National Air and Space Intelligence Center 1 HAVE DOUGHNUT TACTICAL EVALUATION Thomas R. Woodford Senior Intelligence Analyst Aerodynamic Systems Division This Briefing is Classified: UNCLASSIFIED/APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE HAVE DOUGHNUT TACTICAL EVALUATION 3 Purpose Evaluate the effectiveness of existing tactical maneuvers by USAF and USN combat aircraft against the MiG-21 Exploit the tactical capabilities of the MiG-21 in an air-to- air environment Optimize existing tactics and develop new tactics as necessary to defeat the MiG-21 Evaluate the design, performance, and operational characteristics of the MiG-21 4 TAC Evaluation Evaluation Aircraft Offensive and Defensive Evaluation F-4C/D/E F-105D/F F-111A F-100D F-104D F-5A Defensive Evaluation RF-101 RF-4C B-66 1968 TAC Inventory Versus the MiG-21F-13 5 TAC Evaluation MiG-21F Limitations and Deficiencies Poor forward and rearward visibility Limited forward by sight glass, bulletproof glass, and windscreen F-4 and F-105 normally are acquired at 3-5 miles range Limited rearward by seat flap, narrow canopy, and structure 50-degree blind cone in rear Low airspeed limit below 15,000 ft 0.98 Mach or 595 KIAS Buffet severe at and above these airspeeds and aircraft is unusable as a weapon system Weapon system 30mm cannon limited to 60 rounds Severe pipper jitter precludes tracking corrections during firing Sight precesses excessively Target tracking impossible over 3 Gs Range only radar susceptible to chaff and jamming 6 TAC Evaluation MiG-21F Limitations and Deficiencies High longitudinal control forces below 15,000 ft Above approximately 510 KIAS cannot command a high pitch rate High airspeed bleed-off at high G Bleed-off is excessive, but it does improve the turn radius Poor engine acceleration response to throttle movement Idle to Military Power takes 14 seconds on the ground Formation flight difficult Requires combined use of speedbrakes and throttle movement Afterburner puff above 15,000 ft gives away visual cue White puff of unburned fuel when going in and out of afterburner Poor directional stability Excessive pilot effort for air-to-ground tracking in turbulence Some serious exploitable limitations and deficiencies 7 TAC Evaluation F-4C/D/E The F-4 can control the engagement below 15,000 ft Can exploit the MiG-21 airspeed limitation and airspeed bleed-off at high G Orient the attack towards the MiG-21 blind cone and operate in the vertical to defeat the MiG-21 8 TAC Evaluation F-4C/D/E F-4 level acceleration is superior up to 30,000 ft Significant advantage in military power Slight advantage in afterburner power Below 15,000 ft the F-4 can easily accelerate to above the useable airspeed of the MiG-21 Good F-4 zoom capability Significant advantage in military power up to 30,000 ft Slight advantage in afterburner power up to 20,000 ft MiG-21 has superior instantaneous turn capability But it loses airspeed more rapidly 10 TAC Evaluation F-4C/D/E SPEED IS LIFE!!! Force the engagement to low altitude and keep speed Fight below 15,000 ft and maintain at least 450 KCAS Retain a high energy level and accelerate in an unloaded condition as necessary When defensive establish maximum angle off Maneuver vertically below 15,000 ft - avoid slow speed reversals Avoid prolonged turning engagements - disengage and keep energy for possible reattack Get into the MiG-21 rear hemisphere blind cone Good visual scan needed to see the MiG-21 Run away below 15,000 ft above 0.98 Mach/595 KIAS when offensive advantage or mutual support is lost 11 TAC Evaluation F-105 Press an offensive attack only if initial rear hemisphere advantage exists Avoid prolonged maneuvering engagements Get into the MiG-21 blind cone, use mutual flight support, and use hit-and-run tactics Accelerate beyond the MiG-21 airspeed limit below 15,000 ft Level acceleration matches the MiG-21 up to 15,000 ft Can easily accelerate above the 0.98 Mach/595 KIAS MiG-21 limit 12 TAC Evaluation F-105 The MiG-21 has a distinct advantage in turn capability at all airspeeds and altitudes Use hit