MiG-21bis in Warsaw Pact Service

[MBot]

I have been trying to compile a list of units that operated the type in the Warsaw Pact air forces. This is mostly for personal historical interest, but might also become useful to for setting up DCS scenarios in the future. Please note that the list only includes the MiG-21bis and no other sub-variants. I think the OOB for the USSR and GDR are fairly accurate but would appreciate any input on Poland, Hungary and Bulgaria.

 

 

USSR: VVS (Frontal Aviation)

 

773. IAP, 1973-1985, Damgarten, East Germany

833. IAP, 1973-1979, Jüterbog-Altes Lager, East Germany

 

192. IAP, 1978-1984, Mimon-Gradchany, Czechoslovakia, 1984-1989 Ivano-Frankovsk, Ukrainian SSR

 

159. IAP, 1982-1988, Kluczewo, Poland

582. IAP, 1980s, Choyna, Poland

 

515. IAP, 1982-1988, Tököl, Hungary

 

104. IAP, 1974-1989, Manita, Mongolia

 

27. IAP, 1974-1992, Ucharal, Kazakh SSR

145. IAP, 1978-1986, Ivano-Frankovsk, Ukrainian SSR (1982-1983, Bagram, Afghanistan)

120. IAP, 197?-1978, Bereza-Osovitsy, Byelorussian SSR

927. IAP, 1978-1986, Bereza-Osovitsy, Byelorussian SSR (1983-1984, Bagram, Afghanistan)

 

 

USSR: PVO (Air Defense Aviation)

 

308. IAP-PVO, 1983-1990, Postovaya, Russian SSR

 

 

East Germany

 

JG-8, 1976-1990, Marxwalde, East Germany

JG-9, 1974-1990, Peenemünde, East Germany

 

 

Poland

 

1980-2003, Gdynia Babie Doly, Poland

1980-2004, Malbork, Poland

1980-2004, Poznan, Poland

 

 

Hungary

 

31. HRE, 1975-199?, Taszár, Hungary

47. HRE, 1977-2000, Pápa, Hungary

 

 

Bulgaria

 

1983-2000

19. IAP, 1983-1990

 

 

Yugoslavia (possible WP opponent/ally)

 

204. LAP (1 sqd), 1977-, Batajnica

83. LAP (1 sqd) 1983-1999, Priština

117. LAP (2 sqds), 1983-1991, Željava

 

 

Units are regiments/geschwader of approx. 36 aircraft each.

 

 

It is interesting to note how short the service life of the type was, especially in Soviet service. I think this shows nicely how this type, being the last variant of the MiG-21 family, was entering service alongside the next-generation MiG-23M. It was also a syptom in the USSR in general that aircraft would be quickly replaced by more modern variants/types. The VVS MiG-23 force in East Germany (9 regiments) for example was also reequipped surprisingly quick with MiG-29 in the mid-80s after having themselfe replaced the MiG-21 only 10 years ago.

 

Also interesting is how the MiG-21bis had a longer service life with the WP allies, which all had skipped the introduction of the MiG-23 on a large scale, waiting for the MiG-29 instead.

Edited May 1, 2014 by MBot
Yugoslavia added

[Dudikoff]

What about ex-Yugoslavia? They also had the bis and (depending on the scenario) could be an option for both sides (NATO or WP). Although, you could make a similar (though less likely) scenario for some WP nations, too (e.g. Poland, etc.).

 

There's a list of units operating the bis in 1991., but I'm not sure how correct it is.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yugoslav_Air_Force

Edited May 1, 2014 by Dudikoff

[MBot]

Very good point about Yugoslavia. If the Soviet Southern Group of Forces in Hungary was to be used against Italy it had to violate neutral Yugoslavia (the other option was going through neutral Austria into Germany). So that makes MiG-on-MiG combat quite likely in that region. Exciting scenario :)

 

Do you think that Yugoslavia aligning with Warsaw Pact was a likely scenario? I was always under the impression that most fortifications in Yugoslavia were facing east.

[lunaticfringe]

Also interesting is how the MiG-21bis had a longer service life with the WP allies, which all had skipped the introduction of the MiG-23 on a large scale, waiting for the MiG-29 instead.

 

If they knew then what they know now, the Russians would have skipped the MiG-23, too. ;)

[Dudikoff]

Do you think that Yugoslavia aligning with Warsaw Pact was a likely scenario? I was always under the impression that most fortifications in Yugoslavia were facing east.

 

Well, being a strictly defensive force (of questionable quality in general as it was composed of conscripts), being on either side was realistically rather unlikely unless they were invaded themselves though when I mentioned it, I was thinking of the NATO force as most of the other European MiG-21 users were on the WP side (except Finland).

 

AFAIK, the alignment was dependent on the exact timeframe at hand, but after the split with Stalin in 1948., the armed forces were mostly expecting attack from WP countries and they were training for that. Only in mid-80s did they start to train against a NATO invasion although this was also related to the strategic reform of the armed forces to better deal with internal threats (like e.g. potential separatist forces the side on which the NATO might intervene).

Edited May 2, 2014 by Dudikoff