Nigerian Air Force


	Nigeria: Soviet-made MiG-21 Fishbed fighter aircrafts Last update: xx. 01. 2022


	After the Nigerian Civil War, in the mid-seventies, the Soviet Union delivered around 25 MiG-21MF 'Fishbed-J' tactical fighter and four MiG-21UM 'Mongol-B' trainer aircraft to Nigeria. In the late 1970s, the Soviet Union delivered about two more MiG-21UM two seat aircraft.

These MiG-21MF-75s fighter version were made in the factory in Gorky No. 21 in 1975.

Known MiG-21MF-75 ‘Fishbed-J’ serial numbers:
96003137 (NAF654) Production date: 1975
96003295 (NAF659) Production date: 1975
96003308 (NAF661) Production date: 1975
96003395 (NAF662) Production date: 1975
96003501 (NAF668) Production date: 1975

Known Nigerian MiG-21UM trainer serials:
516935031 (NAF655) Production date: 1975
516935036 (NAF660) Production date: 1975
516935041 (NAF665) Production date: 1975
516935046 (NAF670) Production date: 1975

516999124 (NAF678) Production date: 1979





	All Nigerian MiG-21MF-75 worn standard 'middle east' Soviet factory camouflage pattern. The two-seater MiG-21UM arrived with metal color.


	In 1978, the Nigerian Air Force formed the Tactical Air Command and the Training Command. The new Tactical Air Command subordinated the Nigeran MiG-21MF-75 'Fishbed-J', IL-28 'Beagle’, and the older MiG-17s 'Fresco-C' combat aircraft.


	Later, in the eighties, the Soviet Union sent one squadron MiG-21bis 'Fishbed-N' tactical fighter and MiG-21UM 'Mongol-B' two-seater aircraft too to Nigeria. Circa one new squadron, about 12 pieces. B/Ns: NAF68x and NAF69x. These Nigerian MiG-21bis 'Fishbed-N' combat aircraft were equipped with Soviet RSBN is a short-range navigation system.




		Know Nigerian MiG-21bis ‘Fishbed-L’ photos: NAF692 from the planes.cz https://www.planes.cz/photo/1065/1065799/mig21bis-692-nigerian-air-force-ngr-makurdi-mdi-dnmk.jpg NAF693 from the airliners.net: https://imgproc.airliners.net/photos/airliners/9/5/7/1103759.jpg

In the early nineties, the Nigerian Air Force put into storage their MiG-21MF-75/bis and UM aircraft due to a lack of spares and finance. During operation, the Nigerian Air Force lost many MiG-21 aircraft. The known crashed:

NAF6xx MiG-21 w/o 24. Sept. 1976
NAF675 MiG-21MF w/o 01. Oct. 1976
NAF6xx MiG-21UM w/o 01. Marc. 1978
NAF672 MiG-21MF w/o 19. Jun. 1981
NAF651 MiG-21MF w/o 04. Nov. 1981
NAF6xx MiG-21 w/o 13. May 1985
NAF660 MiG-21UM w/o 13. May 1986?
NAF6xx MiG-21 w/o 03. Jun. 1988

In 2009 - before the Chinese F-7 (MiG-21) aircrafts arrived - the Google Earth show 28 delta wing Soviet-made MiG-21 ‘Fishbed’ aircraft yet on the Maiduguri, Makurdi, and Kaduna airports:




		Nigerian MiG-21MF/UM/bis and SEPECAT Jaguar storage on Makurdi airbase in 2009




		Three Nigerian MiG-21MF at Maiduguri airport in 2009


	Photo sources: AircraftSlides, ACIG Forum