 MiG-21s also faced McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs and Douglas A-4 Skyhawks, but were later outclassed by the more modern McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, which were acquired by Israel beginning in the mid-1970s.During this period, Syrian pilots flying Mig-21s also independently discovered the Cobra maneuver which became a standard defensive maneuver under the name "zero speed maneuver" (Syrian