F-4 Phantom vs Mig-21?

Question

Vegas Odds in a 1 on 1 dogfight?

Strategey in Phantom?

Strategy in Mig-21?



I asked this question last week with the Mig-17 instead of the Mig-21. I knew the answer to that question. This one, I'm not so sure about.

Answer 1

Phantom strategy, use speed and take the fight vertical. F-4 has a higher ceiling and more thrust.

Fishbed strategy, use maneuverability. MiG-21 has a tighter turn radius. If they can get into a turn with an F-4 they just might be able to cut inside and take them out.

I give odds to the Phantom.

Answer 2

My father flew US F4 Phantom IIs in Vietnam. He flew over 100 missions in North Vietnam during several tours. He told me F4s had a tough time taking on Mig-21s. He said Phantoms had shot down Mig-21s with missiles, but it was very difficult with guns. He said, basically, when the Mig-21s engaged them in a dog fight, they had to fire up the afterburners and get the h*ll out of there. He said outrunning them was necessary because Mig-21s had a tighter turning radius and could pretty easily get on top of them and shoot them down if they did not take these precautionary measures. My dad survived even though some of his friends/fellow pilots were captured or died in the explosions. May God bless the souls of those who died in the war, and those who survived and faced difficulty upon returning home.

Answer 3

Whenever a country is between wars it goes through a variation of this question. Between WWI and WWII both Japan and Italy decided they wanted a light maneuverable fighter which could win a dogfight. (They asked pilots, who like machines that are fun to fly.) Italy got the Fiat-Ansaldo CR-42 Falco, the best bi-plane fighter ever built, and japan got what we in the west call the Zero, a wonderfully maneuverable, fast, long range dog fighter. Neither one was capable of defeating the P-40 Hawk series or the F4F Wildcat when those planes were fought in the vertical instead of trying to turn with the the enemy. The relationship between the F-4 Phantom and the MiG-21 is very similar. Additionally, the Phantom had a big tech advantage. For the MiG to win this match consistently, the Western pilot has to agree to fight where his bird is weak and the MiG is strong.

Answer 4

mostly the sensor package. for an example see the MiG-23 ML vs MiG 23 BN or MiG 27. the ML interceptor version was the first look down shoot down capable aircraft in russian inventory. the BN version and 27 both have the radar removed and house the laser rangefinder-designator in the nose. generally the close air support aircraft are not designed for supersonic flight, which enables their designers to simplify the design (no need for supersonic engine intakes, for start- again, a feature of the BN version, though this MiG still was flying supersonic if needed) opposite to what YOU think, the F15 nor the F22 do have inbuilt laser designator nor the inherent TV guidance necessary for the munitions like AGM 65. F15 carries this equipment in a form of LANTIRN targetting pod. Yes, most fighters can be fitted with AG munitions, however they need the software and hardware to succesfully employ these munitions. as such, MiG 21 was capable of air interdiction missions, yet- would you consider a short range interceptor to be a suitable interdiction platform?

Answer 5

Strategey in Phantom use my beater speed to get in the fight and get out of fight
Strategy in Mig-21 make it a turning fight.. a fight the f4 cant win..

Answer 6

Pilots beat pilots, planes don't beat planes o.o