Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 operators - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Current operators

This list does not include operators of Chinese

People's Republic of China

China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

copies / licensed manufactured versions known as the Chengdu J-7

Chengdu J-7

The Chengdu Jian-7 is a People's Republic of China-built version of the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21. Though production ceased in 2008 it continues to serve, mostly as an interceptor, in several air forces, including China's.-Design and development:...

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan Air Force

The Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force often referred to as the Azerbaijani Air Force is the air force and air defence force of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces....

. Around 12 received from Ukraine. Five reportedly based at Kyurdamir; to be withdrawn following purchase of 48 MiG-29.

Kingdom of Bulgaria

Bulgarian Air Force

The Bulgarian Air Force is a branch of the Military of Bulgaria, the other two being the Bulgarian Navy and Bulgarian land forces. Its mission is to guard and protect the sovereignty of Bulgarian airspace, to provide aerial support and to assist the Land Forces in case of war. The Bulgarian Air...

. From 1963 to 1990 Bulgaria received: 224 MiG-21s. 36 remain in service. Bulgaria received 12 MiG-21F-13 in 1963; these were all converted to MiG-21F-13R standard in 1974; three of these crashed, the last nine were retired in 1988. 12 MiG-21PF were delivered in 1965; four were lost in accidents, the other eight were retired in 1991. 12 MiG-21PFM were received in 1965, followed by 32 more in 1977–1978 from Soviet surplus stock and two more in 1986; further, four MiG-21PFS were delivered from Soviet surplus; of the 46 MiG-21PFM and 4 MiG-21PFS, seven were lost in accidents and four were sold to Nigeria; the last active aircraft were withdrawn in 1992. Six MiG-21R were delivered in 1969 and retired in 1995. 15 MiG-21M were delivered in 1970 and retired in 1990. Twenty MiG-21MF were delivered in 1974–1975; seven were converted to MiG-21MFR standard in 1995; all withdrawn by 2000. Thirty MiG-21bis izdeliye 75B ("Fishbed-N") were delivered in 1983 and six more in 1985; Thirty-six MiG-21bis izdeliye 75A ("Fishbed-L") were delivered in 1990 from Soviet AF stocks. 12 MiG-21bis izd. 75B remain in service with 1st Sqn 3rd IAB. A single MiG-21U izd. 66-400 was delivered in 1966, and a single MiG-21US in 1969, followed by four more MiG-21US in 1970. 27 MiG-21UM were delivered between 1974 and 1982. A few of these remain operational after having gunsights and weapons pylons removed and being redesignated MiG-21UM-2.
The following units operated MiG-21s in 1992:

2 IAE/15 IAP (Ravnets
Ravnets Air Base
Ravnets Air Base , also known as 5th Fighter Air Base, is a former military air force base located near Ravnets, Bulgaria.- See also :* Bulgarian Air Force* List of Bulgarian Air Force Bases* List of airports in Bulgaria- External links :...

) - MiG-21bis (izd. 75A), MiG-21UM
3 IAE/15 IAP (Ravnets) - MiG-21bis (izd. 75A), MiG-21UM
1 IAE/19 IAP (Graf Ignatievo
Graf Ignatievo
Graf Ignatievo is a village in the Maritsa municipality, southern Bulgaria. As of 2006 it has 2015 inhabitants. There is the major military Graf Ignatievo Air Base of great importance used by the Bulgarian Air Force and the US.- External links :* * * *...

) - MiG-21bis (izd. 75B)
2 IAE/19 IAP (Graf Ignatievo) - MiG-21bis (izd. 75B)
1 RAE/26 IAP (Dobrich
Dobrich
Dobrich is a town in northeastern Bulgaria, the administrative centre of Dobrich Province. With 91,030 inhabitants, as of February 2011, Dobrich is the ninth most populated town in Bulgaria, being the centre of the historical region of Southern Dobruja...

) - MiG-21MFR
12 Combat Training Regiment (Kamenets) - MiG-21PFM, MiG-21UM

As of 2007:

1 Eskadrila/3 IAB (Graf Ignatievo) - 12 MiG-21bis (izd. 75B), some MiG-21UM-2
- (IAB = Iztrebitelna Aviatsionna Baza - Fighter Air Base; IAE = Iztrebitelna Avioeskadrila - Fighter Squadron; IAP = Iztrebitelen Aviopolk - Fighter Regiment; RAE - Razuznavatelna Avioeskadrila - Reconnaissance Squadron)

Cambodia

Cambodian Air Force. Nineteen second-hand MiG-21bis (izd. 75B) and three MiG-21UM delivered from the USSR in 1982, as well as three MiG-21UM from Bulgaria in the same year. There are plans to modernise these in Israel, but so far only one MiG-21bis and one MiG-21UM have been rebuilt to MiG-21-2000 standard and returned to Cambodia.
MiG-21s (MiG-21bis, MiG-21UM) in service are assigned to "The Fighter Squadron" based at Phnom Penh.

Independent State of Croatia

Croatian Air Force (HRZ). Three MiG-21bis were taken up following defections of Croatian pilots from the Yugoslav Air Force; two of these were lost in combat. Forty MiG-21bis and MiG-21UM were bought from East Germany in 1993, of which 16 and 4, respectively, were put into service, the rest used for parts. Eight MiG-21bis were upgraded to MiG-21bis-D standard and four MiG-21UM to MiG-21UMD standard in 2003 in Romania; these are currently in service.
In 2003, MiG-21s were found with the following units (ZB = Zrakoplovna Baza - Air Base; ELZ - Eskadrila Lovačkih Zrakoplova - Fighter Squadron):

91 ZB/21 ELZ (Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...

-Pleso)
92 ZB/22 ELZ (Pula
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...

)

Currently, HRZ MiG-21s are with the 21 EBA (Eskadrila Borbenih Aviona = "Combat Aircraft Squadron") at Zagreb-Pleso and the 22 EBA at Pula.

Cuba

Cuban Air Force. 40 MiG-21F-13 and two MiG-21U were transferred to the Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria (DAAFAR) in 1962. At least one squadron of MiG-21PF was delivered in 1964, and either 24 or 36 MiG-21PFM were received in 1966–1967. Twelve MiG-21R were delivered in 1968. Sixty MiG-21MF were delivered between 1972 and 1974; some of these were sent to Angola. Eighty MiG-21bis (izd. 75A) were received from 1981. Five MiG-21U (izd. 66-600) were delivered in 1966, and 20 MiG-21UM were delivered starting in 1968. According to Cuban sources, altogether 270 MiG-21s of all variants were received by DAAFAR. 12 MiG-21bis and six MiG-21UM are still operational.
In 1990, MiG-21s were known to be assigned to the following units:

1a Brigada de Guardia "Batalla de Sta Clara"
- 11o Regimiento de Caza (Santa Clara
  Santa Clara, Cuba
  Santa Clara is the capital city of the Cuban province of Villa Clara. It is located in the most central region of the province and almost in the most central region of the country.- History :Santa Clara was founded by 175 people on July 15th, 1689...
  
  )
  - 111o Escuadrone
  - 112o Escuadrone
2a Brigada de Guardia "Playa Girón"
- 22o Regimiento de Caza (Baracoa
  Baracoa
  Baracoa is a municipality and city in Guantánamo Province near the eastern tip of Cuba. It was founded by the first governor of Cuba, the Spanish conquistador Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar in 1511...
  
  )
  - 221o Escuadrone
  - 222o Escuadrone
3a Brigada de Guardia "Cuartel Moncada"
- 31o Regimiento de Caza (Camagüey
  Camagüey
  Camagüey is a city and municipality in central Cuba and is the nation's third largest city. It is the capital of the Camagüey Province.After almost continuous attacks from pirates the original city was moved inland in 1528.The new city was built with a confusing lay-out of winding alleys that made...
  
  )
  - 311o Escuadrone
  - 312o Escuadrone

As of 2007, the assignments are as follows:

UM1724 Regimiento de Intercepción (Holguín
Holguín
Holguín is a municipality and city, the capital of the Cuban Province of Holguín. It also includes a tourist area, offering beach resorts in the outskirts of the region.-History:...

)
- UM3710 Escuadrone de Intercepción - 6 MiG-21bis, 3 MiG-21UM
UM1779 Regimiento de Caza (San Antonio de los Baños
San Antonio de los Baños
San Antonio de los Baños is a municipality and city in the Artemisa Province of Cuba.It is located 26 km from the city of Havana, and the Ariguanabo River runs through it. The city was founded in 1802....

