Dogfight.

This is coolbert:

Thanks to Steiner we have this comment to the blog:

"American analysts (and pilots) concluded that the 21 [MiG] was a dangerous opponent that had the flying edge in certain tactical circumstances."

And this is correct? Under "certain tactical circumstances" it can be inferred that this is so.

The MiG-21 as originally conceived and designed and deployed [1961] was NOT seen as a multi-role combat aircraft [MRCA].

Was seen as performing the role of fighter/interceptor and not much beyond that. "That" however, being more than sufficient.

The MiG-21, battling in aerial combat - - a "dogfight" as was seen in the era of air-to-air combat from the time of both World Wars, close with and shoot down your adversary using air-to-air missiles or cannon fire to do so.

That MiG-21, very maneuverable, having a high top speed and altitude, robust, able to operate out of unimproved airfields, more easily repaired, ideally suited for the mission assigned it.

Cheaper too than the American counter-part, the Soviets able to build prodigious numbers of the MiG, able to "flood" the aerial battlefield with superior numbers if need be.

[the Israeli commented that across the board the western military powers built equipment that was ONLY SLIGHTLY QUALITATIVELY SUPERIOR TO THE SOVIET VERSION, BUT QUANTITATIVELY INFERIOR! The Soviets in almost all circumstances having a numerical advantage - - sometimes shockingly so!]

During the Vietnam War, somewhat after the fact, and much to the consternation of American military planners, the predominant American combat aircraft of that era, the Phantom F-4, when involved in a "dogfight" with a MiG-21, was at a DISADVANTAGE!

The MiG-21, when employed as it was intended to, WAS SUPERIOR IN THE DOGFIGHT TO THE AMERICAN COUNTER-PART!!

That Phantom F-4, larger, less maneuverable, more heavy by far when laden with fuel and bombs, and surprised by the MiG-21 when flown by adept North Vietnamese pilots, encountered resistance unexpected and troubling both! The F-4 as it flew also left behind a very visible smoke trail that stayed aloft for some time - - seen at quite a distance, an instantaneous give away to the position of the American aircraft.

American multi-role combat aircraft [MRCA] designed with the intention to fight in a war where nuclear weapons would play a major role were not so versatile when "dogfighting" in the skies over North Vietnam!

NOR were the pilots during the initial stage of deployment expecting to find themselves in aerial combat involving cannon fire at close-quarters!

[again, the Israeli, when given the F-4 by the U.S. in the late 1960's proceeded to make no less than 500 modifications to the airplanes, major and minor, in an effort to increase the ability of the plane to "dogfight"]

ONLY after Red Flag and Top Gun courses were instituted did American pilots received the type of training that was needed to fly their aircraft into battle against the MiG-21. But by then the Vietnam War was coming to a close. For the future however, lessons were learned? Perhaps!

coolbert.