Trying to find the earliest year the MiG-21 received the SPS-141 ECM pod, and ASO-2 chaff/flare dispensers.
First, for the SPS-141 there is the only the vague 1970s period usually mentioned online. But is there info as to what year exactly did the SPS-141 (SM-1 or SPS-141-100?) became operational on the MiG-21? The earliest and visually different SPS-141 for Su-7BKL became operational in 1970 apparently.
Also did the SPS-141-100/SM-1 had the ASO-2 dispensers fitted to the rear from the start, or were retrofitted later, and if so, when?
Regarding the ASO-2, my understanding is that it was already operational on the MiG-21R (carried at the back of the recce pod) as early as 1968 or even 1967 (!) as the photos i will link to below will show. Was the ASO-2 actually present on the MiG-21R from the start of prodction ie 1965-66? It seems the soviets were sitting on quite a revolution in fighter self-defence and didn't knew it (presumably as later examples show, it wouldn't have been too difficult to fit the MiG, Sukhois etc with bolt-on ASO-2 dispensers already from late 60s-early 70s.)
Now some links, very interesting details about and showing the ASO-2 on MiG-21R here
https://www.16va.be/galeries_vvs/su-17m3r/imgcol/imgcol_2/_00009.htmlhttps://www.16va.be/3.4_la_reco_part1_eng.htmlDetails on SPS-141 for Su-7BKL
https://www.16va.be/3.3_appui_tactique_part2_eng.htmlAnd here a good overview of the SPS-141 family (but lacking the specific dates i'm after)
https://www.loneflyer.com/2015/09/26/sps-141142143-siren-gvozdika/
First, for the SPS-141 there is the only the vague 1970s period usually mentioned online. But is there info as to what year exactly did the SPS-141 (SM-1 or SPS-141-100?) became operational on the MiG-21? The earliest and visually different SPS-141 for Su-7BKL became operational in 1970 apparently.
Also did the SPS-141-100/SM-1 had the ASO-2 dispensers fitted to the rear from the start, or were retrofitted later, and if so, when?
Regarding the ASO-2, my understanding is that it was already operational on the MiG-21R (carried at the back of the recce pod) as early as 1968 or even 1967 (!) as the photos i will link to below will show. Was the ASO-2 actually present on the MiG-21R from the start of prodction ie 1965-66? It seems the soviets were sitting on quite a revolution in fighter self-defence and didn't knew it (presumably as later examples show, it wouldn't have been too difficult to fit the MiG, Sukhois etc with bolt-on ASO-2 dispensers already from late 60s-early 70s.)
Now some links, very interesting details about and showing the ASO-2 on MiG-21R here
https://www.16va.be/galeries_vvs/su-17m3r/imgcol/imgcol_2/_00009.htmlhttps://www.16va.be/3.4_la_reco_part1_eng.htmlDetails on SPS-141 for Su-7BKL
https://www.16va.be/3.3_appui_tactique_part2_eng.htmlAnd here a good overview of the SPS-141 family (but lacking the specific dates i'm after)
https://www.loneflyer.com/2015/09/26/sps-141142143-siren-gvozdika/
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