Hiromachi

It's not that bad actually. PF and PFM limitations were noticed and somewhat addressed during their lifetime. Poland developed twin pylons for R-3S missiles, Soviets started manufacturing GP-9 gunpods ... As for air to ground, you still get H-66 Groms. But everyone has his own preferences.

I agree with that although its sometimes simple a matter of latest being most documented one. Its easier to find materials for most recent version that was in service few years before rather than to a version that was in use 30-40 years before. Poland for example had very brief history with MiG-21F-13 and aircraft after few years was phased out in favor of newly acquired PFs, and in large numbers PFMs and Ms. And based on this I can tell you that its not hard to find documentation for variants such as M or bis, but it poses real problem when you try to find manuals for F-13 I always for more unique aircraft. But I'm generally weird and I like things like F4D Skyray, F-86K Sabre Dog, F-104. So I personally would look for a lesser known version of MiG-21, unique in something. F-13 is popular but in many ways still unique, however it would not be at the top of my list of MiG-21 variants

So would be PF, PFM and M. I think F-13 is simply associated with Vietnam because of Have Doughnut.

I still don't understand why F-13 is so popular I meanit looks great. Probably best looking 21 with its sleek silhouette but it's capabilities leave a lot to be desired.

Nah, Soviet Union had RP-22 in use since 1966 with MiG-21S. Soviets were just reluctant to export MiG-21 with that type of radar. If you look closely, MiG-21S has export equivalent in form of MiG-21M (with tiny differences) but instead of RP-22 radar it has RP-21, MiG-21SM has export equivalent in form of MiG-21MF and again without RP-22 radar. Its always the same pattern where Soviet Union provides to its allies and customers aircraft with lesser capabilities than those operated in VVS / PVO. I have manual covering Groms operation and installation on 21MF specifically. So you are right that it should be able to guide it

The MF did not have RP-22. Both documents (manuals) and real life footage confirm that. Picture that you have shown even confirms that. Look at radar control panel. Its from RP-21. RP-22 radar modes panel (called Block 19) looks like in DCS and I have one at home:

MF, not M. M had different cockpit layout, older ASP type, etc. Panels are in fact very different in terms of shape:

Decision is not for me to make but yes. It was contemplated. Personally I'm not a fan of it. Like entire mechanics on board is a couple lights and indicators, while you would have to say good bye to SAU and RSBN. Lasur would require a significant Ai programming to have competent GCI system. I have manuals both for ARL-SM Lasur system (airborne part) and Vozdukh-1M (ground part), plus a few polish traning programms for GCIs on how to vector fighters to the targets, how to maneuver them (GCI has to know flying characteristics of the 21 to asses maximum turns at given altitudes and interception courses). It's certainly useful against bombers in reality where you maintain radio silence and thus delay any chance of detection of the interceptors. But for DCS SAU and RSBN are a lot more significant. And Im simply a fan of more autonomous aircraft. However if we ever were to make another variant of the 21 than pretty much anything from PF to 21bis Lasur has ... Lasur

Drag? Weight? Sky is the limit

They were lighter, for sure, making them more agile. But I've seen a wide range of comments about them. Anywhere from stating that F-13 was the only 21 that could dogfight in the vertical even without the afterburner, or that PF was like a sports car to very opposite comments. You get less weight, but also less power since R-11 engine does not deliver nearly as much thrust as R-25 in bis. As for the weapons ... F-13 certainly. But PF, PFM and M could use also R-13M missiles. And DDR MiG-21PF and PFM (called SPS and SPS-K) were provided in the 1980s (by 1982 I believe) with R-60 capability. Real problem is that you cant carry as many missiles as bis. And you have to make a choice - either fuel tank or gunpod, in case of PF

I know, Flugplatzmuseum Rothenburg I believe its called. Its on my list. Eastern Germany still holds a decent collection of Soviet birds. Another one is Flugplatzmuseum Neuhardenberg, which is unique in that it has nearly untouched MiG-21bis SAU and MiG-21F-13. Unfortunately they arent particularly responsive when contacted

SMT is certainly an interesting variant. There is one left in Germany, near Leipzig and Im intending to visit it this summer. If anything, just to see the ... hump But if I had anything to say, I would prefer to have MiG-21PF and MiG-21S. Those are two most interesting variants for me.

What do you mean by historical correct real nuke capability? As if Bis is ahistorical?

Something like MF, SM or SMT could be and "add on", but different generation 21 should be a separate module. I mean, compare this: with this

Not intending to make any statement, but as a person intimately familiar with various MiG-21 variants, why do you think only half the price of full model would be justified (that would be 24.99 $)? If a version like MiG-21F-13 or PF or PFM or R or S was made, this would require a complete 3d model rework. Externally most of the model would have to be adjusted, if not remade from scratch, internally new model of cockpit would have to be created. Apart from artwork, systems programming would also be a work from scratch since many systems in older variants were either non-existent or different, starting with RP-21 radar. And finally new engine (based on either R-11 or R-13) and flight model. There are some things common between the 21s such as ARK, SOD-57 or SRZO but if you compare PFM with bis, you will see a lot more differences.

Yes, I can confirm. Interesting, I tried to find a pattern and checking whether its solo/tandem option that affects it. But to no avail. Will forward it to devs.

Will evaluate tomorrow. Could you be so kind and provide log and track if possible ?

Cant confirm, engine sounds work for me.

Thankfully we got no dogs in the company. Only squirrels and bugs Merry Christmas guys!

Good stuff. Happy that you got it back

If you say that you had serial number for the MiG-21 and you played it, than please log in DCS profile (on main website) and click at the bottom left corner, in Licensing window (with option "View all licenses" selected) on a GO button. It should show you all your products and serial numbers for the ones that had them in the past.

Track and reference would be good indeed, but optimally Frederf, you should add this (if you want it to be treated as bug report) into Mantis.

To be fair and exact the team that made the final release of the MiG-21bis was comprised of four partners. One of them, namely Cobra, left and founded Heatblur. Viggen crew was a bit larger, but thats not important. I think the claim in the linked picture is a bit of an exaggeration since Heatblur did not exist at a time MiG-21 was released

SPS-141 was designed to counter MIM-23 HAWK indeed, but with time passing the capabilities of the set were improved and new variants were being introduced (such as SPS-142 to counter Nike Hercules). I have 1987 SPS-141 and SPS-142 manual which covers employment of SPS by Su-22 (SPS-141 MVG) and MiG-21 / MiG-23BN (SPS-141E or K). Its not very clear about differences between the stations, but maybe its me not being able to get much out of it since my German is as bad as my Japanese But there is a table which I figured would be interesting: I dont know how useful it would be against aircraft like F-14 or F-15 but manual and designers accounted for all the newest types of radars.

Its dated. Thats for sure. But we have plans to update it completely. This would be complete overhaul to bring it to the current DCS standard and beyond. The problem is that we are a small team and multiple projects - released and upcoming, so we have to navigate those waters safely. I cant give you any specific date but I think window of opportunity will appear once F4U artwork is done and module released.