The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed was designed after the Soviet Union had reviewed their experiences in the Korean war, and decided tot buy a short range interceptor-fighter.

This type was in principle the same as the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, but the MiG was a completely different aircraft. It was based on a delta form with tail, small in size with the goal to have satisfying performances with  a single relatively weak turbojet with afterburner, the Tumansky R-11 witch was barely larger and more powerful than the RD-9 that was used in the former two-engine MiG-19's.

Different shaped Ye-2A and Ye-5 prototypes were flown in 1956 and the last (Ye-5) cleared the road for the final Ye-6 prototype witch flew in 1957. More than 11.000 MiG-21's in different versions were build.

Different types of the MiG-21:

MiG-21 "good weather"

MiG-21PF fighter with search and follow radar

MiG-21PFS fighter with hard points for RATO-units

MiG-21FL export version of the MiG-21PS without the RATO-units hard points

MiG-21PFM improved version of the MiG-21PFS

MiG-21PFMA second generation with double task, included a sort of 'hump' on the back and four in stead of two enforced hard points under the wing.

MiG-21M export version of the MiG-21PFMA

MiG-21R tactical reconnaissance version

MiG-21MF with more powerful but lighter R-13-30 engine

MiG-21RF reconnaissance version of the MiG-21MF

MiG-21SMT aerodynamically improved version of the MiG-21MF with larger fuel and ECM capacity

MiG-21bis third generation multifunctional fighter

MiG-21Mbis final version of third generation fighter with newly designed airframe, modernized electronics and R-25 engine.

MiG-21U 'Mongol' conversion instruction versions.