MiG-21 will still serve: Vietnam intends to turn decommissioned fighters into drones

The Vietnamese military is extremely careful to weapons systems. For example, Hanoi is going to send a large part of the park for conservation. tanks T-90, recently acquired from Russia. But this approach applies not only to new, but also to old technology.

The Vietnamese are very sensitive to the old weapons left over from the war with the United States and its allies. Among the most "iconic" products is the MiG-21 fighter.

After duels with American pilots several decades ago, the legendary MiG-21s, famous in the Vietnam War, will be able to fly again ... like unmanned aerial vehicles

- writes the publication VietDefense, indicating that work is currently underway to turn decommissioned vehicles into UAVs.

At this stage, research is aimed at providing automatic landing drones.

As the publication explains, the MiG-21 will still serve, their "robotic" versions are necessary both for imitating targets during air defense exercises with the participation of the S-300 air defense system, and for real combat work, acting as strike weapons.

Although all Vietnamese MiG-21s were decommissioned by 2010, most are still stored in hangars around the country. It will be very interesting to watch the progress made over time.

- notes VietDefense.

Comments

[The leader of the Redskins]

I said for a long time that it is a crime to scrap the entire fleet of aging aircraft!
Something for the museum, but something like a groundwork for the future. Electronics and computerization are striding by leaps and bounds, and in a few years all these MiGs and Su can be turned into both reconnaissance drones and drums, as well as "kamikaze". I am sure that the weight of the equipment will not exceed the mass of the ejection seat, the pilot's life support systems, and which have already become secondary systems.

[Graz]

it is thought that the conversion and maintenance of unmanned aerial vehicles from old aircraft will be very expensive in relation to new samples made from scratch

[faiver]

Americans have been practicing this for a long time and tigers have altered and phantoms

[PROXOR]

It depends on what kind of drones.
If it’s just intelligence, I’ll agree.
And when you need a real percussion, there are already other costs.

[Graz]

although the experience of such development will be interesting as a possible source for the mob reserve, incl.

[Vita vko]

Quote: Leader of the Redskins

Electronics and computerization are striding by leaps and bounds, and in a few years all these MiGs and Su can be turned into both reconnaissance drones and drums, as well as "kamikaze".

This also applies to armored vehicles, where the inventors of robotic platforms for the army are essentially engaged in sabotage, cramming complex and expensive electronics into weakly protected Uranus-type hulls, while thousands of tanks and armored personnel carriers, instead of modernizing, rust in warehouses.

[Dodikson]

I once dreamed that if there was a war between Russia and NATO, but take the decommissioned MiG-23 and convert them into shock UAVs and strike them, and behind them the Su-34, which will carry air defense and the Su-35,57, which will carry the enemy's air force ...

[cniza]

MiG-21 will still serve: Vietnam intends to turn decommissioned fighters into drones

But they will also make this very interesting decision.

[Graz]

the question is, as always, in price

[cniza]

Of course, but they can be made disposable ...

[Graz]

you forget about maintaining the aircraft in flight condition, and given their age, then ...

[cniza]

This is decided by specialists and I think they calculate everything ...

[rocket757]

Hi
Defeat large, noticeable, poorly maneuvering targets, science is not great.
A problem for air defense is becoming a little convenient targets, and even a huge number of them !!! During this task, homework for the entire air defense of any country.

[cniza]

I think the Vietnamese understand this well too and they have a vision of how the MiG 21 can be used ...

[rocket757]

No problem. The main thing is not to remain in a position unprepared for a new type of hostilities.

[cniza]

There is a lot of new things here, but is it rational ...

[rocket757]

The ability to defend against modern threats, whether military or civil, is always rational.

[cniza]

With defense, everything is clear, but with an offensive or counter-offensive, specialists must decide here ...

[rocket757]

Quote: cniza

specialists must decide ...

The situation, technique, methods, tactics are changing dynamically ... these specialists will not get out of the classrooms, i.e. service interspersed with study, otherwise it will not work now.

[cniza]

It is worth stopping and you are eaten ...

[rocket757]

Well, yes, those who want the weak, inept, enough to eat.

[Bongo]

Quote: Graz

you forget about maintaining the aircraft in flight condition, and given their age, then ..

In any case, it is cheaper than building new drones of a similar class. In the USA, QF-4 and QF-16 are used not only as reusable targets, but also, if necessary, as armed "breakers" of air defense. In the PRC, several hundred outdated J-6 and J-7 fighters have been converted into vehicles for the same purpose.
Operation "Phantoms" in the US Air Force continues
https://topwar.ru/107692-ekspluataciya-fantomov-v-vvs-ssha-prodolzhaetsya.html

[Stirbjorn]

Quote: cniza

MiG-21 will still serve: Vietnam intends to turn decommissioned fighters into drones

But they will also make this very interesting decision.

An example of Azerbaijan, which turned the decommissioned An-2 into drones for reconnaissance and opening of the Armenian air defense. The Armenians happily reported about the destroyed enemy planes, and even these sluggish ships got lost under the cameras, and then the drones destroyed the opened air defense systems.

[Egoza]

Quote: cniza

But they will also make this very interesting decision.

Good luck to the Vietnamese in such a necessary and good undertaking !!!!

[Nikolaevich I]

Quote: cniza

MiG-21 will still serve: Vietnam intends to turn decommissioned fighters into drones


But they will also make this very interesting decision.

And what about the "interestingness" of the North Korean decision to create a squadron of MiG-15 "kamikaze"?

[cniza]

If they do, no one will know about it until a certain time.

[Jacket in stock]

Rational use of resources.
In our age, only disposable looks old-fashioned.
But, especially in conditions of limited access to resources, the only correct approach.
This is with us - "the scatter is big, women are still giving birth", and they have every nail in the case.

[Ros 56]

A sensible thought, but the price will fall. This is where the hucksters begin to fuss.

[faiver]

The Vietnamese are generally very zealous comrades, pomnitsa they also modernized our ancient anti-aircraft guns, and put the "needles" on Shilka with a new guidance system, handsome

[Eug]

For the Vietnamese, the MiG-21, like the AK and the S-75 air defense system, is a symbol of their victory over the United States and fraternal assistance to the USSR. But, if the MiG - 21 is used as a drones, I would confine myself to the "aircraft-projectile" option, possibly an air-to-ground missile carrier, but without returning. The 21st never had good landing characteristics. To improve them, electronics alone is not enough, as for me, you need to increase the speed of the hydraulics, and this is very radical and, accordingly, expensive ... but I am sure that the Vietnamese comrades will figure it out. Success to them!