A pair of Mikoyan MiG-21 Fishbeds flew over Ugandan capital Kampala on 12 May, marking the first combat jet flight of the country's air force in some years. The pair were flown by expatriate Belarussians who assisted in the reassembly of the aircraft.
Uganda acquired the MiG-21s in 1997 and had them refurbished by Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), equipping them for ground attack and interception roles. Ugandan pilots and engineers are undergoing MiG-21 training in Israel.
Sources in Kampala say IAI replaced the Soviet avionics with an Israeli suite and integrated additional weapons. IAI has upgraded MiG-21s for several countries including Cambodia and Romania. Uganda's aircraft also received additional fuel tanks and an upgraded powerplant to increase payload.
Uganda acquired the aircraft to counter threats from Sudan which has been using high-flying Antonov transports to bomb northern Uganda and drop supplies to dissidents in the country's southwest.
Besides old Mil Mi-17 Hip transport/combat helicopters, Uganda has not had an air force since 1979.
Source: Flight International