The MiG-21 was designed as a clear-weather interceptor, and first flew in 1957 as the Ye-6 prototype. It entered service in 1958, however, in the following year it saw improvements in engine design as the 'Fishbed-C'. The 'Fishbed-D' followed two years later with an uprated engine and enlarged inlet to provide for a R1L Spin Scan-A radar.
The next generation Fishbeds featured improved engine and radar, internal cannon, additional fuel capacity, and two more external weapons pylons.

 

Specification: MiG-21bis 'Fishbed-N'
Nation of origin: Soviet Union
Prime contractor: Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau
Function: Fighter
Crew: 1
Year: 1957
In-service year: 1972
Wing span: 7.15 m / 23 ft 6 in
Length: 12.29 m / 40 ft 4 in
Height: 4.1 m / 13 ft 6 in
Weight: 19,235 lb empty / 22,925 lb max. take off
Engine: One Tumanskii R-25-300 afterburning turbojet, 15,650 lb thrust
Speed: 2,175 km/h / 1,353 mph
Ceiling: 57,400 ft
Armament: One 23mm GSh-23L two-barrel cannon with 200 rounds, plus 3,307 lb including AAMs, bombs, rockets, drop tanks, or ECM pods on four external points