)
- UM4748 Escuadrone de Intercepción - 6 MiG-21bis, 3 MiG-21UM
Escuela de Especialistas Menores "Yuri Gagarin" ("Yuri Gagarin" Junior Technical Specialists' School) (Ciudad Libertad) - 1 MiG-21bis

Egypt

Egyptian Air Force

The Egyptian Air Force, or EAF , is the aviation branch of the Egyptian Armed Forces. The EAF is headed by an Air Marshal . Currently, the commander of the Egyptian Air Force is Air Marshal Reda Mahmoud Hafez Mohamed...

: By 1967, Egypt had received 235 MiG-21 fighters (MiG-21F-13, MiG-21PF, MiG-21PFM) and 40 MiG-21U trainers. Almost all were destroyed in the Six Day War - no more than 10 of the 235 survived that war. 75 MiG-21PFS were supplied in 1970, followed by 12 MiG-21M, 110 MiG-21MF, 24 MiG-21US, and some MiG-21UM.; eighty Chinese J-7 were also received.
MiG-21 order of battle as of 2007:

104th Fighter Brigade (El Mansoura)
- 45 Squadron - MiG-21MF
- 49 Squadron - MiG-21MF
? Fighter Brigade (Aswan
Aswan
Aswan , formerly spelled Assuan, is a city in the south of Egypt, the capital of the Aswan Governorate.It stands on the east bank of the Nile at the first cataract and is a busy market and tourist centre...

)
- ? Squadron - MiG-21MF

Eritrea

Eritrean Air Force

The Eritrean Air Force is the official aerial warfare service branch of the Eritrean Defence Forces and is one of the three official uniformed military brances of the State of Eritrea.-History:...

: Old Ethiopian Air Force MIG-21 BIS aircraft are estimated to operate six

Ethiopia

Ethiopian Air Force

The Ethiopian Air Force is the air arm of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and is tasked with protecting the air space, providing support to the ground forces as well as assisting during national emergencies.- Early years :...

: 48 MiG-21MF and MiG-21UM received 1977–1978; more - reports range from 50 to 150 - were delivered in 1982-83. Thirty MiG-21bis (izd. 75A) delivered between 1986 and 1988. Eighteen are still in service, though Su-27 have replaced some.
MiG-21 order of battle as of 2007 (total 18 fighters and 6 trainers):

3rd Air Regiment (Dire Dawa
Dire Dawa
Dire Dawa is one of two chartered cities in Ethiopia . This chartered city is divided administratively into two woredas, the city proper and the non-urban woreda of Gurgura....

)
? Air Regiment (Debre Zeyit
Debre Zeyit
Debre Zeyit is a town of Ethiopia, lying south east of Addis Ababa. Since the late 1990s it has been officially known by the Oromo name, Bishoftu, which was its name until 1955...

)

India

Indian Air Force

The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...

. India received its first MiG-21s in 1963, numbering 8 MiG-21F-13s. Two more F-13s and two MiG-21PF were received in 1964. The MiG-21FL was designed by Mikoyan to fulfill an Indian requirement, and this was the first version to be licence-built in India by HAL. The first 54 of these were built and test-flown in the USSR, then dismantled and shipped to India for reassembly; the first one built completely from scratch in India was handed over to the IAF in October 1970. All told, 205 MiG-21FL were built in India, of which 196 were built entirely in India; the last MiG-21FLs were retired in 2005. In 1971, 65 MiG-21M were delivered to India; licence production of an improved variant unique to India, designated MiG-21MF (Type 88), began in 1973 and lasted until 1981 - a total of 158 were built. It is important to keep in mind that the HAL MiG-21MF (Type 88) is not the same as the MiG-21MF (Izdeliye 96) that was made in the USSR for export to other countries. Kits for 75 MiG-21bis izdeliye 75A were delivered in 1977, and by 1984, 220 more were built from scratch in India. Contracts were signed in 1996 to upgrade 125 MiG-21bis (plus an option for 50 more) in a service life extension program to extend their useful life to 2017; the first two were upgraded by Sokol in Russia, the remainder by HAL; 94 were completed by January 2006. This upgraded version was known originally as MiG-21UPG and finally as MiG-21 Bison. A total of 45 MiG-21U of both izdeliye 66-400 and 66-600 were delivered, including five bought from Ukraine in 1997. Seventy MiG-21UM were received, including some received from eastern Europe in the 1990s.
Squadrons known to operate the MiG-21 Bison include 3 Sqn "Cobras", 4 Sqn "Oorials", 15 Sqn "Flying Lances", 21 Sqn "Ankush", 23 Sqn "Cheetahs", 24 Sqn "Hunting Hawks", 26 Sqn "Warriors", 32 Sqn "Thunderbirds", 35 Sqn "Rapiers", 37 Sqn "Black Panthers", 45 Sqn "Flying Daggers" and 51 Sqn "Sword Arms".

Libya

Libyan Arab Air Force

Libyan Air Force

The Libyan Air Force is the branch of the Libyan Armed Forces responsible for aerial warfare. In 2010, before the 2011 Libyan civil war, the Libyan Air Force personnel strength was estimated at 18,000, with an inventory of 374 combat capable aircraft operating from 13 military airbases in...

. MiG-21 deliveries to Libya started in 1975 of 25 MiG-21UM trainers, followed by 50 MiG-21MFs; these were supposed to have been used to train and equip a proposed "Palestinian Air Force" once Israel had been occupied. This did not come to pass, and both types were used by the LAAF, though 30 of the MiG-21MFs were later sent to Syria in 1982. From 1980, 94 MiG-21bis (izdeliye 75A) were delivered. 33 of these were still in service in 2006 according to an Israeli intelligence report; presently, there is one squadron, the 1021st based at Gamal Abdel Nasser AB near Tobruk

Tobruk

Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....

, still operating MiG-21bis fighters and MiG-21UM trainers.

Mali

Air Force of the Republic of Mali. Twelve MiG-21bis izdeliye 75B fighters and two MiG-21UM were delivered from the USSR in 1974, and two MiG-21MF arrived in 2005 from the Czech Republic, along with another MiG-21UM. Only the three ex-Czech aircraft are still in service.

North Korea

Korean People's Army Air Force

North Korean Air Force

The Korean People's Army Air Force, , is the name of the unified aviation forces of North Korea. The KPAF is the second-largest branch of the Korean People's Army with an estimated 110,000 personnel. It possesses between 1,600 and 1,700 aircraft of different types, mostly of Soviet and Chinese...

. At least 200 MiG-21s, including 30 built in China, are generally accepted as having been delivered to the KPAAF. By 1966-67, 80 MiG-21F-13 were delivered, with the first 14 arriving in or before 1963. 65 MiG-21PFM were delivered 1968–1971 and 24 more in 1974. According to the US DIA, by 1977 there were a total of 120 MiG-21s in DPRK, but by 1983 this number had dropped to 50; 150 MiG-21PFM and MiG-21MF were reportedly delivered in 1985. In 1999, 38 MiG-21bis izdeliye 75A were delivered from Kyrgyzstan. According to one estimate, 150 MiG-21s are in service. 50 MiG-21 trainers of different variants were delivered, of which 30 are believed to be in service.
As of 2007, units known to be operating MiG-21s are:

One squadron of 46th Air Regiment at Wonsan
Wonsan
Wŏnsan is a port city and naval base in southeastern North Korea. It is the capital of Kangwŏn Province. The population of the city is estimated to have been 331,000 in 2000. Notable people from Wŏnsan include Kim Ki Nam, diplomat and Secretary of the Workers' Party.- History :The original name of...
Three squadrons of 56th Air Regiment at Toksan, flying J-7B
Chengdu J-7
The Chengdu Jian-7 is a People's Republic of China-built version of the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21. Though production ceased in 2008 it continues to serve, mostly as an interceptor, in several air forces, including China's.-Design and development:...

