Aircraft number 7102, aged 43, may have left storage after more than a decade inactive
A recently published video on social media is drawing attention from military aviation enthusiasts by showing what appears to be a MiG-21bis fighter jet operating in the colors of the Royal Cambodian Air Force.
Although it is not yet possible to fully verify the authenticity of the footage, it is known that the aircraft shown — marked with tail number 7102 and serial number 75096289 — was indeed part of Cambodia’s inventory. A 2023 photo available on AirHistory.net shows the fighter preserved, indicating it had been stored since at least 2007.
+ Click here to watch the video
Even if the video is authentic, experts emphasize that such a reactivation would hold more symbolic and historical than strategic value. A single MiG-21bis — a model dating back to the Cold War — would hardly pose a real threat against modern aircraft such as the JAS-39 Gripen operated by the Royal Thai Air Force.
+ DARPA Releases First Video of Experimental Uncrewed Vessel USX-1 Defiant
Still, the possible return of a Soviet legend to active service, even briefly, raises questions about the state of Cambodia’s military aviation and the historical value of preserving such fighters.
Source and images: Telegram @AviaCT | X @UvgtdERt4PWmcjF | AirHistory. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
