Mig-23 Mikoyan-Gourevitch

The Mig-23 Mikoyan-Gurevich ( Russian МикояниГуревичМиГ-23 in , Code NATO “ Flogger” ) is a Soviet Fighter plan with Géométrie variable, able to operate since small and badly maintained aerodromes. Conceived by Mikoyan-Gourevitch, it is the first Soviet hunter able to locate and engage of the targets wheels lower than him, and out of reach visual. A version specialized in the attacks on the ground was also carried out. The MIG-23 was produced in great quantities as from 1970, and the version export remains nowadays in service limited in various countries throughout the world.

Design

The MIG-23 answers a request of the Soviet air force for a fighter plan more powerful than MIG-21, able to operate since summary grounds in order to make it possible to disperse the units on secondary aerodromes in the event of conflict. To meet this need, two projects were examined:

a plane on short takeoff equipped with two engines of lift to the back of the cockpit. This formula was initially tested on a modified MIG-21PFM (its fuselage being lengthened to install two Kolesov RD-36-35 of a power of 23 kN each one) then led to a prototype indicated Avion 23-01 with air intake moved on the side to allow the installation of a powerful radar in the nose. First flight take place on April 3rd, 1967, but the project was quickly abandoned because of the many problems and limitations posed by this formula.

a plane equipped with wings with variable Geometry whose prototype was indicated Avion 23-11 . It also laid out him of side air intake and made its first flight on June 10th, 1967, initially with the arrow blocked with 72 degrees. One month later, the angle of the wings started to be modified in flight and tested with the various possible values (16 degrees, 45 degrees, 72 degrees). Plane 23-11 was followed by six other prototypes and two planes of static tests on the ground.

The first generation

The first of the 60 MIG-23S of preproduction left factory in May 1969, propelled by an engine Tumansky R-27F-300 of a maximum power of 78,5 kN. In the course of production, this engine was replaced by the R-27F2-300 able to provide 97,8 kN (either 25% of additional push). The development of radar RP-23 Sapfir-23 initially planned for the MIG-23 having taken delay, the MIG-23S accepted the RP-22SM of the Mig-21MF/bis.

These first MIG-23 presented many defects however, concerning so much the reliability of the plane itself (on the level in particular of the hydraulic systems and the system of fastener of the wings) that its characteristics of flight (bad horizontal stability, left very delicate gimlet), with moreover of the performances in combat whirling lower than those of the MIG-21.

An improved version appeared in 1971: it had of a first version of the radar RP-23 Sapfir-23 (which proved not very reliable), an infra-red detector coupled with the system of shooting, new air-brakes, of a drift modified to improve stability and, especially of a news aerofoil with an increased wing surface of 20% and the values of arrows increased by 2,4 degrees in all the positions. In spite of these modifications, the new MIG-23SM appeared quite as problematic as the MIG-23S and remains regarded as a plane of preproduction, built with only 100 specimens.

The first true version of production was in fact the MIG-23M Flogger B, which made its first flight in June 1972. It had a R-29-300 engine of a power of 113,4 kN (either 15% of more) and wings with new modified, the removal of the nozzles of leading edge on the MIG-23M being proven to be a bad idea. Other improvements were made, in particular concerning the Avionique and the Ejector seat. Lastly, in the course of production, the final radar Sapfir-23D-III became finally available: it was the first Soviet radar able to locate and engage of the targets lower wheels (capacity Look Down, Shoot Down), and it allowed moreover the use of missiles AA-7 Apex against targets out of reach visual.

Versions intended for export were carried out: the Migone with a avionics slightly degraded for the countries of the Warsaw Pact and the allies " fiables" , then the MIG-23MS (Flogger E) which had only old radar RP-22SM for the other countries. In all, approximately 1300 specimens of the MIG-23M, MF and ms were built.

A two-seater version intended for the drive was developed starting from the MIG-23S, the prototype (indicated MIG-23U) making its inaugural flight on April 10th, 1970. It preserved the avionics of the single-seaters as their gun of 23 mm, which made it capable of mission of combat. The production began in 1970 pennies designation MIG-23UB (Flogger C). Since 1971, the specimens which left factory had the aerofoil improved of the MIG-23M. The production continued until 1985 and the sales with export represented approximately a third of the 770 built two-seaters.