, MiG-21PFM and MiG-21bis, but it is not known if the types are mixed or not.
One squadron of 60th Air Regiment at Pukch'ang
Three squadrons of 86th Air Regiment at Koksan
Koksan
The M-1978 is a 170 mm self-propelled gun of North Korean design and manufacture. Very little information is available due to the secretive nature of the North Korean Government. What is known is that it is a 170 mm self-propelled gun of the open turret type...

flying MiG-21PF and MiG-21U
Three squadrons of an unidentified Air Regiment at Hwangju
Hwangju
-Geography:Hwangju is bordered to the northwest by Sariwŏn, to the northeast by Songrim and Kangnam, to the southwest by Yŏnt'an, to the south by Pongsan, and to the southeast by Ŭnch'ŏn-History:...

flying MiG-21PF and MiG-21U
An unidentified reconnaissance/electronic warfare regiment.

Though little is known about the North Korean air force, it is known that a KPAF MiG-21PFM shot down a US Army CH-47 helicopter on July 14, 1977. The KPAF also took part in the Vietnam War

Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...

: A KPAF MiG-21 downed a USAF RF-4C on August 31, 1967; on January 14, 1968, another one shot down a USAF F-105D, and on February 12, 1968, a KPAF MiG-21 destroyed a USN F-4B.

Kingdom of Romania

Romanian Air Force

The Romanian Air Force is the air force branch of the Romanian Armed Forces. It has an air force headquarters, an operational command, four air bases and an air defense brigade...

. 24 MiG-21F-13 were delivered in 1962-63; they were withdrawn in 1976 but not officially written off until 1993. Deliveries of the MiG-21PF began in 1965, and a total of 38 were delivered; these were designated MiG-21RFM (Radar Fortaj Modernizat) in Romanian service. The survivors were grounded in the early 1990s and put into storage by 1999. The first MiG-21PFMs arrived in 1966. 29 of these were the standard izdeliye 94A, and 23 nuclear-capable variants (izdeliye 94N) were delivered as well. Both variants were designated MiG-21RFMM in Romanian service. The last of these were retired in 2002, replaced by MiG-21 Lancer As. Eleven MiG-21Rs, locally designated MiG-21C (Cercetare) were delivered in 1968, remaining in service until 1998. Starting in 1969, 60 MiG-21M were delivered, and a total of 71 MiG-21MFs were delivered starting in 1972. MiG-21Ms formed the basis for the MiG-21 Lancer A upgrade, and MiG-21MFs were rebuilt into MiG-21 Lancer Cs. A total of 73 Lancer A and 26 Lancer C were built, these are currently in service. In Romanian service, all variants of the two-seat trainer were designated MiG-21DC (Dubla Comanda). The first for were MiG-21U izdeliye 66-400 arriving in 1965, followed by three of izdeliye 66-600. From 1969, fourteen MiG-21US were delivered, and 31 MiG-21UM were delivered between 1972 and 1980, of which 14 were upgraded to the MiG-21 Lancer B standard.
As of 2007, MiG-21 dispositions were as follows (EAvV = Escadrila Avioane Vânǎtoare - Fighter Squadron; EAS = Escadrila Aviaṭie Scoala - Aviation Training Squadron):

Baza 71 Aeriana
RoAF 71st Air Base
The Romanian Air Force 71st Air Base is located near the town of Câmpia Turzii, in Cluj County. The 71st Airbase was founded on the 1st of June 2002, according to the Romanian Armed Forces reorganization program....

(Câmpia Turzii
Câmpia Turzii
Câmpia Turzii is a city in Cluj County, Romania, which was formed in 1925 by the union of two villages, Ghiriş and Sâncrai...

)
- 711 EAvV - Lancer A & B
- 712 EAvV - Lancer B & C
Baza 86 Aeriana
RoAF 86th Air Base
The Romanian Air Force 86th Air Base is located near the town of Feteşti, Ialomiţa County. It is currently the home of the 861st, 862nd Fighter squadrons and of the 863rd Helicopter squadron - located at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Airport .Since 1997, at the 86th Air base, a squadron has begun...

(Borcea
Borcea
Borcea is a commune in Călăraşi County, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Borcea and Pietroiu. It has the biggest population among all communes in the county, and it is situated on the west bank of the Borcea River ....

)
- 861 EAvV - Lancer B & C
- 862 EAvV - Lancer A & B
Baza 95 Aeriana
RoAF 95th Air Base
The Romanian Air Force 95th Air Base Captain Alexandru Şerbănescu is located near the city of Bacău, in Bacău County....

(Bacǎu
Bacau
Bacău is the main city in Bacău County, Romania. It covers a land surface of 43 km², and, as of January 1, 2009, has an estimated population of 177,087. The city is situated in the historical region of Moldavia, at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, and on the Bistriţa River...

)
- 951 EAvV - Lancer A, B & C
- 205 EAS - Lancer A & B

During the civil disturbances during the overthrow of the Nicolae Ceauşescu

Nicolae Ceausescu

Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...

regime, Romanian MiG-21s were quite active, mostly responding to "shadows" caused by (probably Soviet) electronic warfare. The only known air-to-air action of the period involved a Romanian AF MiG-21MF shooting down an IAR 330

IAR 330

|-See also:-External links:*...

helicopter of the Romanian Army.

Serbia

Serbian Air Force

The Serbian Air Force and Air Defence is the air force of Serbia and service branch of the Serbian Armed Forces. Established in 1912, it is one of the oldest air forces in the world.-History:...

. Inherited from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 2006. Possesses 31 MiG-21 aircraft, incl: MiG-21 bis, MiG-21UM and MiG-21M modified to carry reconnaissance pods.

204th Air Brigade
- 101st Fighter Aviation Squadron
- 1st Reconnaissance Aviation

Syria

Syrian Air Force

The Syrian Air Force is the Aviation branch of the Syrian Armed Forces. It was established in 1948.-History:The end of World War II led to a withdrawal of the United Kingdom and France from the Middle East, and this included a withdrawal from Syria...

. 40 or 45 MiG-21F-13 were delivered around 1965 followed by 36 MiG-21PFs in 1966; six of the F-13s were lost in 1967 prior to the start of the Six Day War, and during the war itself, 32 of 60 F-13s and PFs were destroyed. These losses were covered by future deliveries from the USSR, as well as four MiG-21F-13s from Czechoslovakia and ten from Hungary. From 1968, 100 MiG-21PFM and MiG-21PFS were delivered, as were six MiG-21Rs in the 1970s. Sixty-one MiG-21MFs were delivered between 1971 and 1973, but massive losses during the Yom Kippur War

Yom Kippur War

The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...

(180 Syrian fighters of all types were lost) resulted in the delivery of 75 more MFs from the USSR. During the Yom Kippur War, 12 MiG-21Ms were bought from East Germany. A total of 54 MiG-21s and MiG-23s are estimated to have been lost by Syria during the 1982 Lebanon War; and subsequently 198 MiG-21bis were supplied by the USSR through the 1980s. About eight MiG-21U trainers were delivered in the 1960s, and 20 MiG-21UMs around 1973. As of 2007, eight squadrons still operated MiG-21bis aircraft, about 200 in total, namely 8 Sqn (MiG-21MF) at Deir ez-Zor, 12 Sqn (MiG-21MF) at Tabqa, 679 and 680 Sqns (all MiG-21MF) at Hama

Hama

Hama is a city on the banks of the Orontes River in west-central Syria north of Damascus. It is the provincial capital of the Hama Governorate. Hama is the fourth-largest city in Syria—behind Aleppo, Damascus, and Homs—with a population of 696,863...

and 825, 826, 945 and 946 Sqns (all MiG-21bis) at Al Qusayr

Al-Qusayr, Syria

Al-Qusayr is a Syrian city administratively belonging to the Homs Governorate. Al-Qusayr has an altitude of 540 meters. It has a population of 44,395....

. Another source says there are 142 MiG-21 in service.
The current (2008) order of battle is as follows:

8 Sqn (Deir ez-Zor): MiG-21MF, MiG-21UM
12 Sqn (Tabqa): MiG-21MF, MiG-21UM
679 Sqn (Hama): MiG-21MF, MiG-21UM
680 Sqn (Hama): MiG-21MF, MiG-21UM
825 Sqn (Al Qusayr): MiG-21bis
? Sqn (Dumayr): MiG-21
945 Sqn (Khalkhalah): MiG-21bis
946 Sqn (Khalkhalah): MiG-21bis

Uganda

Ugandan Air Force. Up to 18 MiG-21MF fighters and three MiG-21U variants were delivered in the early 1970s. Seven were destroyed in the Israeli raid on Entebbe in 1976 and the rest were destroyed or captured by Tanzanian forces in 1979; the wreckage of many of these were still visible in Entebbe as late as 2003. In 1999, six MiG-21bis izdeliye 75A and one MiG-21UM arrived from Poland; one of these was lost in an accident, but the rest continue in service in what is called "The Combat Unit."

