MiG-21bis vs. F-5E Tiger II

[Zakatak]

I can't find any incidents involving combat between the F-5 and MiG-21, but I'm curious as to what would actually happen if they did. They are both fairly similar in being popular multi-role light jet fighters, but which would you say is the superior one in the various roles they can do or scenarios they can find themselves in? Dogfighting, interception, air-to-ground, etc. To be more specific, we'll go with the later MiG-21bis Fishbed-N since this forum has been obsessing over it recently, and the F-5E Tiger II with its mid-life upgrades (such as the AN/APQ-159).

[Exorcet]

I feel it would end up similar to F-4 vs MiG-21, with the MiG switch roles. The MiG is faster, but the F-5 should be pretty agile thanks to its wings/LERX and maybe better able to hold its speed in a turn. If the F-5 had more thrust, I'd be more confident in it in a dogfight.

 

Avionics-wise I'm not terribly familiar with either. I hope to know more about the MiG in a couple of days.

[WinterH]

IIRC, MiG-21 and F-5 did face each other over some African conflicts and Iran-Iraq war, though MiGs were older variants than Bis I guess. During Vietnam War, USAF evaluated a small batch of F-5, then passed them to South Vietnamese, who then also got further new F-5 airframes. While I believe USAF F-5 didn't see air combat, Vietnamese ones perhaps may have fought some MiG-21s.

 

F-5 is a better turner, and it's handling is more carefree compared to MiG. But MiG accelerates better, climbs better and is faster, and has a somewhat bigger radar.

 

For a close dogfight, I'd expect F-5 to be somewhat better, and this apparently was the impression of Soviet military, when they have tested a captured F-5 against MiG-21, where the F-5 apparently proved better in turning close-in dogfights.

[IcarusGR]

Actually in Vietnam, after the fall of Saigon,

the Unified Vietnam Air Force created a squadron

that had both Mig-21 and F-5 (captured from the South).

 

Must have been one hell of a nightmare commanding such a squadron

(speed conversions to km/h and knots, altitudes in meters and feet, etc.)

 

This mixed squadron saw some limited action against the Cambodian Khmer.

 

Must be a one of a kind squadron !!!

 

---WE NEED TO MAKE ONE IN DCS MULTI---

[WinterH]

Archrivals fighting side by side is always a cool idea isn't it? :)

 

MiG-21 has also served alongside another one of it's archrivals, the F-4, in Egyptian Air Force.

[Emu]

Archrivals fighting side by side is always a cool idea isn't it? :)

 

MiG-21 has also served alongside another one of it's archrivals, the F-4, in Egyptian Air Force.

Iran must have similar situation with F-4s and F-14s flying with MiG-29s and soon Flankers too.

[probad]

somali mig-21mfs tangled with ethiopian f-5es in the ogaden war. the 21s had numerical advantage but better training and gci gave f-5s superiority.

[trietnguyen]

There are some unofficial document said F-5 of the Royal Thai Air Force has few dogfight with Mig-21of the Vietnam (VPAF) , at the border with Thailand -campuchia

(While MIG-21 to destroy the Khmer Rouge)

During this time, the VPAF mix of American and Russian aircraft:mig-21,F-5,mi-8,uh-1,a-37 .....

Edited September 26, 2016 by trietnguyen

[QuiGon]

MiG-21s and F-5Es first fought each other in the Ogaden War https://warisboring.com/which-is-better-the-f-5e-tiger-ii-or-the-mig-21-e92e5c5a1ef3#.gth7md472

and later the Iraq-Iran War: https://warisboring.com/in-the-iran-iraq-war-f-5s-and-mig-21s-fought-to-a-standstill-e76a86bf90db#.r2wojj1b9

[url=https://warisboring.com/which-is-better-the-f-5e-tiger-ii-or-the-mig-21-e92e5c5a1ef3#.gth7md472][/url]

Edited September 26, 2016 by QuiGon

[*Rage*]

Thanks for the links. Interesting reads.