scorecard
BUSINESS
TECH
MARKETS
REVIEWS
AI
VIDEOS
  1. Home
  2. Military & Defense
  3. North Korea's Fighter Fleet Is Full Of Decrepit Russian MiG 21s

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

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.

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).

Still, compared to the more advanced cockpit of the F-4 (pictured) ...

Still, compared to the more advanced cockpit of the F-4 (pictured) ...

... 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

(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.

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

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."

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.

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

You've seen what North Korea has in the air ...

You

Popular Right Now

Advertisement