Vietnam

Vietnam People's Air Force

The Vietnam People's Air Force is the air force of Vietnam. It is the successor of the former North Vietnamese Air Force and the absorbed Republic of Vietnam Air Force following the re-unification of Vietnam in 1975.-Beginning-1964 :The first Vietnamese aircraft were two trainers, a de Havilland...

. The VPAF received the first of its 20 or 30 MiG-21F-13 fighters in 1965; 30 MiG-21PFLs, a special variant for Vietnam, were delivered in 1966 (some historians refer to this variant as MiG-21PFV (V = Vietnam), but this is denied by the MiG OKB); either 100 or 110 MiG-21PFM were delivered starting in 1968; sixty MiG-21MF were delivered around 1970; several batches of MiG-21bis izdeliye 75B were delivered starting in 1979, and 18 of izdeliye 75A were received second hand from Poland in 2005 (the 18 included a few MiG-21UMs). An unknown number of all variants of the MiG-21 trainers were delivered, but MiG-21UMs were the majority. In 1996, six UMs arrived from the Ukraine. Some reports suggest that as many as 180 MiG-21bis, plus at least 24 MiG-21UMs, are still in service.
The order of battle of units operating MiG-21s in 2007 is as follows:

370th Air Division
- 929th Fighter Regiment (Da Nang
  Da Nang
  Đà Nẵng , occasionally Danang, is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea at the mouth of the Han River. It is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam; its well-sheltered, easily accessible port and its location on the path of...
  
  )
- 935th Fighter Regiment (Biên Hòa
  Bien Hoa
  Biên Hòa is a city in Dong Nai province, Vietnam, about east of Ho Chi Minh City , to which Bien Hoa is linked by Vietnam Highway 1.- Demographics :In 1989 the estimated population was over 300,000. In 2005, the population wss 541,495...
  
  )
371st Air Division
- 921st Fighter Regiment (Hanoi
  Hanoi
  Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
  
  )
- 927th Fighter Regiment (Kep)
- 931st Fighter Regiment (Yên Bái
  Yen Bai
  Yên Bái is a city and urban district in Vietnam. It is the capital of the Yen Bai province, in northeastern Vietnam. As of 2003 the district had a population of 78,016. The district covers an area of 58 km²....
  
  )
372nd Air Division
- 933rd Fighter Regiment (Kiến An
  Kien An
  Kiến An is a urban district of Hai Phong, the third largest city of Vietnam....
  
  )
Air Academy
- 920th Fighter Regiment (Phù Cát
  Phu Cat
  Phu Cat , is a district of Binh Dinh Province in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam.The district capital is Ngo May.-References:...
  
  )
- 932nd Fighter Regiment (Phù Cát)

Yemen

Yemen Air Force

-North and South Yemen:The Yemen Air Force, known as al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Yamaniya, was established in 1926. During the mid-1950s, the Imam of Yemen established a private fleet that was run by the military. Later, the Russians delivered MiG-15 and MiG-17 fighters, followed by MiG-21s to the...

. Following the unification of North and South Yemen, the new YAF received the MiG-21s in service with the former Yemen Arab Republic Air Force and the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Air Force. It is estimated that 21 MiG-21MF were available in 2006, though some reports cite as many as 60 fighters and 12 trainers. Still other reports claim the presence of MiG-21bis, but these are unsubstantiated. It is not known how many are still airworthy.
MiG-21s are operational with 6 Sqn (MiG-21MF, MiG-21bis, MiG-21UM) at Al Hudaydah

Al Hudaydah

Al Hudaydah is the fourth largest city in Yemen with a population of 400,000 people, and the centre of Al Hudaydah Governorate.-Overview:...

and 26 Sqn (MiG-21MF, MiG-21bis, MiG-21UM) at Ta'izz

Ta'izz

Ta'izz , or Taiz, is a city in the Yemeni Highlands, near the famous Mocha port on the Red Sea, lying at an elevation of about 1,400 metres above sea level. It is the capital of Ta'izz Governorate...

Zambia

Zambian Air Force & Air Defence Command

Zambian Air Force

The Zambian Air Force is the air force of Zambia.Following the creation of the Republic of Zambia in 1964, Zambian military avaition was organized as the Zambia Air Wing which lasted until 1968. The Zambian Air Force was then established....

. The ZAFADC received 14 MiG-21bis (izdeliye 75A) fighters and two MiG-21UM trainers in 1976. The two trainers and eight surviving fighters were upgraded in Israel in 1997-98 and are now in service.

Afghanistan

Afghan Air Force

The Afghan Air Force , formerly the Afghan National Army Air Corps and Afghan National Army Air Force , is one of seven "corps" of the military of Afghanistan, responsible for air defense and air warfare. It was officially established in 1924 and for most of its history has functioned as a small...

. The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Air Force received 40 MiG-21F-13 (izd. 74) in 1973, and from 1979, 70 MiG-21MF (izd. 96F), 50 MiG-21bis (izd. 75A and 75B) and 6 MiG-21UM (izd. 69A) were delivered. Small numbers of aircraft left behind by the Soviet Air Force after their withdrawal were taken up by the DRAAF, including MiG-21PFS (izd. 94A) and MiG-21PFM (izd. 94A). Following the overthrow of the communist government, the armies of some warlords operated MiG-21s. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Air Force was set up by the Taliban, and was known to have operated at least one MiG-21PFM, 8 MiG-21MF, 5 MiG-21bis, one MiG-21U (izd. 66-400) and three MiG-21UM. All are now out of service (derelict and/or destroyed).
MiG-21s were operated by the following units in the late 1980s:

322nd Fighter Regiment (FR) (Bagram
Bagram
Bagram , founded as Alexandria on the Caucasus and known in medieval times as Kapisa, is a small town and seat in Bagram District in Parwan Province of Afghanistan, about 60 kilometers north of the capital Kabul. It is the site of an ancient city located at the junction of the Ghorband and Panjshir...

):
- 4 squadrons of 20 MiG-21MF/bis and 2 MiG-21UM each
393rd FR (Mazar-e-Sharif):
- 3 squadrons of 20 MiG-21MF/PFM/bis and 2 MiG-21UM each

MiG-21s saw combat during the civil war in 1994 and 1995, with Northern Alliance MiG-21s destroying one MiG-21, three Su-22s and one other fighter belonging to the Dostum

Abdul Rashid Dostum

Abdul Rashid Dostum is a former pro-Soviet fighter during the Soviet war in Afghanistan and is considered by many to be the leader of Afghanistan's Uzbek community and the party Junbish-e Milli-yi Islami-yi Afghanistan...

–Gulbuddin

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar is an Afghan Mujahideen leader who is the founder and leader of the Hezb-e Islami political party and paramilitary group. Hekmatyar was a rebel military commander during the 1980s Soviet war in Afghanistan and was one of the key figures in the civil war that followed the...

Militia Air Force; the DGMAF is known to have destroyed one NA MiG-21, the kill scored by a Su-22. The Taliban's IEAAF MiG-21s are known to have shot down two Mi-8

Mil Mi-8

The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter....

helicopters of the Northern Alliance, while an NA MiG-21 is credited with a kill of an IEAFF Su-20.
Four DRAAF MiG-21s are known to have been shot down by Pakistani F-6

Shenyang J-6

The Shenyang J-6 was the Chinese-built version of the Soviet MiG-19 'Farmer' fighter aircraft.-Design and development:...

s and Mirage IIIs in 1986.

Algeria

Algerian Air Force

The Algerian Air Force is the aerial arm of the Algerian People's Military.- Inventory :- External links : http://www.algaf.bravehost.com/index.htm http://www.avions-militaires.net/dossiers/armee-air/dza.php...

