Eduard | No. 8238 -

MiG-21R – 353rd Reconnaissance Air Squadron, Yugoslav Air Force, Željava AB, 1971

The Yugoslav Air Force received a dozen MiG-21R reconnaissance fighters from the Soviet Union in 1968–69, locally designated L-14I. Aircraft 26104 first entered service with the 126th Reconnaissance Squadron, and later flew with the 352nd and 353rd Squadrons before being retired at Kraljevo. The famous white lightning bolt on the nose appeared during the 1971 “Sloboda” military exercise.

The MiG-21R was a special Cold War machine — a fast, lightweight Mach 2 aircraft that combined frontline fighter capabilities with advanced reconnaissance systems. Designed to replace older Il-28R, Yak-27R and MiG-19R platforms, it carried modular recon pods for day photography, night missions, and radio-electronic (ELINT) tasks. With the pod removed, it turned back into a fully capable fighter-bomber.

Built between 1965 and 1971, the MiG-21R became the first Soviet jet able to perform both FOTINT and ELINTmissions — and units like Yugoslavia’s 353rd Squadron used it to its full potential.

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