight on June 16, 1955, was the first successful Soviet jet fighter to combine both fighter and interceptor capabilities in a single model. This light fighter was capable of reaching Mach 2 with its relatively low power afterburner turbojet. This made it comparable to the American F-104 Starfighter, the Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter and the French Dassault Mirage III.

Still going strong after 60 years of service, the rock-solid MiG-21 supersonic fighter earned a formidable reputation despite its not-so-highly rated combat record.

While the United States mobilized its Century Series fighters (F-100, F-101, F-102, F-104, F105, F-106 see Ref-1), all eye-catching but not particularly effective in their intended role, the Soviet Union quietly found an economical and long-lived weapon with enormous capacity and performance for the price: The single-engine, Mach 2 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21. 

The MiG-21 was an airplane designed according to the classic "perfect is the enemy of good enough" approach. The Americans were trying to create a small number of super fighters, but the Soviets wanted to fill the skies with thousands of simple, light, reliable jets. After all, this strategy had proven to work brilliantly with the AK-47 rifle. The MiG-21 was the aviation projection of the AK-47.

The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-4 Phantom II is a twin-seat, supersonic, long-range, all-weather fighter-bomber. The reconnaissance version is designated as RF-4. The F-4 Phantom II was a tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range, supersonic, 3rd generation, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy (US NAVY).

The F-4, which made its first flight on May 27, 1958, proved to be a highly effective combat aircraft during the test and evaluation phase, and entered service with the US Navy in 1960 and the US Marine Corps and Air Force in 1961. A total of 5,195 F-4s were built from 1958 to 1981, making it the most produced supersonic military aircraft in the history of the Western World. The most iconic fighter aircraft of the Cold War era was certainly the F-4 Phantom.

The Phantom is a relatively large-body fighter with a speed of more than Mach 2.2. It can carry more than 18,000 pounds (8,400 kg) of munitions at nine external fixed points, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles and various bombs.

The F-4, like other interceptors of its time, was originally designed without an internal cannon. Later models were retrofitted with an M61 Vulcan rotary cannon. Starting in 1959, it set 15 world records for in-flight performance, including the absolute speed record and the absolute altitude record.

Vietnam War (November 1, 1955 - May 15, 1975) The United States was involved in the war from 1963-1973:

The F-4 was used extensively during the Vietnam War. It served as the primary air superiority fighter for the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps and became important in ground attack and aerial reconnaissance roles late in the war. However, design flaws and the failure of BVR missiles to perform as desired conspired against the Phantom in its first major combat test in the Vietnam War. It turned out that radar-controlled air-to-air missiles fired from beyond visual range proved extremely unreliable, and the aircraft's tracking radar was also inadequate, requiring US pilots to establish visual contact with the target aircraft before launching BVR missiles at the enemy. In this case, the F-4's greatest capability and combat advantage, the BVR missile firing capability, was rendered ineffective. 

Of the 612 AIM-7D/E/E-2 missiles fired, 97 (or 15.8%) hit their targets, resulting in 56 (or 9.2%) fatal hits. Two hits were achieved beyond line of sight.

A total of 425 AIM-9 missiles were launched in the war, resulting in 80 lethal risks for a lethality probability of 18%.

Furthermore, the Phantom was less maneuverable against the MiGs and US pilots were not trained to fight within line of sight. As if that wasn't enough, the Phantom lacked the cannon that was so necessary in a dogfight!

Nevertheless, many of the Phantom's flaws were corrected. The 20-millimeter Vulcan cannon was added to the F-4E and missile technology was significantly improved. In addition, Phantom pilots were trained in the theory of Air Combat Maneuvering and special wing slats were added, trading some of the Phantom's considerable speed for greatly improved maneuverability. In addition to achieving a better than 3:1 kill ratio over Vietnam, the Phantom set an outstanding combat record in the Iran-Iraq war and the Arab-Israeli conflict, with 150 kills for 41 losses in air-to-air combat. 

