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Aircraft record

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23

MiG-23 · Mikoyan-Gurevich · Soviet Union

Roles
Fighter (Primary)Interceptor
Era
Cold War
Status
Retired
MiG-23MLD aircraft. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23MLD Flogger K museum aircraft.
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23MLD Flogger K museum aircraft. Source · Not separately identified on the file page; public domain; source credit: National Museum of the United States Air Force. Public domain

Reference data

Quick facts

Manufacturer
Mikoyan-Gurevich
Country
Soviet Union
Status
Retired

Reference data

Historical Content

Development and History

Aircraft family

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 was developed in the Soviet Union during the 1960s as a successor to the MiG-21. [1][2]

Aircraft family

Known to NATO as Flogger, the aircraft was designed to combine advanced fighter-interceptor capabilities with improved operating flexibility. [1][2]

Variable-Sweep Wing

Aircraft family

One of the MiG-23's distinguishing features was its variable-sweep wing. [1][2]

Aircraft family

The pilot could select different wing positions to suit takeoff, landing and high-speed flight. The aircraft also incorporated radar and fire-control equipment intended to support missile engagements beyond visual range. [1][2]

Operational Roles

Aircraft family · Fighter MiG-23 series

MiG-23 fighters were operated by the Soviet Union, Warsaw Pact members and other air forces. [1][2]

Aircraft family · Fighter MiG-23 series

The fighter versions primarily served interception and air-combat missions, while some versions also had a secondary ground-attack capability. [1][2]

MiG-23MLD

Variant: MiG-23MLD

The MiG-23MLD was an improved version developed from the MiG-23ML. Changes included refinements to avionics, weapons and aerodynamic features. [1]

Variant: MiG-23MLD

These improvements should not automatically be attributed to earlier MiG-23 variants. [1]

Reference data

Specifications

Representative Variant Specifications

Representative variant

MiG-23MLD

These specifications apply to the MiG-23MLD variant and should not be read as values for every MiG-23 version.

Dimensions

MeasurementValue
Length17.31 m56 ft 9.5 in
Wingspan13.97 m45 ft 10 inpublished museum value; variable-sweep aircraft
Height4.82 m15 ft 9.75 in

Performance

MeasurementValue
Maximum speed2,499 km/h1,553 mile_per_hour
Range917 km570 mi
Ceiling18,499.8 m60,695 foot

Powerplant

turbojet · MiG-23MLD

Khatchaturov R-35-300

Quantity: 1

Thrust128 kN28,700 pound_forcewith afterburner

Reference data

Variants

Recorded variants of this aircraft family. Variant entries here do not create separate public pages.

MiG-23MS
MiG-23MS
MiG-23ML
MiG-23ML
MiG-23MLD
MiG-23MLD
Representative variant

Reference data

Sources

  1. MiG-23MLDPima Air & Space MuseumMiG-23MLD representative variant specifications
  2. MiG-23MLDNational Museum of the United States Air ForceDevelopment and History · Aircraft family · Variable-Sweep Wing · Aircraft family · Operational Roles · Aircraft family · Fighter MiG-23 series · MiG-23MLD · Variant: MiG-23MLD
  3. MiG-23MSNational Museum of the United States Air ForceDevelopment and History · Aircraft family · Variable-Sweep Wing · Aircraft family · Operational Roles · Aircraft family · Fighter MiG-23 series