The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 (NATO reporting name Flogger) is a fighter aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. Its predecessor, the MiG-21, was notoriously lightly armed and short on fuel. The MiG-23 was a heavier, more powerful machine designed to remedy these deficiencies.
It was designed to rival the American F-4 Phantom II, and was fitted with similar jet intakes. To facilitate operation on the poor-quality airstrips common in the Soviet Union, the aircraft was fitted with swing-wings. The MiG-27 was a simplified version for use as a ground attack aircraft.
Specifications
OriginCIS (formerly USSR)
Length55 ft (16.6 m)
Span46 ft 9 in (14.26 m)
Ceiling18,600 m
Range970 nm
Internal Fuel4,600 kg
Payload2,000 kg
SensorsHigh Lark radar, RWR, IRST
Armament
- GSh-23L 23mm cannon
- AS-7 Kerry
- AA-7, AA-8, AA-10, AA-11 missiles
- UV-16-57 rockets, FAB-500 bombs
Variants
- MiG-23M/MF Flogger B
- MiG-23UB/UM Flogger C
- MiG-23MS Flogger E
- MiG-23BN/BM/B Flogger F
- MiG-23ML/P Flogger G
- MiG-23BK/BN Flogger H
- MiG-23MLD Flogger K
- MiG-24 (export MiG-23)