Strana 37
MiG-21bisD, Eskadrila borbenih aviona, HRZ i PZO, Zagreb-Pleso,
Croatia, December 2016
MiG-21bis, San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba, 1990
MiG-21bis, c/n 75080880, 1 Pucki DLMW, Lotnictwo Marynarki Wojennej,
Gdynia-Babie Doły, Poland, late 1997
The Croatian Air Force purchased forty MiG-21bis
fighters and MiG-21UM trainers from Ukraine
in 1995. In 2003, eight MiG-21bis aircraft were
modernized to bisD standard in Romania.
The modernization program included an
upgrade of the navigation, communication and
IFF equipment. In 2014, another modernization
took place involving seven Croat MiG-21bisD/
UMD aircraft, along with the purchase of another
five aircraft from a repair facility in Odessa.
The modernized aircraft received an all-grey
camouflage scheme. Aircraft coded 116 received
a stylized number 25 on the left side of the fin to
commemorate 25th anniversary of the Croatian
Air Force.
Deliveries of the most modern MiG-21bis
aircraft to the Cuban Air Force began in 1981.
A total of eighty (with some sources claiming
ninety) aircraft served in four regiments. After
completing its military career, aircraft coded
637 was used as an instructional airframe at the
Instituto Tecnico Militar in Havana. The aircraft
was camouflaged in a green and blue-grey
scheme, which was used by the Cubans from
the beginning of the nineties.
This aircraft was delivered to Poland on March
22, 1980 and was assigned to the 1 Pucki Dywizjon
Lotniczy (Air Division) of the Polish Naval Forces.
The emblem on the tail surface indicates service
with the 2 Eskadra (Squadron) of the Division.
The look of the plane evolved over time and in
2001 it flew with a sharkmouth and a tiger motif
on the brake chute housing.
KITS 05/2025
INFO Eduard
37
May 2025