There have been many debates about the superiority of the F-5 over the MiG-21Fishbed and vice versa. Thousands of these cheap, light fighters were built and served in more than 60 air forces around the world.
The first clash of the two types occurred in 1977 in the Ethiopia–Somalia War when Ethiopian F-5Es shot down nine Somali MiG-21s and two MiG-17s with no casualties of their own.
Three years later the two guys were to meet again. The Iranian air force after the infamous "Islamic revolution" lost 2/3 of its pilots due to persecution by the new regime. Dozens of pilots were executed, imprisoned or demobilized, the luckiest.
When Iraq invaded Iranian soil on September 22, 1980, the Iranian air force was a shadow of its former good self. After all, this was one of the reasons why Saddam Hussein believed in a quick victory.
The Iranian Air Force had five squadrons equipped with a total of 115 F-5E/Fs and one squadron with RF-5A reconnaissance aircraft. The aircraft was equipped with two 20mm cannons. It could also carry AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and bombs.
On the other hand, the Iraqi air force had nine squadrons of MiG-21 aircraft which formed its backbone. The best of them were MiG-21 bis. They were equipped with Soviet AA-2C Advanced Atoll and AA-8 Aphid air-to-air missiles. Some had been modified to carry French R.500 Magic .
missilesThe level of training of the pilots of the two rival air forces differed before the "Islamic revolution". Iranian operators were trained to Western standards unlike the Iraqis who followed Soviet practices. Gradually, however, the Iraqis also developed their own doctrine in collaboration with the French and Indians.
Clash in the ethers
The first engagement of the two types occurred on 24 September 1980. Two Iraqi MiG-21s spotted four Iranian F-5Es loaded with Mk.82 bombs targeting an Iraqi airbase. The Iraqis fired missiles at them but to no avail. Iranian squadron leader Sharif Raad responded with a Sidewinder, hitting an Iraqi aircraft.
On 26 September two F-5Es were intercepted by two MiG-21s resulting in the downing of an Iranian . On 14 November an Iranian MiG shot down an F-5E with a Magic missile. A new clash between the two types took place on 26 September. In this case, two F-5Es and two MiG-21s were lost. Two aircraft collided in the air.
“I looked to the left and saw a MiG. I dropped my bombs, flew low and then executed a very tight turn to avoid being trapped. The Iraqi pilot made the mistake of slowing down, but I also made the mistake of launching a Sidewinder early, before it locked onto the target .
"But then I attacked him with the guns at close range. The wing of his aircraft touched the ground and the aircraft exploded ", reported Iranian squadron leader Sharif Raad.
By the late 1980s, however, it became clear that both types were obsolete as they lacked advanced electronic systems and countermeasures. Thus the two opposing types were gradually reduced to secondary roles.
The last dogfight between them took place on November 13, 1983 when an Iranian F-5 shot down an Iraqi MiG-21. This takedown "evened" the score between the two guys. Four F-5s were shot down and four MiG-21s.
Image of the light machine guns of the Iranian Raad squadron during the November 26, 1980 dogfight with an Iraqi MiG-21.