Time Period: Post-WW2
Country of Origin: Russia & USSR
Type: Fighter Aircraft, Bomber Aircraft
Manufacturer: Mikoyan-Gurevich
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Aircraft Overview
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a Soviet-era fighter aircraft that was designed and built by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the 1960s. It was a versatile aircraft that was used by the Soviet Union and several other countries as both an interceptor and a ground attack aircraft.
The MiG-23 was a single-seat, variable-sweep wing aircraft that was designed to be able to operate from short, rough runways. It was powered by a single turbojet engine and had a top speed of around Mach 2.35. The aircraft was armed with a range of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, and a 23mm cannon.
The MiG-23 saw extensive use during the Cold War, particularly in conflicts in the Middle East and Afghanistan. However, the aircraft was known to have a number of issues, including poor reliability and high accident rates. In later years, it was replaced by newer aircraft such as the MiG-29 and Su-27.
Despite its flaws, the MiG-23 was a significant aircraft in the history of Soviet aviation and helped pave the way for the development of more advanced fighters in the future.
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23MLD Specifications
- Crew: 1 sat on a Mikoyan KM-1M ejection seat
- Length: 16.7 m (54 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan: 13.965 m (45 ft 10 in) fully spread. 7.779 m (25.52 ft) fully-swept
- Height: 4.82 m (15 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 37.35 m2 (402.0 sq ft) fully-spread. 34.16 m2 (367.7 sq ft) fully-swept
- Airfoil: root: TsAGI SR-12S (6.5%); tip: TsAGI SR-12S (5.5%)
- Gross weight: 14,840 kg (32,717 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 17,800 kg (39,242 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 4,260 L (1,130 US gal; 940 imp gal) internal with provision for up to 3x 800 L (210 US gal; 180 imp gal) drop-tanks
- Powerplant: 1 × Khatchaturov R-35-300 afterburning turbojet, 83.6 kN (18,800 lbf) thrust with variable-geometry nozzles dry, 127.49 kN (28,660 lbf) with afterburner
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23MLD Performance
- Maximum speed: 2,499 km/h (1,553 mph, 1,349 kn) / M2.35 at altitude. 1,350 km/h (840 mph; 730 kn) / M1.1 at sea level
- Range: 1,900 km (1,200 mi, 1,000 nmi) clean
- Combat range: 1,500 km (930 mi, 810 nmi) with standard armament, no drop-tanks. 2,550 km (1,580 mi; 1,380 nmi) with standard armament and 3x 800 L (210 US gal; 180 imp gal) drop-tanks
- Ferry range: 2,820 km (1,750 mi, 1,520 nmi) with 3x 800 L (210 US gal; 180 imp gal) drop-tanks
- Service ceiling: 18,300 m (60,000 ft)
- g limits: +8.5
- Rate of climb: 230 m/s (45,000 ft/min) at sea level
- Take-off distance: 500 m (1,600 ft)
- Landing distance: 750 m (2,460 ft)
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23MLD Armament
- Guns: 1 × 23 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23L autocannon with 200 rounds
- Hardpoints: 2 × fuselage, 2 × wing glove and 2 × wing pylons with a capacity of up to 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) of stores, with provisions to carry combinations of:
- Missiles:
- Air-to-air missiles:
- 4 × R-60
- R-73
- 2 × R-23
- Air-to-surface missiles:
- Kh-23 Grom
- Bombs: Up to 500 kg (1,100 lb) bombs per hardpoint
- Missiles:
