MiG-23 'Flogger' Fighter

Designer: Mikoyan-Gurevich

Manufacturer:

State Industries

Role:

Multi-Role Fighter

Year Adopted:

1966 - First flight of prototype Ye-231
1970 - Initial deliveries to Soviet Air Force
1973 - Large scale serial production begins.

Operational Status:

Russia - Believed to be in reserve service
(Approximately 1500 built over the course of production)

Other Nations - Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Algeria, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iraq, Libya, and Syria

Armament:
(Anti-Air Configuration*)

1 x Twin 23mm GZh-23 twin barreled cannon with 200 rnds
2 x AA-8 'Aphid' air-to-air missiles on pylons
2 x AA-7 'Apex' long range air-to-air missiles

*For air-to-ground missions up to 7,700 pounds of bombs can be carried on five pylons on the aircraft.

Engine:
     (Early)
   
   
     (Later Versions)

   
1 x Tumansky R-27 afterburning turbofan producing 22,485 pounds of thrust with afterburner engaged.

1 x Tumansky R-29B afterburning turbofan producing 27,500 pounds of thrust with afterburner engaged.

Crew:

1 (Pilot)

Wingspan:

26 feet, 9.5 inches
(8.17 meters)

Length:
(excluding refuel probe)

55 feet, 1 inch
(16.8 meters)

Height:

14 feet, 4 inches
(4.35 meters)

Maximum Speed:
(Without external ordnance)

1,520 miles per hour at 50,000 feet
(2,445 kilometers per hour at 15,000 meters)
(Mach 2.31 at 50,000 feet)

Take-Off Weight:

22,000 lbs (empty)
10,000 kg (empty)