Mig-21Bis In War Thunder : A Basic Review

I figured it was about time I reviewed a dedicated fighter instead of the usual attack jets. Here, we take a look at the Mig-21bis in the Soviet tech tree.
Related :
"Using air launched missiles in War Thunder"
• Video
==============================
I'm all over the place!
Twitter : / timsvariety
Facebook : / timsvarietygaming
Twitch : / timsvariety
==============================

[@sailorssilence1983]

Hey Tim! Here's a fun fact about the Bis's cockpit, the panel above the gun sight is actually a panel related to nuclear delivery of the RN-24 and RN-28.

[@kylebrady969]

Yeah the fuel thing is true of real life as well. Gotta remember the MiG-21 was not just started as an interceptor, but a *point-defense* interceptor. It was built for a scramble when enemy bombers were already over Soviet airspace and close to some kind of strategic target. It didn't need a ton of gas...until the Soviets and her allies started using the plane in ways it wasn't meant to. Hence the drop tank and slow increase in internal fuel as later versions were introduced (that bulged spine was for more fuel to start with, and it's just become part of the classic silhouhette)

[@TimsVariety]

"Mig-21 you are cleared for take off" "Roger that. Joker fuel." "Wait, what?! You just took off!!" "... yep ... Bingo fuel ..."

[@PyromaN93]

@@TimsVariety yep, good old soviet traditions to build thirsty planes. MiG-21bis, MiG-29, MiG-25 and absolute champion - MiG-31, which have 17 tonns of fuel and dry mass 21 tonns😁

[@stormjet814]

@@PyromaN93 We don’t want the pilots wasting too many resources, now do we?

[@PyromaN93]

@@stormjet814 for SU it wasn't problem, but this habit is still alive

[@stormjet814]

@@PyromaN93 Ye ik, was just making a joke lol

[@sicsempertyrannis6541]

It would be interesting to see a revisit of the US F-100D Super Sabre, just to see how it stacks up in the current Meta

[@TimsVariety]

Not a bad idea, I'll put it on the list. Probably the Mig-19 too.

[@HelminthCombos]

its trash lol

[@brecibros2469]

It dosnt. It can't turn for shit has mid missles and has shitty energy retention

[@Nothing_._Here]

Your presentation format is fairly unique, keep to it. It's a welcome change from the overly energetic screaming most people are used to on youtube.

[@uu9rj]

2:42 Lol I specifically remember you putting a note on the bottom of one of your videos "I didnt steal the kill, and you shouldnt either"

[@TimsVariety]

It was accidental, I apologized soon after.

[@uu9rj]

@@TimsVariety Just poking a little fun, dont mean to pile on and be a critic, love your stuff.

[@_ace_defective_]

I got this plane after Red Skies dropped, and although the stock grind was tough (no stock missiles at the time), I find it to be a very fun aircraft to fly. It fights well against the F-5, and although I think the F-5(E) is a better dogfighter, the MiG-21bis is also faster. The R-3S missiles were absolutely painful to use; the R-3R, for how bad it is as a missile, is still far better. Even if it weren't all aspect, the gimbal limit is still large enough to compensate for its low max G limits. The R-13M1 is a nice missile, and I commonly use it against targets using flares due to its better CM resistance, but the lack of radar slaving and low launch G limit* (edit: not anymore!) makes it a little annoying to use sometimes. The R-60 has really nice pull but just lacks damage and loves flares. I'm confused about why it's been foldered with the MiG-21SMT, I don't believe it should be foldered. But it's genuinely a really fun aircraft to fly and it has a distinct playstyle from the F-4 and F-5 I'm used to flying.

[@Coliflower185]

It got folded because more and more jets are gonna get added to rank 7, and that makes it easier to get to the top of the tree.

[@_ace_defective_]

@@Coliflower185 I get the reason for folders in general to exist - I just don't like the idea of basically the definitive edition of the MiG-21 being behind a folder, when the plane it's foldered with (MiG-21SMT) historically was rather disliked by the Soviet Air Force. Planes like the F-104A/C should be foldered, not the MiG-21bis with the SMT.

