The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 - the utmost longevity of scoring

[knusel]

Good evening Gentlemen,

I believe that the Mikoyan-Gurevich scored kills over a longer period than any other plane in history.
The earliest shootdown that I know of (drones excluded) was when the Vietnamese claimed an F-105D on 7Jun1966.
The latest shootdown that I know of was when on 27Feb2019 a Pakistani Air Force F-16 fighter jet was shot down by Indian air defence forces in Rajouri sector of Jammu region.
A period of 52 years, 8 months and 20 days. It's virtually impossible that any plane has superseded that record.
Unfortunately, I don't know the names of the pilots who claimed those two shootdowns. Does anybody of you ?

Cheers,

Michael

[Franek Grabowski]

The last kill is by Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman but this seems bogus. The information appeared quite a while after the shot down of Varthaman who was captured, and no convincing evidence has been ever produced. For me it looks like a propaganda action.

[knusel]

Good evening Franek,

thanks for the name which is a good starting point for me to investigate the matter further. You're right: a modern F-16 shot down by a vintage jet seems hard to believe.

What do you think about the 10 August 1999, when a Pakistan Breguet Atlantic was shot down by two Indian Air Force MiG-21's ?

Cheers,

Michael

[Stig Jarlevik]

Franek

While beyond my real interest you say the last claim was by G/C Varthaman.
In the next sentence you indicate Varthaman was the one shot down and captured.

Which way is it?

Cheers
Stig

[Franek Grabowski]

The MiG-21 was Bison, ie. with upgraded avionics to pretty modern standards. So not a looser as it may seem.
The exchange of fire was more less as follows. PAF performed an attack on targets behind LOC in Kashmir. IAF scarmbled to intercept the formation and G/C Varthaman went too deep into enemy territory and was downed by F-16. Fortunately he ejected, was a little mauled by locals before rescued by the Pak Army, got a cuppa and few days later was returned. Few weeks later it was claimed by India that G/C Varthaman shot down an F-16 before he was downed himself. Radar screens were produced to substantiate the claim but Lockheed denied any F-16 being lost (they have them under control). Actually no evidence that G/C Varthaman ever managed to fire at anything. On the opposite there was a PAF claim for Su-35, also unsubstantiated.
I know nothing about Atlantic incident.
MiG-21s are operated by few air forces, so there are very slim chances for the type to score again.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks for the explanation Franek

Cheers
Stig

[GoranA]

Hello Michael


Sinai (El-Arish) is a bit of a moot point, most geographical references consider it a part of Asia


Nice find about Corsair and F/A-18


two more candidates for 20+ club - F-4 Phantom :1965 - 1988 (Iraqi Bell 214 shot down by Iranian F-4) and P-86 Sabre: 1950 - 1971 (Pakistani sabres)

[knusel]

Good evening Goran,

you're right. Politically the Sinai peninsula is in Africa but geologically it is in Asia and a continent is a geological structure, not a political.

Do you know Tony Jennings ?
http://www.aces.safarikovi.org/victo...llied-jet.html

Cheers,

Michael

[GoranA]

Originally Posted by knusel

Good evening Goran,

you're right. Politically the Sinai peninsula is in Africa but geologically it is in Asia and a continent is a geological structure, not a political.

Do you know Tony Jennings ?
http://www.aces.safarikovi.org/victo...llied-jet.html

Cheers,

Michael

Thank you for info about Jennings, I have only general knowledge about Meteor operations during WW2. Still interesting to see "forced to land" type of victory in WW2

[Franek Grabowski]

It seems the last recorded score for F-4E was on 2.09.1994, when Greek aircraft downed a Turkish F-4E South of Santorini. This gives 29 years. Theoretically, both MiG-21s and F-4s remain in service, so may improve the score, but I think it is slim. F-16s are very much operational, though a tad bit different from original version, so they are likely to score again, especially as rumours of delivery to Ukraine will materialise.