(QJJ). First received MiG-21F-13 starting in 1965, a total of 40 delivered; 31 were 'lent' to Egypt in 1967 for the Six Day War. Of these, six landed at an airbase just captured by the Israelis in the war - one pilot destroyed his plane, the other five were captured, and four of these were shipped to the USA for evaluation by the USAF. In 1966–1967 30 MiG-21PF were received, followed by probably 40 MiG-21PFM. Six MiG-21R were reportedly delivered; there is no further information. Some MiG-21M and MiG-21MF were also received; these were all designated "MiG-21MF" by the QJJ. About 60 MiG-21bis of both izdeliye 75A and 75B were delivered. Some MiG-21s were traded to Ukraine as part of a package for 36 MiG-29S; similar deals may have been made with Belarus, who provided Algeria with 36 more MiG-29S aircraft. The last MiG-21s were withdrawn from service by 2003.
Before 1993, MiG-21s served with the following units:

11e Escadron de Chasse (EdeCh - Fighter Squadron) (Colomb-Béchar)
14e EdeCh (Tindouf
Tindouf
Tindouf is the main town in Tindouf Province, Algeria, close to the Mauritanian and Moroccan borders. The region is considered of strategic significance, and it houses Algerian military bases. Since 1975, it also contains several Sahrawi refugee camps operated by the Polisario Front a guerrilla...

) - MiG-21PFM/MF
19e EdeCh (Colomb-Béchar)
120e EdeCh (Aïn Oussera
Aïn Oussera
Aïn Oussera or Aïn Oussara is a city in Djelfa Province, Algeria, with an estimated population of 134,174. It is the district seat of the Aïn Oussera District. The city has experienced rapid population growth in recent years due to its proximity to the 15 MW Es Salam nuclear reactor. Aïn Oussera...

)
140e EdeCh (Ouargla
Ouargla
Ouargla is the capital city of Ouargla province, in the Sahara Desert, in southern Algeria. It has a flourishing oil industry, and hosts one of Algeria's universities. The city had a population of 129,402 in 1998 ....

)
153e EdeCh (Bou Sfer)
630e EdeCh (Bou Sfer)

After 1993, MiG-21s were assigned to the following units:

113e EdeCh (Tindouf)
143e EdeCh (Ouargla)
153e EdeCh (Colomb-Béchar)
193e EdeCh (Bou Sfer)

Angola

Angolan Air Force (FAPA-DAA). First MiG-21s in Angola were 12 MiG-21MF delivered in March 1976 from the USSR, followed by 8 MiG-21F-13 and two MiG-21US with Soviet pilots. In 1980, 12 more MiG-21MF and two more MiG-21US were delivered to the AngAF, and four more MiG-21US and 12 MiG-21bis (izd. 75B) in 1983. None remained operational by 2007, but 18 MiG-21bis and 4 MiG-21UM are reportedly still on the Air Force's lists.
Prior to 1993, MiG-21s served with the following units:

9th Fighter Training Squadron (7 MiG-21US, 5 MiG-21UM)
24th Air Instructional Regiment
25th Air Combat Fighter Regiment
- 11th Fighter Squadron (mix of MiG-21F-13, MiG-21MF, MiG-21bis)
- 12th Fighter Squadron (MiG-21MF and/or MiG-21bis; replaced by MiG-23ML
  Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
  The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a variable-geometry fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is considered to belong to the Soviet third generation jet fighter category, along with similarly aged Soviet fighters such as the MiG-25 "Foxbat"...
  
  in 1987)
- 13th Fighter Squadron (MiG-21MF and/or MiG-21bis; replaced by MiG-23ML
  Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
  The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a variable-geometry fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is considered to belong to the Soviet third generation jet fighter category, along with similarly aged Soviet fighters such as the MiG-25 "Foxbat"...
  
  in 1987)
26th Air Combat Fighter Regiment
- 14th Fighter Squadron
- 15th Fighter Squadron
- 16th Fighter Squadron

Little is known about the combat record of Angolan MiG-21s; only two air-to-air victories are known for certain. The first came on March 13, 1976, when a FAPA-DAA MiG-21MF destroyed an Air Congo Fokker F27

Fokker F27

The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful Douglas DC-3 airliner...

, and the second on April 3, 1986, when a MiG-21MF (or bis) shot down a TAAG Lockheed L-100. Four Angolan MiG-21MFs are known to have been lost in air-to-air combat, all to the South African Air Force

South African Air Force

The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...

: The first three were claimed by Johann Rankin in a Mirage F.1CZ - one on November 6, 1981 and the other two (one reportedly only damaged) on October 5, 1982. A fourth was destroyed on December 5, 1985, by an SAAF Mirage F.1AZ.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Air Force

The Bangladesh Air Force , is the air arm of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. Bangladesh Air Force currently employs more than 22,000 personnel including 600+ Pilots.-History:...

. Received 12 HAL-built (Indian) MiG-21MF in 1973. All now retired, instead use Chengdu J-7

Chengdu J-7

.MiG-21's in the Bangladesh Air Force

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso Air Force. Eight MiG-21bis (izd. 75A) and two MiG-21UM delivered in 1984; all non-operational by 1993.
In 1984, the following units were equipped with MiG-21s:

Escadrille de Chasse ("Fighter Squadron") (Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 1,475,223 . The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga. The inhabitants are called ouagalais...

) - 8 MiG-21bis, 2 MiG-21UM.

Mainland China

People's Liberation Army Air Force

The People's Liberation Army Air Force is the aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army, the military of the People's Republic of China...

: Three complete MiG-21F-13 and 20 kits were sent from the USSR to China in 1961; the rest used by the PLAAF were all locally built Chengdu J-7

Chengdu J-7

aircraft. Though only 23 "actual" aircraft were delivered from the USSR to China, they did see active service in the PLAAF and/or PLANAF; on January 3, 1966, a MiG-21F-13 of the PLANAF, flown by Lu Xiangxiao, shot down a USAF AQM-34 unmanned aerial vehicle

Unmanned aerial vehicle

An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...

using 57mm rockets

Republic of the Congo

Congolese Air Force

The Former Congolese Air Force was a military force in the Republic of the Congo-Brazzaville. Political tensions have now declined with the fall of the Cold War in Africa and most of the fighters were scrapped in 2001.-Former Cold War air force:...

: Reportedly 14 MiG-21bis (izd. 75B) and two MiG-21UM were delivered starting in 1988; all out of use by 1997.

Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakian Air Force. All aircraft passed on to Czech Republic and Slovakia. First version to operate with CSAF was the locally built Avia S-106 (= MiG-21F-13); 194 were built, and some were converted to MiG-21FR standard. 40 MiG-21PF were delivered from 1964, retired by 1990. MiG-21PFM, including nine nuclear-capable aircraft, were delivered between 1966 and 1969; all were retired by 1991. 25 MiG-21R were delivered between 1969 and 1972, retired between 1992 and 1994. 24 MiG-21M were delivered which were later upgraded to MiG-21MA standard. 102 MiG-21MF were delivered. Three MiG-21U izdeliye 66-400 and eight of izdeliye 66-600 were received, followed by 13 MiG-21US and 32 MiG-21UM.
An Avia S-106 flown by a J. Foks is credited with the downing of a US Air Force aircraft violating Czechoslovak airspace in September 1963.

Czech Republic

Czech Air Force

The Czech Air Force is the air force branch of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. The Air Force, with the Land Forces, comprises the Joint Forces, the main combat power of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic...

. Ten MiG-21MF were upgraded to MiG-21MFN standard with NATO avionics; these were retired in 2005, replaced by the Saab

Saab

Saab AB is a Swedish aerospace and defence company, founded in 1937. From 1947 to 1990 it was the parent company of automobile manufacturer Saab Automobile, and between 1968 and 1995 the company was in a merger with commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania, known as Saab-Scania.-History:"Svenska...

JAS 39 Gripen

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a lightweight single-engine multirole fighter manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. It was designed to replace the Saab 35 Draken and 37 Viggen in the Swedish Air Force...

German Democratic Republic

East German Air Force (LSK/NVA): 251 MiG-21s of seven versions were handed over to the Luftwaffe upon reunification; these were rapidly phased out of service. The LSK/NVA received 75 MiG-21F-13 in 1962-64, 52 MiG-21PF, 83 MiG-21PFM without cannon (locally designated MiG-21SPS) and 56 with cannon (locally designated MiG-21SPS-K), 89 MiG-21M, 68 MiG-21MF, 14 MiG-21bis izdeliye 75A and 32 izdeliye 75B, 14 MiG-21U izdeliye 66-400 and 31 izdeliye 66-600, 17 MiG-21US and 37 MiG-21UM.
The following units operated MiG-21s:

1st Air Defence Division (HQ Cottbus
Cottbus
Cottbus is a city in Brandenburg, Germany, situated around southeast of Berlin, on the River Spree. As of , its population was .- History :...