[@amigman7199]

The R-13M1 is basically a little bit less advanced AIM-9J

[@Coliflower185]

@@amigman7199 the r13m1 is a better aim9j

[@amigman7199]

@@Coliflower185 gonna have to disagree with u there, I’ve seen the CM resistance is a little worse plus it does not have radar slaving like the AIM-9J

[@Generic_Name_1-1]

The biggest weakness of the BIS is the low rip speed. Missions are usually short enough to avoid fuel time issues

[@panda0418.]

Wonderful work as always.

[@thegenericguy8309]

The R-3Rs are great if you prefer climbing. Playing the Bis means you're always facing off against Phantoms, who are normally very confident in a headon and will try and force one whenever possible. If you position right, you can shotgun them in the face from .8-3km and the missile will hit them before they have a chance to start maneuvering in reaction

[@julian5857]

Currently you'll fight against and with America in a single game cuz it's being spammed so much

[@Boris_The_Turtle]

I wouldnt reccomend climbing any higher than 4000 meters, it pretty much stop turning. I normally run 4 R13M1 because they are difficult to decoy, have insane range, and pull similar to an Aim9J.

[@kommandantkillcode]

@@Boris_The_Turtle They buffed the off the rails launch overload of the R-13M1, and standardized it to 6 g’s for both the Bis and 23M.

[@Boris_The_Turtle]

@@kommandantkillcode nice

[@John.McMillan]

I swear this guys steals atleast one kill every video.

[@fixit9844]

Cope

[@John.McMillan]

@@fixit9844 Like you have to cope with everyone in your life finding your very existence a blight on their world?

[@lucaspapperitz]

2:38 WTF

[@HEATSEEKR]

I stopped flying my Mig-21 because I currently have a 74% winrate in it and it's more of a badge of honor/achievement for me. I have however fallen in love with the Mig-23M and am currently almost done grinding the Mig-27M from the recent patch.

[@bigface1352]

I love my mig 27m

[@Miklivoje]

Rly like your video, feels like documentary

[@TimsVariety]

Honestly, that's **exactly** what I'm going for. Lots of reviewers just throw up some footage of them kicking ass with a vehicle and rattle off numbers ... I'm trying to do something a little different, with more meat.

[@CA-NguyenVuongKhaiAn-]

2:37 dude, uncool.

[@TimsVariety]

I realized after the fact what had happened, and apologized.

[@CA-NguyenVuongKhaiAn-]

@@TimsVariety o7 we need more people like this

[@TheDAWinz]

Still the best soviet fighter (for now) in my opinion. Great video!

[@Shankmeyster]

When you look at the DCS version they only had enough coolant to run the radar for like 15 minutes before it would overheat.

[@scudb5509]

Do not forget the ridiculous difference in repair cost between the German MiG-21BiS, that is better than the Soviet, and a Soviet BiS. Recently it went down to 16k for the Soviet, used to be 19k, now it’s 16k. SMT sits at 15k. Meanwhile, the German BiS sits below 10k. Something that I find to be b.s. And I’d damn argue that MiG-23 is a better killer in Warthunder R.B than a MiG-21, and it sits at 8k.

[@Boris_The_Turtle]

I honestly dont fly it because its very expensive, once they give flares to the SMT in this update I doubt anyone will want to use the bis for grinding as it makes you broke.

[@solid_fire9388]

the SMT is a but more expensive than the bis for some reason… i spaded both… the bis is amazing

[@Boris_The_Turtle]

@@solid_fire9388 Yeah because people started using SMT more than bis since it was more expensive at the time, and now SMT is also expensive lmao.

[@MrStrielok]

Great video as always. Greetz

[@snwilliam6886]

Honestly, I love to play the MiG-21Bis if it wasn't for the high repair cost :")

[@antanis]

I go out with 30 minutes of fuel in the mig 21-s and I usually climb and use my r3r first. Then dive and use a mix of the ir and sarh missiles as a support fighter.

[@stefanmichaelsenzegarra5688]

That first KS on the A7D ended up in him getting TK'ed hahaha

[@TimsVariety]

I realized a few seconds after the fact what happened, and apologized in-match.