and run -- don’t get in a turning fight The F-105 has equal air-to-air missile capability, but better gun capability Higher rate of fire and better gunsight system The APR-25 Radar Homing and Warning equipment will not provide sufficient warning to negate a missile attack by the MiG-21 13 TAC Evaluation F-105 Maintain maximum airspeed below 15,000 ft when in a high MiG threat area Avoid prolonged maneuvering engagements and do not allow airspeed to dissipate below 450 KCAS during Do not rely on the APR-25 equipment to warn of attack Good visual scan needed to see MiG-21 Mutual support and teamwork should be emphasized If lost, disengage above MiG-21 airspeed limit below 15,000 ft If offensive advantage is obtained, maintain at least a 50 knot closure rate and press the attack through missile and gun range then disengage in a descending acceleration above the MiG-21 airspeed limit Whenever possible, maneuver toward the blind cone 14 TAC Evaluation F-105 SPEED IS LIFE!!! ...and you can only go in a straight line 15 TAC Evaluation F-111 The MiG-21 has superior turn performance everywhere Below 15,000 ft, the MiG-21 has superior level acceleration up to its speed limit Avoid maneuvering engagements When attacked get below 15,000 ft and above the MiG-21 speed limit (0.98 Mach/595 KIAS) Use only very high speed hit-and-run attacks from a favorable offensive position Again...SPEED IS LIFE!!! ...and you can only go in a straight line 16 TAC Evaluation F-100D The MiG-21 has significant turn performance advantage The MiG-21 has significant level acceleration advantage Missile capability equal / F-100 gun capability superior F-100 has 4 missiles, MiG-21 has two, but MiG-21 missile mode radar “in range” and “over G” cue reduce failed shots F-100 4 x 20mm cannons and sight are superior Avoid maneuvering, use hit-and-run, mutual support Effective defense accelerating above MiG-21 limit speed Again...SPEED IS LIFE!!! ...and you can only go in a straight line 17 TAC Evaluation F-104 The MiG-21 has has superior turn capability The F-104 has a slight level acceleration advantage up to 30,000 ft F-104 has better zoom capability, but shouldn't get slow F-104 fire control system slightly superior Equal IR missile capability F-104 gun has higher rate of fire and superior gunsight F-104 radar superior to MiG-21F range only radar Avoid maneuvering, use hit-and-run, mutual support Effective defense accelerating above MiG-21 limit speed Again...SPEED IS LIFE!!! ...and you can only go in a straight line 18 TAC Evaluation F-5A Within performance limits, the F-5 has considerable capability to engage the MiG-21 F-5 has performance advantage below 15,000 ft MiG-21 has higher Mach capability at higher altitude Overall turn comparison is about equal Level acceleration equal in military power, MiG-21 has slight advantage in afterburner Comparable fire control systems The F-5 can control the tactical engagement effectively If defensive separation is necessary, the F-5 can exceed the MiG-21 airspeed limit below 15,000 ft “The F-5 can closely simulate the MiG-21 up to Mach 1.2 for combat crew training in ACM, dissimilar aircraft engagements.” 19 TAC Evaluation RF-101 Most effective defensive maneuver is unloaded maximum power acceleration to above MiG-21 speed limit below 15,000 ft Steep descent, 45 deg or greater, when possible, provides background IR clutter, increases acceleration, and forces MiG-21 into high longitudinal stick force regime Comparable military power level acceleration, MiG-21 has slight advantage in afterburner MiG-21 has superior turn capability everywhere When caught by a MiG-21 dive and run...speed is life! 20 TAC Evaluation B-66 Vulnerable to attack Escort protection is mandatory in a high MiG threat environment Survivability depends on escort effectiveness and teamwork 3 G defensive spiral, considered maximum performance, will not negate a MiG-21 missile or gun attack Descending spiral will assist escort in positioning and may by time for escort to perform diversionary missile launch or obtain a kill The B-66 is a target