During the protracted air war in the skies over Vietnam, two fighter interceptors and air superiority aircraft emerged as the foremost of their kind. When these supersonic fighters faced each other in aerial combat, the individual skills of the pilots and sometimes sheer luck were often the decisive factors, and more than 40 years after the end of US involvement in the Vietnam War, the accuracy of their kill rates and claims remain disputed. Interestingly, despite being common enemies, the appearance of the F-4 Phantom and MiG-21 could not have been more striking. The big, burly Phantom weighed about 19 tons, while the MiG-21 weighed just under 10 tons. The Phantom was 63 feet long and had a wingspan of more than 38 feet. The MiG-21, with a much smaller profile and more agile appearance, was just under 48 feet long and had a wingspan of just under 24 feet. Both aircraft had a supersonic speed of at least Mach 2.

These two iconic figures have become synonymous with the Vietnam air wars, the F-4 representing the rich and powerful, the MiG-21 the poor and cunning.

1980-1990 Period:

The F-4 continued to form a significant part of US military air power throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and from 1980 onwards it gradually gave way to more modern aircraft such as the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon in the US Air Force, and the F-14 and F-18 in the Navy.

The F-4 Phantom II continued to be used by the US in reconnaissance and SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) roles in the 1991 Gulf War, leaving service in 1996. It is also the only aircraft used by both US flight demonstration teams (F-4E Thunder Birds in the Air Force, F-4J Blue Angels in the Navy).

The F-4 was also used by the armed forces of 11 other countries. It was used extensively in the Arab-Israeli conflict and in the Iran-Iraq War (Phantoms purchased by the Shah before his fall). As of 2022, 63 years after its first flight, the F-4 remains in active service in the air forces of Iran, South Korea, Greece and Turkey. However, it has entered the end of its service life for all users.

Relative Strengths and Weaknesses of the F-4 and MiG-21:

The MiG-21 is typically armed with air-to-air missiles such as the AA-2 Atoll and a 23mm internal cannon. The Phantom was typically armed with AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. Each was capable of carrying an additional bomb load. The first F-4s deployed to Vietnam were armed only with missiles. Without cannons, these fighters were often at a disadvantage in dogfights with the MiG-21 and other Soviet and Chinese-made fighters. Later models were equipped with a 20 mm M61 Vulcan internal rotary cannon. While the MiG-21 carried only two missiles, the Phantom held the upper hand with multiple missiles, often up to eight.

The performance of each aircraft showed their relative strengths and weaknesses. The agile MiG-21 was lethal in a turn and its silhouette was difficult to get a visual of from any great distance. The heavy F-4 was known for its jet engines, which produced a lot of exhaust trails, and its size made it easy for the enemy to identify it from a distance. While the MiG-21 was generally considered to be more maneuverable, the F-4 was well armed with air-to-air missiles and more lethal with the addition of the M61 Vulcan cannon to its configuration. The MiG-21 had a short range, but the F-4 was a long-range aircraft in comparison.

Beyond 2000s and Conclusion:

Many variants of the F-4 were produced and became the primary component of the US Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force's air superiority, bomber, reconnaissance and radar jamming air complement. It was developed in the 1950s, entered service in 1960 and a total of 5,195 were built over a 30-year run from 1958 to 1981. It still holds the record for the largest number of jet fighters produced in the Western world, a record that the F-16 is attempting to overtake. The F-4's air combat service included engagements from the Vietnam era through Operation Desert Storm and beyond. The Phantom has been used by the air forces of at least a dozen nations, with many remaining in service. The US military retired the Phantom from combat service in 1996. However, it remains in service in Turkey, South Korea, Greece and Iran, and the F-4 is in the process of being retired from the skies of all these users.

The MiG-21 was the continuation of the MiG fighter series that emerged in the late 1940s. The MiG-21 entered service in 1959 and by the time production ended in 1985, a total of 11,496 had been built in a wide variety of configurations. One of the most widely exported fighter aircraft in history, the MiG-21 is still active in many countries, but is in the process of being phased out in current user countries.

Bibliography

1. Jet Fighter Development/Jet Fighter Generations

https://strasam.org/savunma/havacilik-ve-uzay-sanayii/jet-savas-ucagi-gelisimi-jet-savas-ucagi-nesilleri-1197

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, Alexander Mladenov, Osprey Publishing, 2014

F-4 Phantom II vs. MiG-21, USAF & VPAF in the Vietnam War, Peter Davis, Osprey Publishing, 2008