[@stefanmichaelsenzegarra5688]

@@TimsVariety Was wondering what happened because that swedish jet turned after you and then the video cut xd

[@TimsVariety]

@@stefanmichaelsenzegarra5688 If memory serves, nothing, the battle just continued.

[@Tntexplodeslol]

Nice Indian Airforce camo hehe Also great review, really like your channel :D

[@WrenoYT]

mig 21 bees

[@Micro-Lander]

Not to be rude but it's B I S not beesh......

[@TheIrishBread]

actually hes right on this, thats the russian pronunciation apparently (still sounds wrong to me but c'est la vie) .

[@Micro-Lander]

@@TheIrishBread ah well we are speaking english here but I guess both are valid. Just sounds hella wrong

[@storm-trooper-jj1873]

I don’t know how much this MIG21 is like the German premium one, but with the German one I usually fly all the way around and get behind the the other team and usually get 1 or 2 kills, especially on unsuspecting American premiums *A10s*

[@hughmungus1509]

Not the kill steal…

[@bigface1352]

Mig 21 🅱️is

[@milsugione]

the best mig21 is the romanian lancer tho?

[@AliA-pe7zm]

1:37 'this is generally considered the penultimate upgrade...", so what's the best upgrade?

[@TimsVariety]

Post-Soviet stuff, like the Mig-21-93 (which we're very unlikely to ever see in the game)

[@kommandantkillcode]

@@TimsVariety It could end up in the game though since War Thunder is continuing, and planning, to get more and more modern.

[@dezurniblejac3863]

Beast

[@isthissomesortofmeme8932]

still dont get what the bis SAU is

[@FightCain]

I don’t like using this plane in plane RB because of the player highlight and sucks at BVR compared to western jets, like the F-4E. So flying high is pretty much a death sentence (for any plane with poor long range radar and missiles) It’s radar is designed to detect in an area above the nose since it’s an interceptor by heart, so it’s better to fly low and point upward to get good radar lock, though, it’s not that great since most jets in the tier have chaffs. It’s actually not bad in ground RB once you practice with the bombs enough to drop them at high speeds at level flight.

[@MausOfTheHouse]

How close are you to the A32A? It's a good grinder for Sweden. And since the Viggen is coming, I think you will find it a useful grinder :)

[@julian5857]

@@TimsVariety you need 2 rank VI vehicles purchased to unlock tank VII aka the draken

[@TimsVariety]

I unlocked both Lansens last night ... recording footage today, possibly into tomorrow.

[@MausOfTheHouse]

@@TimsVariety Hooray. Be aware, the gear is very weak. Always belly land.

[@redditor758]

So, this is pretty much exactly like the bis SAU? I'm trying to learn how to play it, I'm an awful pilot at high tiers

[@stormjet814]

It is basically the bis sau, yea

[@urbancoyote4840]

Most ppl will move passed the mig 21...the only reason I play war thunder is for the mig 21 family and the mig 17...the game can go wherever it wants I'll still be in a mig 21..

[@patriotic-panda]

Beece

[@DerInterloper]

Who disliked the video!

[@DarkLighting115]

17/09/21 the mig21 bis lose her good aceleration, the r60 track any shit, 18k sl repaircost, the gsh23l have horrible velocity. Conclusion can be 10.7

[@lukecave767]

Loss respect after u stole that kill if wanna be big name in war thunder wouldn't do that

[@TimsVariety]

I realized what happened after the fact and apologized in the mission.

[@ranchu8385]

miggers

[@Jedimaster69]

Lol mig 21 beees

[@deadliftalot]

I still think it can easily claim the chair of the best jet But the viggen will destroy it

[@missilemans6688]

The Viggen will probably dominate everything until they put a 30k repair cost on it. It has the weaponry and avionics of a MiG-23 and the performance of an F-5. But then after 2 weeks Gajin will slap a 30k repair cost on it and call it "Balance"

[@deadliftalot]

@@missilemans6688 yeah I hate how instead of br decompression gaijin just puts absurd repair costs :*(

[@Tigershark_3082]

@@missilemans6688 it has now been a few months since the Viggen was added. Still no high repair cost