Romania was the first, and for over a decade, the only country in the world to use in active service upgraded MiG-21's. While the surrounding countries were struggling to phase out their MiG-21's, and by the year 2005-2007, Romania would probably be one of the few remaining users of this aicraft, Romania had opted to keep its fleet in duty.
The reason for that is that Romania was one of the largest users of MiG-21's in the world (over 300 active fighters during 1980's), as well as that the Romanian MiG-21 pilots are the best MiG-21 pilots in the world. Having a very large number of jet fighters, as well as pilots who are fully integrated and experience on them, makes you think twice before replacing them with a large number of new, expensive fighters, especially if your funding possibilities do not allow you to start a multi-billion dollars acquisition program.
The amazing Lancer
Romania done what is in my opinion by far the largest, deepest and baldest upgrading program of the 1990's. When the economy was going down on a terrifying rate, together with the defence budget, Romania initiated an amazing program, to upgrade these planes which are considered "obsolete" to such an extent, that they have not only become more advanced than any modern plane used by USAF (F-16, F-18, F-15) but which also incorporates brand new technology, never used by the big and powerful countries at that time (integrated helmet sight, integrated helmet firing, universal attachment pylons, etc).
Four of them crashed during the 10 years since the program has started, so four more were upgraded beyond the initial batch of 110 units. So as a result, the RoAF currently operates 110 MiG-21 Lancer A, B, C, while 114 were produced and 4 crashed.
The Lancer program was an achievement of the downturning Romanian aviation industry, and will hopefully be the beginning of recovery for the aviation of a country with deep traditions in aviation, starting from the first license of a plane by Traian Vuia in april 1903 and continuing with the first flight by its own power of a vehicle heavier than air in 1906, the invention of the jet engine, as well as the discovery of aeroelasticity, etc etc etc.
Read all about the MiG-21 Lancer is a detailed and compelling article, in my MiG-21 page. Link is just below.
Links:
MiG-21 Fishbed, Mongol and Lancer
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