MiG-21MF - Syria - 1982
Lebanon War

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) launched on the 9th of June 1982 the Operation "Mole Cricket 19" which was a devastating suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) campaign against Syrian SAMs in the Bekaa Valley, at the outset of the 1982 Lebanon War. The operation was the first time in history when a Western-equipped air force successfully destroyed a Soviet-built surface-to-air missile (SAM) network.

The IAF launched two attack waves totalling more than 190 F-4s, F-16s and F-15s. The IAF managed to destroy within a few hours 19 SAM sites, critically crippling the Syrian ground-to-air defences in the Bekaa Valley which were suppose to protect the deployment of the Syrian 3rd Armoured Division composed of hundreds of tanks moving towards Lebanon. In response, at least 100 Syrian MiG-21s and MiG-23s were immediately scrambeled for interception unknowning they were falling in a deadly trap.

Although a technological gap in favor of the IAF existed also during the October War of 1973, the SyAAF could still effectively counteract and harass the IAF in many ocassion at that time. By 1982, the situation further changed dramatically in the favour of the IAF. While Israel aquired F-16s and F-15s together with the more advanced beyond visual-range Sparrow missiles and jamming technology, the SyAAF did not make considerable upgrades since 1973. Unlike the situation in 1973, the IAF had an overwhelming technological superiority by 1982.

While the Syrian fighters were still highly dependent on ground controlled vectoring, the IAF had a well prepared strategy of jamming and early warning through well placed UAVs. Because of the very efficient jamming, the Syrians GCI controllers could not direct their pilots on the 9th of June 1982 towards the incoming Israeli aircraft, therefore flying blindly and unorganized in combat.

The outcome was a monstrous air battle which was hopeless both tactically and psychologically for the Syrians. The SyAAF lost 82-86 aircraft within a few hours while the IAF lost none, according to some sources. Only two F-15s were damaged by Syrian MiGs but both managed to fly back to base.

My subject, the MiG-21MF serial number 1935, is a veteran of the October War (1973) and Lebanon War (1982-1990) and is depicted in a color profile in "Arab MiGs, Volume 6" by Tom Cooper and David Nicolle on page 235. The number 1935 received its new camouflage not long after delivery, either during or immediately after the October War (1973). The typical SyAAF colours of orange-sand with blue-green stripes (upper surfaces) and blue (underside) were applied at "The Factory" in Aleppo (main SyAAF overhaul centre). By the time the number 1935 was painted in 1973, the SyAAF insignia was identical to the one carried by the Egyptian Air Force. After the Camp-David peace treaty of 1979 between Egypt and Israel, Syria switched to the current insignia with two green stars, which was painted back on all aircraft by 1982.

The number 1935 survived the Lebanon war indeed, but it is unkown if it actually took part in the events of the 9th of June 1982. My subject is equiped with four R-60 missiles, vastly superior to the previously close to useless R-3S. Several Russian reports affirm the R-60 was widely used during the 1982 Lebanon war and that was successful in several ocasions in air combat in Lebanon over the Bekaa Valley after the events of the 9th of June 1982. The Russian reports also mentioned that several F-4s, F-16 and IAI Kfirs were destroyed by R-60s among other aircraft. Israel claims some F-4s and Kfirs were lost in 1982, but lists SAMs as responsible for all Israeli aircraft losses, as usual. However, on the 9th of Junee 1982 a Syrian MiG-21 heavily damaged an Israeli F-15 with a R-60 but the F-15 was able to make back at base and was repaired.

It was maybe a long read, but the events of the 9th of June 1982 propagated like a shockwave in the USSR, with Soviet advisors rushing to Syria trying to understand how such a defeat was possible. The bitter conclusion, that the Western technology was superior to the Soviet one was finally comprehended also by the Soviets. Being aware that the Eastern European countries behind the Iron Curtain can be overrun in a similar manner, the Soviet leadership opened up (influenced by other factors as well) a long road of reforms (Glasnost) which eventually led to the fall of the USSR.

The number 1935 was last seen abandoned at the Tabqa Air Base in 2014.