Hobby Master HA0196 MIG-21SMT Blue 60, 296 IAP, Soviet AF, 1980 1/72
Hobby Master HA0196 1/72nd MIG-21SMT Blue 60, 296 IAP, Soviet AF, 1980
The MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau. Some 50 countries over four continents have flown the MiG-21, and it still serves many nations over a half-century after its maiden flight in 1955. It is the most-produced combat aircraft since the Korean War, and it had the longest production run of a combat aircraft (1959 to 1985 over all variants). The MiG-21 SMT is a development of the MiG-21 SM with more fuel capacity. This variant is easily spotted thanks to its larger spine.
When the Soviet Union controlled East Germany they had three regiments of MiG-21SMTs located in country. These units were 33 IAP Wittstock, 296 IAP Altenburg and 733 IAP Damgarten. The use of the MiG-21SMT with its great range and other improvements it made it possible for these aircraft to be nuclear delivery capable. Not all the MiG-21SMTs were setup for nuclear use but were trained for ait to ground attacks and strafing. The MiG-21SMT was used until the early 1980s and replaced by MiG-21MLD and MiG-27M.