Overview
The MiG-23 "Flogger" was the first Soviet fighter with variable-sweep wings, and the first able to use radar and missiles against targets flying below it. It replaced the MiG-21 in many Soviet units during the 1970s.
More than 5,000 were built, making it the most produced swing-wing aircraft, and it served with over 30 air forces. The ground-attack MiG-27 was developed from it, and the Sri Lanka Air Force flew the two-seat MiG-23UB trainer alongside its MiG-27s. Specifications are for the MiG-23MLD.
Specifications
Dimensions
| Length | 16.70 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 13.97 m |
| Height | 4.82 m |
| Wing area | 37.4 m² |
Weights & fuel
| Empty weight | 10,550 kg |
|---|---|
| Max. take-off weight | 17,800 kg |
Performance
| Max. speed | 2,445 km/h |
|---|---|
| Max. Mach | Mach 2.35 |
| Range | 1,150 km |
| Ferry range | 2,820 km |
| Service ceiling | 18,500 m |
| Rate of climb | 240.0 m/s |
Crew & capacity
| Crew | 1 |
|---|---|
| Hardpoints | 6 |
Powerplant
| Engines | 1 |
|---|---|
| Engine model | Khachaturov R-35-300 |
| Thrust (each) | 83.6 kN |
| Thrust with afterburner (each) | 127.0 kN |
Figures are compiled from public sources and may be approximate; they can vary by variant and configuration.
Armament
- 23 mm GSh-23L twin-barrel cannon
- R-23/R-24 and R-60 air-to-air missiles, bombs and rockets on 6 hardpoints
Photos
Photo 1: יובל נבון - IDF Spokesperson's Unit photographer / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Some text and images come from Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA licences.
