The Antonov An-71 was the first aircraft developed in the Soviet Union to take advantage of the newly available advanced fly-by-wire control system. It was designed as a medium-range, all-weather, multi-role fighter-bomber, capable of operating in both air-to-air and air-to-ground roles. The An-71 was designed to replace the aging MiG-21, and was intended to fill the role of a modern tactical fighter-bomber.

When it came to designing the Antonov An-71, Antonov did a number of things well. First, they made use of the advanced fly-by-wire control system, which allowed for better control of the aircraft. This allowed the aircraft to be more responsive and agile than its predecessor. The aircraft was also designed to be able to fly in a wide range of weather conditions, making it a more versatile aircraft.

The An-71 was also designed with an impressive array of avionics and weapons systems. It was capable of carrying a wide variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, and it had an advanced radar system and electronic countermeasures suite. This allowed the An-71 to be an effective fighter-bomber, capable of engaging both enemy aircraft and ground targets.

However, there are areas where Antonov could do better in the design of the An-71. First, the aircraft is relatively expensive to produce. This is due to the complexity of the fly-by-wire system, as well as the avionics and weapons systems. This has made the An-71 relatively cost-prohibitive for many countries, and has limited its proliferation.

Additionally, the An-71 is limited in its range and payload capacity. While it can carry a respectable payload, its range is limited, making it unsuitable for long-range missions. Furthermore, its lack of stealth capabilities makes it vulnerable to detection by enemy radar systems.

Overall, Antonov did a good job in designing the An-71. It is a capable fighter-bomber, with advanced avionics and weapons systems. However, its relatively high cost and limited range and payload capacity make it unsuitable for many countries. If Antonov can address these issues, the An-71 could be a formidable aircraft.