)
- JG-1 (Holzdorf
  Holzdorf (Jessen)
  Holzdorf is a village in the municipality of Jessen in the district of Wittenberg in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It has about 1,400 inhabitants...
  
  ) - MiG-21MF, MiG-21SPS (PFM), MiG-21UM
- JG-3 (Preschen) - MiG-21MF, MiG-21UM
- JG-7 (Drewitz
  Drewitz
  Drewitz is a village and a former municipality in the Jerichower Land district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the town Möckern....
  
  ) - MiG-21M, MiG-21UM
- JG-8 (Marxwalde) - MiG-21bis, MiG-21UM
3rd Air Defence Division (HQ Neubrandenburg
Neubrandenburg
Neubrandenburg is a city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, on the shore of a lake called the Tollensesee ....

)
- JG-2 (Neubrandenburg) - MiG-21M, MiG-21SPS (PFM), MiG-21UM
Fighter-Bomber & Air Transport Command (HQ Cottbus)
- TAFS-47 (Drewitz) - MiG-21M, MiG-21UM
- TAFS-87 (Preschen) - MiG-21M, MiG-21UM
Air Force Training Command (HQ Kamenz
Kamenz
Kamenz is a Lusatian town in eastern Saxony, Germany, with a population of 18,243, and is part of the Bautzen district. The town is located about northeast of Dresden and about northwest of Bautzen....

)
- FAG-15 (Rothernburg - MiG-21SPS (PFM), MiG-21U, MiG-21US, MiG-21UM

Finland

Finnish Air Force

The Finnish Air Force is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. Its peacetime tasks are airspace surveillance, identification flights, and production of readiness formations for wartime conditions...

. Fighters: MiG-21bis Fishbed-N (26; 1977–1998), MiG-21F-13 Fishbed-C (22; 1963–1986), Trainers: MiG-21UM Mongol-B (2; 1974–1998), MiG-21US Mongol-B (2; 1981–1997), MiG-21UTI Mongol-A (2; 1965–1997). Six of the MiG-21bis were converted to MiG-21bis/T recce standard. All aircraft were operated by HävLLv 31, Finland was the first country outside the Warsaw Pact to buy MiG-21, after Finland had rejected MiG-19 and Soviet Union offered the brand-new Fishbed-C, Finland chose Fishbed-C and training of pilots by Soviet air force began, only to stop after start of Cuban Crisis when Soviet Union ordered its pilots on stand-by, and Finnish Air force decided the training could be continued in Finland without Soviet trainers.

Germany

Luftwaffe

Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....

. Aircraft taken over from East German Air Force upon reunification. All received registration numbers (2x xx), but only those that were in operation received the full Luftwaffe serials with the Iron Cross painted on (2x + xx).

Georgia (country)

Georgian Air Force

The Georgian Air Force is the air arm of the Georgian Armed Forces. Currently, it has 2,971 military and civilian personnel, fixed wing aircraft , helicopters of different types and air defense missiles of the "surface-to-air" class. The Air Force was founded in 1991 in the wake of the break-up...

. Two MiG-21UM were retained by Tbilaviamsheni

Tbilaviamsheni

TbilAviaMsheni is an airline based in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia.Aircraft Investor Resources has appointed Georgian manufacturer Tbilaviamsheni to manufacture the fuselage, wings and stabilizer for its Epic LT single-engined turboprop kitplane, for which it has 25 orders...

factory and reportedly transferred to Georgian Air Force.

Guinea

Air Force of Guinea: 8 MiG-21MF and one MiG-21U delivered in 1986. Five restored to airworthy condition in Russia and returned to service; one of these crashed into a TV tower in 2007.

Guinea-Bissau

Air Force of Guinea-Bissau: Six MiG-21MF and one MiG-21UM were delivered from Soviet surplus in the late 1980s. All are out of service.

Hungary

Hungarian Air Force

The Hungarian Air Force is the air force branch of the Hungarian Army.- 1918 to Pre–World War II :Following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1918, a small air arm was established operating surviving aircraft from Hungarian factories and training schools...

. Hungary was the first Warsaw Pact country to receive the MiG-21F-13, receiving 12 in 1961, followed by 68 more; all were retired by 1980. In 1964-65 24 MiG-21PF were delivered, the last of these being retired in December 1988. Hungary was the only Warsaw Pact nation not to receive any MiG-21PFM or MiG-21M; the next type received was the MiG-21MF, of which 50 were delivered between 1971 and 1974, and were retired in 1996. 39 MiG-21bis izdeliye 75A and 24 of izdeliye 75B were delivered from 1977, the last of these were retired in 2001. Of trainer variants, 12 MiG-21U izdeliye 66-400 and six izdeliye 66-600, as well as 27 MiG-21UM were delivered; the last of them were withdrawn in 2001.
In 1991, MiG-21s operated with the following units (HRE = Harcászati Repülő Ezred - Combat Air Regiment; VSz = Vadászrepulő Század - Fighter Squadron):

31. HRE "Kapos"
- 1. VSz "Boszorkány" ("Witch") - 10 MiG-21bis, 2 MiG-21UM
- 2. VSz "Turul
  Turul
  The Turul is the most important bird in the origin myth of the Magyars .It is a divine messenger, and perches on top of the tree of life along with the other spirits of unborn children in the form of birds...
  
  " - 10 MiG-21bis, 2 MiG-21UM
47. HRE "Pápa" (Pápa
Pápa
Pápa is a historical city in Veszprém county, Hungary, located close to the northern edge of the Bakony Hills, and noted for its baroque architecture. With its 33,000 inhabitants, it is the cultural, economic and tourism centre of the region....

)
- 2. VSz "Griff" ("Griffon") - 10 MiG-21bis, 2 MiG-21UM
59. HRE "Szentgyörgyi Dezső" (Kecskemét
Kecskemét
Kecskemét is a city in the central part of Hungary. It is the 8th largest city of the country, and the county seat of Bács-Kiskun.Kecskemét lies halfway between the capital Budapest and the country's third-largest city, Szeged, 86 kilometres from both of them and almost equal distance from the two...
- 1. VSz "Puma" - 10 MiG-21MF, 2 MiG-21UM
- 2. VSz "Dongó" ("Wasp") - 10 MiG-21bis, 2 MiG-21UM

At 2000, the disposition was as follows:

47. HRE
- 1. VSz "Sámán" ("Shaman") - 12 MiG-21bis in fighter role
- 2. VSz "Griff" - 10 MiG-21UM in ground attack role

Indonesia

Indonesian Air Force

The Indonesian Air Force is the air force branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.The Indonesian Air Force has 34,930 personnel equipped with 110 combat aircraft including Su-27 and Su-30.-Before Indonesian independence :...

. Twenty MiG-21F-13 and two MiG-21U izdeliye 66-400 were received in 1962 and used during the preparation of Operation TRIKORA in 1962 in Western New Guinea (now Papua

Papua (Indonesian province)

Papua comprises most of the western half of the island of New Guinea and nearby islands. Its capital is Jayapura. It's the largest and easternmost province of Indonesia. The province originally covered the entire western half of New Guinea...

and Papua Barat). The aircraft were largely grounded in 1969 and removed from service in 1970. At least 13 of the F-13s and one U were transferred to the USA for test purposes.

Iran

Iranian Air Force had purchased 2 Mig-21PFM and 37 Mig-21F (23 like for Chinese version for J-7) and some 18 aircraft and 5 Mig-21U (FT-7 for Chinese Version like 4 purchased aircraft).

Iraq

Iraqi Air Force

The Iraqi Air Force or IQAF is the military branch in Iraq responsible for the policing of international borders, surveillance of national assets and aerial operations...

. Iraq received 35 MiG-21F-13 starting in 1963; one of these is the famous "007" aircraft that defected to Israel and was subsequently transferred to the USA. The first MiG-12PFs were delivered in 1966; 37 are known for certain to have been received, but some sources suggest 90. 55 MiG-21PFM are known to have been received in 1970, but the number purchased is likely over 100 when taking into account aircraft transferred from Iraq to Egypt and Syria, though it is possible that these sources have confused or "bundled up" the PFs and PFMs. Fifteen MiG-21R were delivered in 1979, and 40 MiG-21MF were received in 1973 with another batch of 40 in 1979. A total of 61 MiG-21bis (izdeliye 75A) were delivered from 1983; some of these were found in 1990 in Dresden, Germany for overhaul, and four others at Batajnica, Yugoslavia. The East German Air Force (and subsequently, the Luftwaffe) had planned to sell surplus trainer variants to Iraq, but this fell through after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. At least 10 MiG-21U, 8 MiG-21US and 11 MiG-21UM were delivered between 1968 and 1985. 35 MiG-21s escaped to Iran during "Desert Storm" in 1991. Of those remaining in Iraq, none are operational, and most are likely destroyed or scrapped.

