Famous Russian Aircraf

The Mikoyan/Gurevich MiG-21 is one of the most successful tactical fighters developed in the Soviet Union.
The aircraft was built in a multitude of versions, forming the backbone of the fighter fleet of nearly 50 nations for many years.
Apart from the MiG-21's Chinese derivatives, the fighter had a production run of more than 12,000; more than 5,000 copies were exported.
In some nations the MiG-21 remains in service to this day.
Yet the MiG-21's long life was far from cloudless as far as both the development history and the combat career are concerned.

Surprise was always one of the key elements of success during offensive air operations, be it counter-air, bombing/attack or reconnaissance missions.
Accordingly, it was vital for those on the receiving end to learn of the enemy's approach in advance so as not to receive such nasty surprises.
Originally the side being attacked had to rely on pickets with human observers and telephone or radio communication.
The development of radar technology made possible the advent of radar picket ships;
the next obvious step was to develop a technology initially known as air-borne early warning (AEW).
A key function of such flying radar pickets - control of 'friendly' fighters or strike aircraft - soon led the designation to be amended to airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) or airborne warning and control system (AWACS).
Development of AEW aircraft began in earnest after the Second World War.
Initially the USA and Great Britain were the main developers and users of this technology. Generally AWACS aircraft can be divided into two categories: shore-based and ship-board.
The latter are primarily intended for protecting aircraft carriers, which are vulnerable and lucrative targets, and other ships.
The small dimensions of such aircraft occasioned by below-deck stowage requirements impose a limit on the fuel capacity (and hence endurance), number of mission crew and thus limit their capabilities.
The shore-based ones, on the other hand, are unencumbered by space limitations and can be based on transport aircraft or airliners, offering room for more fuel and a relief crew.
Carrierbased AEW aircraft development began in the USA with the Grumman TBM-3W equipped with an APS-20 search radar in a ventral 'guppy' radome.
A similar installation found use on the later Douglas AD-3W, AD-4W and AD-5W Skyraider produced in the late 1940s/early 1950s (the latter model became the EA-1E in 1962 when the US Navy changed its designation system).
These were the first AEW aircraft to see action (in the Korean War), and the AD-4W was also sup-plied to the Royal Navy which operated it as the Skyraider AEW.1 from 1952.