Yet American pilots reported a relatively high kill ratio when faced with the MiG-21—though it must be noted that these figures are hotly debated, even decades after the Vietnam War ended.

Of course, F-4s were built for air-to-air combat, and these warbirds made mincemeat of their MiG-21 rivals, shooting down upwards of 30 percent of North Vietnam’s fleet. Nevertheless ...

This video explores its origins, from early design competition to its role in the Vietnam War and beyond. With innovative features like delta wings and reverse-engineered missiles, the MiG-21 ...

Unlike World War II and Korea, when enemy airmen aggressively contested its control of the skies, the U.S. has found the air over North Viet Nam relatively empty of challenge. Most of the American ...