Israel

Israeli Defence Force/Air Force

Israeli Air Force

The Israeli Air Force is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence...

. A number of MiG-21s of various models have been captured in wars with neighbours, but the best-known example is the "007" aircraft, a MiG-21F-13 of the Iraqi pilot, Munir Redfa

Munir Redfa

Munir Redfa was an Iraqi fighter pilot, of ethnic Assyrian origin, who defected to Israel in 1966 by flying a MiG-21 of the Iraqi Air Force. In what is considered as one of the Mossad's most successful operations, Redfa's entire extended family was smuggled safely out of Iraq to Israel...

who defected to Israel in 1966. This aircraft was examined and then shipped to the USA. A second MiG-21F-13 was later given the same number; this aircraft is now on display in an Israeli camouflage scheme with Israeli markings at the IDF/AF museum at Hatzerim AB. Since the 1990s, Israel has also undertaken various MiG-21 modernisation programmes.

Kyrgyzstan

Air Force of Kyrgyzstan. A considerable number of MiG-21bis and MiG-21UM in storage near Bishkek. The Kyrgyz Air Force has no interest in operating them and has offered them for sale.

Laos

Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force

The Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force is the air force of Laos.-History:The present-day LPLAAF is descended from the Aviation Laotienne, which was established by the French and later became the Royal Lao Air Force. Pathet Lao guerrilla forces began to operate a few aircraft from 1960, as did...

. Thirteen MiG-21PFM and two MiG-21U were delivered in 1975, followed by ten MiG-21MF in 1985; none are now airworthy. There are reports of 20 MiG-21bis izdeliye 75A having been delivered in 1983, though there is now no trace of these, likely meaning they are also retired. A second batch of trainers, probably MiG-21UM, was also delivered.

Madagascar

Tafika Anabakabaka. Madagascar received eight MiG-21PFM and one MiG-21U from North Korea

North Korea

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...

in 1978. There are some unconfirmed reports of MiG-21 deliveries prior to the proven delivery of 12 MiG-21bis izdeliye 75B and at least two MiG-21UM from the USSR. All MiG-21s were placed in storage by 2000.

Mongolia

Mongolian People's Air Force. Received 44 aircraft in 1977–1984. 8-12 MiG-21PFMs and two trainers - MiG-21UM - have reportedly been carefully been put into storage at air base Nalaikh due to lack of funds and shortage of spares, though there have been no reports of their reactivation to date.

Mozambique

Mozambique Air Force. 48 MiG-21bis were delivered from 1982 from Cuba, including pilots, for use against the RENAMO guerrillas; by 1990 only 18 were still operational. After the 1990 ceasefire they were all put into storage and neglected. Only one air-to-air victory by a Mozambican fighter, probably a MiG-21, is known: in 1983, a Mozambican fighter downed a South African Air Force

South African Air Force

The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...

Seeker UAV

Unmanned aerial vehicle

Namibia

Namibian Air Force

The Namibia Air Force was commissioned on 13 March 2005 at Grootfontein Air Base.The policy, mission statements and concept of operations envisage the development of an Air Force to operate in support of the Army and the Navy....

. At least two MiG-21bis and one MiG-21UM were delivered to the NAF in 2002 following an overhaul and upgrade in Israel. Namibia also operates twelve Chengdu J-7

Chengdu J-7

s since 2006.

Nigeria

Nigerian Air Force

The Nigerian Air Force is the air arm of the Nigerian Armed Forces.It is one of the largest in West Africa, consisting of about 15,000 personnel and aircraft including 15 Chengdu F-7s, and 24 Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jets, armed helicopters, and military transport aircraft. However in recent years...

. 25 MiG-21MF and six MiG-21UM were delivered in 1975. Three were lost in accidents, and one is preserved as a gate guard at Abuja air base. All were put into storage in the 1990s due to lack of spares and cash. By 2005, cash was available from increased oil production, but instead of refurbishing the MiG-21s, it was spent on new Chengdu F-7NI

Chengdu J-7

fighters and three FT-7NI trainers.

Poland

Polish Air Force

The Polish Air Force is the military Air Force wing of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej...

. Poland received its first MiG-21F-13 in June 1961. 24 more arrived in 1962-63, and all were withdrawn in 1971; twelve were sold to Syria in 1973. 84 MiG-21PF were delivered from 1964; the last ones were retired in December 1989. A total of 132 MiG-21PFM were delivered. Of these, twelve were the nuclear-capable Izdeliye 94N and were designated MiG-21PFMN by the Polish Air Force; the rest (izdeliye 94A) were designated MiG-21PFMA. All were withdrawn by the mid 1990s; the PFMNs were retired in 1989 and stripped of their nuclear capability. Between 1968 and 1972 a total of 36 MiG-21Rs were delivered; the last of these were retired in 2002. 36 MiG-21Ms were delivered in 1969-70, with all retired by 2002. In total Poland received 120 MiG-21MFs from 1972, with the last survivors retired in 2003. 72 MiG-21bis izdeliye 75A were delivered to Poland; the last of these were retired on December 31, 2003. The first trainers arrived in 1965 in the form of six MiG-21U izdeliye 66-400; three were lost in accidents, and the other three were retired in 1990. Five MiG-21U izdeliye 66-600 were delivered in 1966 and were retired by 1990. Twelve MiG-21US were delivered in 1969-70, the last being retired on December 31, 2003. Between 1971 and 1981 Poland received 54 MiG-21UMs; all were likewise retired at the end of 2003.
On July 15, 1970, a Polish MiG-21 flown by Henryk Osierda accidentally shot down a Su-7BKL of the Czechoslovak air force.

Slovakia

Slovak Air Force

The Slovak Air Force, known since 2002 as the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic , is the aviation and air defense branch of the Slovak Armed Forces. Operating 70 aircraft from 3 major bases - Kuchyňa, Sliač, Prešov...

. The assets of the former Czechoslovak Air Force were divided following the separation of the country into the Czech and Slovak Republics. Of MiG-21 variants, Slovakia received 21 MiG-21F-13s (actually Czechoslovak-built S-106s), three MiG-21PFs, eleven MiG-21PFMs, eight MiG-21Rs, thirteen MiG-21MA, 36 MiG-12MF, three MiG-21U izdeliye 66-600, two MiG-21US and 11 MiG-21UM. The last few MiG-21MFs and UMs still in service were grounded on January 1, 2003.

Somalia

Somalia Aeronautical Corps

Somali Air Corps

The Somali Air Force is the air force of Somalia. The Somali Aeronautical Corps was the name of the Somali Air Force during the pre-independence period. After 1960, when Somalia gained independence, the name changed to the Somali Air Force...

. The SAC received ten MiG-21MF fighters and four MiG-21UM trainers in 1974. The total number received is not certain, but most sources suggest that a maximum of 45 fighters and ten trainers were delivered. All were destroyed or damaged and subsequently abandoned in the Ogaden War

Ogaden War

The Ogaden War was a conventional conflict between Somalia and Ethiopia in 1977 and 1978 over the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. In a notable illustration of the nature of Cold War alliances, the Soviet Union switched from supplying aid to Somalia to supporting Ethiopia, which had previously been...

and the subsequent civil wars. Eight MiG-21 wrecks can still be seen at Mogadishu airport.

Sudan

Sudanese Air Force

The Sudanese Air Force is the air force operated by the Republic of the Sudan. As such it is part of the Sudanese Armed Forces.-History:The Sudanese Air Force was founded immediately after Sudan gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1956. The British assisted in the Air Force's...

