Post WWII when the USSR and USA plunged into the cold war – head first – air warfare was just developing. Russia had massive disadvantages going into this era. Russia air force was spineless and the fighter jets they produced were not good enough in comparison to the USA and UK. In the background of this Mikoyan Gurevich (MiG) started producing some of the world’s some spectacular fighters – mass produced across the world! Today we discuss the Spectacular Rise and the Spectacular Fall of the 2 Cold War Russian Fighter Jet Manufacturers – Mikoyan Gurevich and Sukhoi both founded in 1939!
The journey started MiG 15 and MiG 17 – Sub Sonic capabilityes, No Radar fighters weak and susceptible in Dog Fights.However this was followed by the world most produced fighter jet the second generation MiG 21 – Supersonic with primitive Radar functionalities and Missile capabilities. These planes were significantly aerodynamic, with a larger engine – More powerful, Higher lift capability and adept as an interceptor and in Dog Fights in the Korean and Vietnam Wars! The MiG 21 was the premier fighter jet in the early days of the Vietnam War with the American Phantoms being heavy and less Manoeuvrable vs the MiG 21s. The MiG 21 was manufactured and sold to 50+ countries across the world – 10000+ MiG 21s were produced making it one of the most successful Fighter Jets in the world!
MiG 21 was followed by MiG 23s the Swept Wing aircraft. Mounted with a improved Radar, a Massive Cannon this aircraft was the 3rd Generation Fighter Jet and it was ahead of the American Gighters in the same era. The MiG 21bis and MiG 23 MLDevolution put the Americans on the backfoot.
At the same time Sukhoi another aircraft manufacturer from USSR started producing some of the world’s faster Fighter Jets – the interceptors Su 7, Su 11 and then the Su 15 interceptor – In fact the Su 15 was in the Russian Airforce for longer than 30 years. MiG 25 which was a contemporary of the Su 25 completed the USSR interceptor force and were best 3rd generation aircrafts!
Both MiG and Su fighters were at this time being exported to friendly countries and Mass Production was carried out. These Fighters were the pride of USSR during the Cold War,
The American”s Hit back with 2 4th Generation Jets – Truely remarkable fighters – the F/A 15 and the F 16. The age of air superiority was here.The USSR hit back with 2 similar Jets – the Su 27 Flanker and the MiG 29 with Extreme HIgh Speed capabilities, Super Manoeuvrability – These Jets and their many variants continued the dominance of USSR airspace companies through till the 1990s. For the first time the famous Cobra Manoeuvre was executed and these plane with Thrust/ Weight > 1 took USSR to their peak of their airforce capabilities. Russia exported the Su 27 flanker to many countries including India as the Su 30 MKI – The air superiority fighter in India. In fact a look at the Indian Airforce Fighters tells the story of the Huge influence the Russians had starting with the MiG 21, 23, 25, 29 and The Su 30 mki and the Naval version of MiG 29.
This was followed by the Stealth Generation/ 5th Generation Fighters – This is when the the Cold War got over with the demolition of the Berlin Wall and the erstwhile USSR split up of into Russia and CIS countries. The patronage to Mikoyan Guervich and Sukhoi came down. The 5th Gen Jet projects MiG 1.44 and the Su 47 Golden Eagle Projects ran into delays and funding crunch leading to both being scrapped eventually.
As of todat Lockheed and Boeing have taken pole position in the Fighter Jet Market. European Jets like the Eurofighter, the Rafale, The Grippen have super ceded the Russian Jets due to lack of fundings and a stalling of development activities.
The next major Developments are the Sukhoi PAK FA T 50 – the 5th Gen Fighter Jet and the Mikoyan MiG 35 which is also under development. Also the Russian Government has now formed a Combined airspace company the ‘United Aircraft Corporation’ – where Sukhoi and Mikoyan have been placed under Defence Development.
The 2 companies that ruled the skies in the Cold War era are today shadows of their older selves. There are several major companies that have faced the ignominy of a Spectacular Rise – Spectacular Fall! The Russian Mikoyan and Sukhoi are 2 more in this list. Their decline could be because of external factors but nonetheless today they have both retreated into the twilight.
The Silly Point 