Actually There are many different versions of R-27 and R-77 is doing fine and nothing seems to be wrong about it

What I meant is that it has been reported that copies of the export variants of those missiles have been obtained by the Israeli and US security services and tested which has allowed the Israelis for example to tailor make ECM equipment and other countermesures to combat them. What that means is that unless you buy the very latest versions who have not been compromised (expensive) you will be in trouble.

Limited BVR?

That has to do with the range of the Kopyo radar in the older version bought by India (has this been changed?). Of course it goes without saying that a MiG-21-93 fitted with a Super Kopyo radar is much less limited in BVR engagements since its range has been significantly increased.

You don’t know nothing about the -93 upgrade

At the very worst I know about as little about the MiG-21-93 upgrade as you seem to know about the Israeli ones. You should not take this so personally.

Actually the Ethiopians always used their Mig-23s mostly in the ground attack role because the Mig-21’s payload, range and number of hardpoints are really abyssimal.

Actually they used the MiG-21 (Overhauled but not upgraded in Israel) fairly extensively durign the Badme war.

Well I am not sure either but I think it’d be safe to assume that the Israeli one is more expensive.

Probably.

What’s this new engine? also what about other upgrades to the structure and such?

The ability to make major structural modifications is one definite advantage MiG-MAPO has. The only structural modification of the Israeli MiG’s is the remodelled windscreen which is also pesent on the MiG-21-93 which also has a blown canopy. This is a plus for the MiG-21-93 since from what I have heard from E-German MiG-21 drivers, if you are above average height you have some trouble moving your head about in the classic MiG-21 canopy and vision is restricted due to the spine. A blown canopy fixes that. The bolt in replacement engine is AFAIK some version of the engine used in the MiG-29. Take that with a grain of salt thoug, I have not really spent any time researching the engine replacements since no upgrade customer has gone for one.

You are completely mixing it up, folks..

MiG-21-2000 is not a Lancer !!!!

2000 is basically an upgrade by IAI with a single piece windshield, Lancer is Elbit’s Child.

Precisely! There are just those three upgrade projects that have been commercially successful:

MiG-21 ‘Lancer’ by Aerostar of Romania and Elbit of Israel
MiG-21-2000 by Israeli Aircraft Industries
MiG-21-93 by MiG-MAPO of Russia.

yes and the -93 gives it capability to R-73, R-77 and R-27. However I think it can also carry an ARM missile forget which one.

The R-27 has not performed well (Eritrea) the R-77 (export model) is thought to have been compromised, the same can not be said of the Python 4 and the Derby. Dunno about the R-73 though. So in essence I would consider my self better off betting on Israeli hardware jamming the **** out of a bunch of MiG-21-93’s packing a limited BVR capability than I would be betting on the MiG-21-93 toasting a fighter packing Israeli technology with its [MiG-21-93’s] limited BVR capability.

Also who would really want to use a Mig-21 in teh ground attack role given it’s reallly really pathetic range and payload and only 4 hardpoints.

That really depends on the tactical situation and what you can afford, also keep in mind that there are fuel efficient ‘bolt in’ replacement engines available for the MiG-21. The MiG-21 has been used successfully in the air to ground role most recently during the Badme war. Think what the Ethiopinas would have been able to do to Asmara Airport if they had not run out of $$$ and gotten their MiG-21’s fully upgraded with Israeli LGB’s and designator pods. Although I would personally rather go for a Kfir or an FC-1 if I was equipping a small airforce+air defense system on a budget of say, the amount of money the USA shells out for a trio of F-22’s :D. In the end a MiG-21-2000/MiG-21 ‘Lancer’ is better than sending your foot soldiers guerilla hunting with no air support at all.

Also how much does the -2000 upgrade cost compared to the -93 and that is important for cash strapped countries.

I’d like to know that myself.

Not only that but what kind of engine and other upgrades does the -2000 give besides new radar, avionics and integration of new weapons because the -93 gives it that too.

Take the MiG-21 ‘Lancer for example:

‘The Lancer C packs an Elta 2032 multimode radar and carries Python 3 missiles. The Lancer A is capable of carrying guided munitions, a laser designator pod and a recon pod. It is possible to bolt in a new engine althoug as far as I know all of the customers for either the Israeli upgrades or the MiG-21-93 kept the old original engines.