. Eighteen MiG-21PF fighters and two MiG-21U izdeliye 66-600 trainers were delivered in 1970, followed by 18 MiG-21M fighters and four MiG-21US trainers in 1971. By 1992 there were only seven fighters and two trainers remaining, with perhaps half being serviceable; none are in service today. Twelve second-hand MiG-21s were to be delivered in 2007 from the Ukraine, apparently ordered because the Eastern European mercenaries employed by the Sudanese government preferred Russian-built aircraft over the Chinese-built F-7

Chengdu J-7

s in service with the SAF. The only air-to-air action known to have involved Sudanese MiG-21s occurred on September 20, 1972, when several MiG-21Ms forced a Libyan AF C-130H to land.

Tanzania

Tanzania People's Defence Force Air Wing

Tanzania People's Defence Force

The Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Force was set up in September 1964. From its inception, it was ingrained in the troops that they were a people’s force under civilian control. They were always reminded of their difference from the colonial armed forces...

. 14 MiG-21MFs and two MiG-21UMs were delivered from the USSR in 1974. A few were lost before 1978, but the survivors took part in the war against Uganda; one was lost to enemy action and one to friendly fire. Seven Ugandan MiG-21MFs and one MiG-21U were captured and impressed into TPDFAW service. Four second-hand MiG-21MFs were bought from Ukraine in 1998, but by 2002 there were no MiG-21s in service.

Soviet Union

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Soviet Air Force

Soviet Air Force

The Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces...

and Soviet Anti-Air Defence. MiG-21 passed on to successor states. Very little information is available on combat service of Soviet MiG-21 pilots, but what is known, is presented here (note that Col. Vadim Petrovich Shchbakov

Vadim Petrovich Shchbakov

Vadim Petrovich Shcherbakov was an SA-2 fire control radar operator of the Soviet Air Defence Forces. During the Vietnam War he served as an officer-instructor with the Vietnamese People's Air Force. During this time he is alleged to have ten combat enagements and scoring six kills during 1966...

is known to have made ace status with 6 kills in the Vietnam War while serving as a pilot instructor, presumably all with MiG-21s):

United States

United States Air Force

The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...

. In the 1960s around a dozen MiG-21s arrived to the USAF from various sources. Though from the American point of view the details are a closely held secret, from non-US sources it is well known that six ex-Algerian MiG-21F-13s landed at an airbase in Egypt and were captured by Israeli forces, and that four of these were given to the USAF.

The famous "007" MiG-21F-13 of an Iraqi defector to Israel was also handed over to the Americans; further, at least 13 MiG-21F-13s were sent from Indonesia

Indonesia

Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...

to the USA by President Suharto in the early 1970s. Most of these were not flown in the US, but were taken apart and examined in detail. The US Air Force is reported to have purchased at least 16 MiG-21MF Fishbed Js from Egypt in 1978 as from 1977 to 1988 Constant Peg Program saw USAF, Navy and Marine fighters flying against Soviet-designed MiG fighters as part of a training where American pilots could better learn how to defeat or evade the Communist bloc's contemporary fighters. It is belived that some few years later the USAF acquired from Egypt two additional Su-20 Fitters and two MiG-21U Fishbeds. In 1986 a dozen Mig-21s were purchased from China, and Indonesian Migs were retired.

There was at least one MiG-21F-13, however, that was officially operated by the US Air Force as photographs prove. This MiG-21F-13 was given the USAF serial number 68-0965 and was intensively flight-tested in a programme codenamed "Have Doughnut" that took place from January 23 to April 8, 1968. According to some reports, this MiG-21F-13 was the "007" handed over by the Israeli Air Force. It was tested together with a number of other aircraft, including an F-8 Crusader

F-8 Crusader

The Vought F-8 Crusader was a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, replacing the Vought F7U Cutlass...

, an F-4B Phantom and a B-52. The final report concluded that the MiG-21F-13 was comparable to USAF types and though it was lacking in range and payload, it was "very manoeuvrable with an excellent rate of climb and acceleration, making it a good interceptor." Its "smokeless" engine was singled out for special praise. Later variants were almost certainly tested after 1969; this is lent weight by the crash of a MiG-23M on Nellis Range on April 26, 1984 in which the pilot, LtGen Robert M. Bond was killed, which suggests that the reports of an organisation called "Red Hat Squadron" have a basis in fact.

Ukraine

Ukrainian Air Force

The Ukrainian Air Force is a part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukrainian Air Force Command and headquarters are located in the city of Vinnytsia....

. None of the MiG-21s remaining in Ukraine after the breakup of the USSR were officially taken up by the UkrAF, but Ukraine has refurbished aircraft for sale.

Yemen Arab Republic

Yemen Arab Republic Air Force (North Yemen). In 1968 the YARAF received an unknown number of MiG-21PF fighters via Syria or Egypt; no details of these survive, as after 1978 the YARAF switched to Wester aircraft. Following the brief invasion by South Yemen and the subsequent intermittent fighting, the USSR supplied an additional 45 new MiG-21MF fighters and MiG-21UM trainers; it is interesting to note that the USSR provided arms and aid to both sides in the conflict, and was simultaneously doing what it could to unite the two Yemens. Any MiG-21MFs and UMs that survived into 1990 were transferred to the new Yemen Air Force

Yemen Air Force

following unification of the two Yemens in 1990.

South Yemen

People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Air Force. In 1971 the USSR delivered MiG-21F-13s to the PDRYAF, and according to some reports, some others were sent by Bulgaria. Exact numbers are not known, but it is known that at least one squadron was formed. In the late 1970s further MiG-21 fighters and trainers arrived, including MiG-21MF. Any MiG-21s that survived into 1990 were transferred to the new Yemen Air Force

Yemen Air Force

following unification of the two Yemens in 1990.

Kingdom of Yugoslavia

The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...

operated up to 200 MiG-21s in 9 variants from 1962 till 1992. During the war in western Yugoslavia, these aircraft were passed on to the newly established air force of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Yugoslav MiG-21s were used briefly in the first period of the Yugoslav wars

Yugoslav wars

The Yugoslav Wars were a series of wars, fought throughout the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. The wars were complex: characterized by bitter ethnic conflicts among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, mostly between Serbs on the one side and Croats and Bosniaks on the other; but also...

in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1991 and 1992, mostly in ground attack missions. Additionally there are four known incidents of MiG-21s forcing Croatian police helicopters or civilian airliners to land, several aerial victories are credited to MiG-21s of the Yugoslav Air Force. On January 7, 1992, Emir Šišić

Emir Šišic

Emir Šišić is a former pilot of the Air Force of the SFR Yugoslavia and later FR Yugoslavia who was involved in a controversial air encounter that resulted in five deaths, for which he served prison time.- Military career :...

of 124th Fighter Aviation Squadron shot down an AB-205 helicopter of the EU flying a MiG-21bis.

Yugoslav Air Force squadrons operating MiG-21 aircraft:

123rd Fighter Aviation Squadron
124th Fighter Aviation Squadron
125th Fighter Aviation Squadron
126th Fighter Aviation Squadron
127th Fighter Aviation Squadron
128th Fighter Aviation Squadron
129th Fighter Aviation Squadron
130th Fighter Aviation Squadron
352nd Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron
353rd Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron

Federal Yugoslavia

The Yugoslav Air Force received its MiG-21s from the former Socialist Yugoslav Air Force. A large number were destroyed during the 1999 NATO war against Yugoslavia; survivors were passed on to Serbia

Serbia

Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...

. Very little MiG-21 activity is known of from the time of the NATO bombardment, though a MiG-21 is credited with the downing of a BGM-109 Tomahawk

BGM-109 Tomahawk

The Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a surface platform. It has been improved several times and, by way of corporate divestitures...

cruise missile on March 24, 1999. Further, Serbian and other sources claim that Yugoslav MiG-21s destroyed three Albania

Albania

Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...

n J-7

Chengdu J-7

s, but none of these is believed to be a valid claim, as only 10 were in service at that time and none of them was flight capable.

204th Fighter Aviation Regiment
- 126th Fighter Aviation Regiment
- 352nd Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron
83rd Fighter Aviation Regiment
- 123rd Fighter Aviation Regiment
- 124th Fighter Aviation Regiment
- 130th Fighter Aviation Regiment

Civil operators

Some aircraft are now owned and flown by private collectors as warbird

Warbird

Warbird is a term used, predominantly in North America, to describe vintage military aircraft.- Naming :Although the term originally implied piston-driven aircraft from the World War II era, it is now often extended to include all military aircraft, including jet-powered aircraft, that are no...

s. There are even importers in the U.S. that purchase MiG-21s, MiG-15s and MiG-17s from Russia and other states and sell them to civilians for around $45,000.

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