CREDIT TO TMACH5 FOR BASE MIG-21

The ATLAS Aerospace Piranha is an Aegyptican-designed modernization of the iconic MiG-21 Fighter. Marketed as a 4th generation Fighter, the Piranha has been available for export as the Piranha E since 2007.

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ATLAS Aerospace Piranha

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ARAF Piranha Landing at ARAFB Vedendal, August 2022.

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Role

Multirole Combat Aircraft

National Origin

Aegyptica

Manufacturer

ATLAS Aerospace

First Flight

August 16 2003

Introduction

May 2006 ARAF
June 2008 SAF
May 2009 INAF
August 2010 CAF
July 2011 GAF
June 2013 PAF

Status

Active

Primary Users

Aegyptican Royal Air Force
Israeli Air Force
Indian Air Force
Croatian Air Force
German Air Force
Polish Air Force

Produced

2003-present

Number Built

177 Domestic
236 Export

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The Piranha was born out of an ARAF Request for a Modernized MiG-21 to replace their ageing fleet of 140 MiG-21bis that were aquired around 1969. In the paper, the ARAF explicitly stated that the aircraft must have at least 10 mount points. ATLAS, in an attempt to match the payload weight of the F-15, equipped the aircraft with 21 mount points on 7 pylons. This gave the Piranha a maximum payload weight of 21,000lbs, and eventually earned it the nickname "Grouper" among pilots.

Armament

4x AIM-37A Vulture
8x AIM-9E Sidewinder
6x XR12 Rocket pods
3x Mk82 unguided Bombs
2x M330 Kukri 30mm Revolver cannon

Avionics

AN/APG-73 AESA Radar
Cobra HMD
MJU-39/40 Flares
S45A/4 ATA/ATS Tactical Data Link System
ANVIS Display
Skyward-G
Praetorian DASS

Powerplant

1x FHI Superhawk afterburning Turbofan 29,360lbf (130kN) thrust dry, 45,290lbf (201kN) thrust afterburner.

Performance

Maximum Speed: Mach 1.8 at 27,000ft

Range: 1,270nmi (1,461mi, 2,352km)

Combat Range: 653nmi on internal fuel
722nmi with external tanks.

Service Ceiling: 44,000ft (15,000m)

g Limits: +8.5

Wing loading: 27.3lbs/ft sq

Thrust-Weight ratio: 1.436

Controls:

Ag1 Afterburner
Ag2 Nothin
Ag3 Nothin
Ag4 Nothin
Ag5 Nothin
Ag6 Nothin
Ag7 Eject
Ag8 Nothin