MIKOYAN-GURIEWICZ E8/2

The MiG E-8 was an experimental Soviet fighter from the Cold War period. The aircraft was built in a mid-wing configuration with a three-support undercarriage - retractable in flight. The prototype flight took place in 1962, but the machine did not enter serial production. The drive was provided by a single R-21F300 turbojet engine. The machine did not have a permanent on-board armament, it consisted of 3 20 mm SzWAK cannons. It was assumed that the main weapon of the aircraft would be K-13 or R-23 missiles. The MiG E-8 was developed as a very far-reaching development of the MiG-21 aircraft. The design of the new machine was created in 1960. It was assumed to transfer the air intake to the engine under the fuselage of the aircraft, thanks to which it was possible to increase the size of the radar antenna used on the aircraft in relation to the MiG-21. A movable destabilizer was also used at the front of the fuselage, which also served as an additional horizontal tail, but also a fuselage fin. A completely new engine was also used. In general, the entire project was aimed at significantly improving maneuverability in relation to the serial MiG-21, as well as at creating as much space as possible for more perfect electronic devices. At that time, the MiG E-8 was a highly avant-garde design, but eventually it did not enter mass production. Perhaps due to the crash of one of the prototypes.