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North Korea's Fighter Fleet Is Full Of Decrepit Russian MiG 21s
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 first appeared in the air in the late-50s, and the Soviets later produced more than 10,000 of them.
![North Korea's Fighter Fleet Is Full Of Decrepit Russian MiG 21s](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-21206637%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-6800748%2Fthe-mikoyan-gurevich-mig-21-first-appeared-in-the-air-in-the-late-50s-and-the-soviets-later-produced-more-than-10000-of-them-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
In 1963, when the DPRK began building its fleet, the MiG 21 was a total beast in the air, one U.S. F-4 Phantom pilots were wary of encountering over Vietnam.
![In 1963, when the DPRK began building its fleet, the MiG 21 was a total beast in the air, one U.S. F-4 Phantom pilots were wary of encountering over Vietnam.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21206639,width-700,height-525,imgsize-661362/in-1963-when-the-dprk-began-building-its-fleet-the-mig-21-was-a-total-beast-in-the-air-one-u-s-f-4-phantom-pilots-were-wary-of-encountering-over-vietnam-.jpg)
The MiG had serious advantages in that war, leading the Navy to develop the Top Gun school (pictured).
![The MiG had serious advantages in that war, leading the Navy to develop the Top Gun school (pictured).](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21206640,width-700,height-525,imgsize-749768/the-mig-had-serious-advantages-in-that-war-leading-the-navy-to-develop-the-top-gun-school-pictured-.jpg)
Still, compared to the more advanced cockpit of the F-4 (pictured) ...
![Still, compared to the more advanced cockpit of the F-4 (pictured) ...](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21206641,width-700,height-525,imgsize-826948/still-compared-to-the-more-advanced-cockpit-of-the-f-4-pictured-.jpg)
... The cockpit of the MiG-21 was rather rudimentary. The differences are somewhat prophetic in terms of the MiG series today.
![... The cockpit of the MiG-21 was rather rudimentary. The differences are somewhat prophetic in terms of the MiG series today.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21206643,width-700,height-525,imgsize-561077/-the-cockpit-of-the-mig-21-was-rather-rudimentary-the-differences-are-somewhat-prophetic-in-terms-of-the-mig-series-today-.jpg)
Some of those 10,000 ended up in the hands of Kazakhstan, who sold the DPRK 40 for their last acquisition in the late '90s.
![Some of those 10,000 ended up in the hands of Kazakhstan, who sold the DPRK 40 for their last acquisition in the late](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21206644,width-700,height-525,imgsize-809825/some-of-those-10000-ended-up-in-the-hands-of-kazakhstan-who-sold-the-dprk-40-for-their-last-acquisition-in-the-late-90s-.jpg)
The purchase didn't really make much sense, especially because at the time North Korea was suffering one of the worst famines in history.
![The purchase didn](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21206645,width-700,height-525,imgsize-8460661/the-purchase-didnt-really-make-much-sense-especially-because-at-the-time-north-korea-was-suffering-one-of-the-worst-famines-in-history-.jpg)
Aside from not looking nearly as cool anymore, at the time the MiG couldn't hold a match to other fighter models.
![Aside from not looking nearly as cool anymore, at the time the MiG couldn](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21206646,width-700,height-525,imgsize-217536/aside-from-not-looking-nearly-as-cool-anymore-at-the-time-the-mig-couldnt-hold-a-match-to-other-fighter-models-.jpg)
The desperate acquisition was very much a reflection of the DPRKs steadily failing economy — by '98 modern radar and jamming technology had left the MiG 21 in the dust.
![The desperate acquisition was very much a reflection of the DPRKs steadily failing economy — by](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21206651,width-700,height-525,imgsize-572336/the-desperate-acquisition-was-very-much-a-reflection-of-the-dprks-steadily-failing-economy-by-98-modern-radar-and-jamming-technology-had-left-the-mig-21-in-the-dust-.jpg)
Now many of the DPRK's MiG 21s sit in a state of disrepair, missing parts, or stripped for parts.
![Now many of the DPRK](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21206653,width-700,height-525,imgsize-503932/now-many-of-the-dprks-mig-21s-sit-in-a-state-of-disrepair-missing-parts-or-stripped-for-parts-.jpg)
According to satellite imagery, some of their MiG 21's even sit rusted out in pools of standing water.
![According to satellite imagery, some of their MiG 21](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21206654,width-700,height-525,imgsize-329305/according-to-satellite-imagery-some-of-their-mig-21s-even-sit-rusted-out-in-pools-of-standing-water-.jpg)
(Source: freekorea.us)
And pilot flight hours are at an all-time low, totaling by some estimates less than a dozen a year.
![And pilot flight hours are at an all-time low, totaling by some estimates less than a dozen a year.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21206655,width-700,height-525,imgsize-9564340/and-pilot-flight-hours-are-at-an-all-time-low-totaling-by-some-estimates-less-than-a-dozen-a-year-.jpg)
Some analysts say the low-hours are due to concerns over mainframe repair, but others say it's lack of fuel.
![Some analysts say the low-hours are due to concerns over mainframe repair, but others say it](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21206658,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1737887/some-analysts-say-the-low-hours-are-due-to-concerns-over-mainframe-repair-but-others-say-its-lack-of-fuel-.jpg)
Even so, the site GlobalSecurity.org estimates that even at full strength, the DPRK "has a marginal capability for defending North Korean airspace and a limited ability to conduct air operations against South Korea."
![Even so, the site GlobalSecurity.org estimates that even at full strength, the DPRK "has a marginal capability for defending North Korean airspace and a limited ability to conduct air operations against South Korea."](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21206659,width-700,height-525,imgsize-502889/even-so-the-site-globalsecurity-org-estimates-that-even-at-full-strength-the-dprk-has-a-marginal-capability-for-defending-north-korean-airspace-and-a-limited-ability-to-conduct-air-operations-against-south-korea-.jpg)
(Source GlobalSecurity.org)
With DPRK radar and missile technology dating decades old, the kill ratio in a concerted dogfight would fall heavily in ROKs favor.
![With DPRK radar and missile technology dating decades old, the kill ratio in a concerted dogfight would fall heavily in ROKs favor.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21206665,width-700,height-525,imgsize-556834/with-dprk-radar-and-missile-technology-dating-decades-old-the-kill-ratio-in-a-concerted-dogfight-would-fall-heavily-in-roks-favor-.jpg)
Certainly it's a bird that looks better up on stilts, possibly in a museum, rather than trying to fight the ROK's superior F-15K.
![Certainly it](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21206666,width-700,height-525,imgsize-492407/certainly-its-a-bird-that-looks-better-up-on-stilts-possibly-in-a-museum-rather-than-trying-to-fight-the-roks-superior-f-15k-.jpg)
You've seen what North Korea has in the air ...
![You](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21206667,width-700,height-525,imgsize-101217/youve-seen-what-north-korea-has-in-the-air-.jpg)
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