Silver Birds over the Estuary: The MiG-21 in Yugoslav and Serbian Air Force service, 1962-2019

The Mikoyan i Gurevich MiG-21 has been built in greater numbers than any other combat aircraft since 1945. It also saw service with more air forces than any other type manufactured over the last 70 years.

Locally designated the ‘L’ (for Lovac or fighter), for more than half a century over 260 MiG-21s in 12 different versions and sub-variants formed the backbone of the Yugoslav Air Force and Air Defense Force (JRV i PVO) and later the Serbian Air Force (RV i PVO).

Entering service at the peak ...