MiG MiG-21/J-7 Fishbed/Mongol | 8506
- Operator
- 46 Sqn, EAF
- Aircraft model
- MiG-21RF
Late 1970s.
Arab Republic of Egypt (1971-....)
|
Military
8506
Izzat Husayn
Egypt was the sole export customer for MiG-21RF, a unique reconnaissance version based on MiG-21MF and powered by an upgraded Tumansky R-13-300 turbojet engine. The Egyptian Air Force received a squadron-worth of MiG-21RF's, together with Type-D reconnaissance pods, housing forward-looking- or oblique-cameras, and infra-red line-scanners. They entered service with No.46 Squadron, based at Inshas, in 1970, and went on to fly dozens of operational missions along the Suez Canal and over Sinai, in the following three years, and especially during the 1973 War with Israel, delivering highly important intelligence. Due to permanent danger of being ambushed by Israeli interceptors, the aircraft were always armed with at least two R-3S (AA-2 Atoll) air-to-air missiles. The configuration shown here, with a D-Type reconnaissance pod and four R-3S was used for operations along the Suez; for flights deeper over Sinai, the aircraft would carry drop tanks under outboard under wing pylons. Capt. Husayn Izzat was commander of reconnaissance flight.
Arab Republic of Egypt (1971-....)
|
Military