The second generation

Mikoyan-Gourevitch continued to work on a lighter and more reliable version of Flogger: January 21st, 1975 took place the first flight of version MIG-23ML (Flogger G) with a fuselage entirely re-examined and a better aerodynamics, and which weighed 1250 kg less. It also had an engine Tumansky R-35F-300 of 128 kN (either 13% of additional power) and less greedy while carburizing. All the avionics had been improved, with in particular a Sapfir-23ML radar (lighter, more reliable and more powerful). In the course of production, the system of fastener of the wings was reinforced.

This version already largely improved was followed in 1977 of the MIG-23MLA, with a radar which can work on several wavebands (to limit the interferences) and able to carry new more powerful air-to-air missiles. As for the MIG-23M, of the versions of export with a more or less degraded avionics were realized. In all, approximately a thousand of MIG-23ML and related were built.

A version MIG-23P (" P" for perekvatchik , that is to say interceptor) was realized for equipped the units with interception of the Soviet air force, with a avionics modified to improve air integration with the defense systems: new a Autopilot and a new data link made it possible to almost entirely operate by remote control the plane from a station on the ground. Approximately 500 specimens of this version were built.

A programme of handing-over on level of the MIG-23ML/MLA was launched in 1982 and was led to Mig-23MLD (Flogger K) including/understanding:

a radar Sapfir-23MLA-11 AKA of greater range and other improvements
a control system of flight preventing from pushing the plane out of its limits
a system of fastener of the wings reinforced and allowing a positioning 33 degrees
of new chaff launchers, vortex generators, and other improvements of the avionics.

Approximately 500 MIG-23 in service were carried to this new standard, and 75 new specimens built for export.

In the years 1980, a certain number of MIG-23UB were modified in MIG-23UM, with a avionics given on level to be closer to the single-seaters then in service (i.e. MIG-23ML/MLA/MLD).

The version of attack (MIG-23BN)

The development of a version specialized in the attacks on the ground was considered very early: the fourth prototype of the MIG-23 was thus modified summarily for this role, but the tests showed that the formula was not adapted. Mikoyan-Gourevitch then made other modifications to lead to the MIG-23B (" B" for bombardirovshtik , that is to say bomber) whose prototype made its first flight on February 18th, 1971.

Outside, the MIG-23 of attack are immediately recognizable with their nose in " nozzle of canard" allowing to improve the visibility of the pilot downwards and the front one, and made possible by the removal of the air-to-air radar of the versions of hunting. The other modifications included an engine Lyulka AL-21F-300 of a maximum power of 110 kN. The cockpit and the ventral part under the engine were protected by a thick shielding, while a device limiting the fire hazards had been added to the fuel tanks (of a capacity increased to 5.750 liters). The avionics also had been seriously re-examined with inter alia the installation of a navigation system and attack, of a laser system ensuring the telemetry and the detection of illumination, of an altimeter radar, a jammer of emissions radar and a detector of alarm radar. Lastly, the structure of the plane was reinforced and the capacity of carrying of load increased to 3000 kg.

After the adoption of the modified wing of the MIG-23SM, ten MIG-23B (Flogger F) were built in 1972 as planes preproduction. The first and single version of series were the Migone (Flogger H) which had an engine Tumanski R-29B-300 of a maximum power of 122 kN as well as navigation system and of attack improved. The production reached 624 planes whose majority were exported, there still with a avionics more or less degraded according to the purchasing country.

New improvements of the version of attack involved a change of designation and the appearance of the MIG-27.

Alternatives

MIG-23S Flogger a: version of preproduction with radar RP-22SM (60 specimens)
: version improved with radar Sapfir-23L and a new aerofoil (100 specimens)
MIG-23M Flogger b: first version of production with more powerful engine, final radar Sapfir-23D-III, etc
MIG-23UB Flogger C: two-seat trainer (770 specimens).
MIG-23MF: version of export of the MIG-23M with degraded avionics
MIG-23MS Flogger E: version of export of the MIG-23M with radar RP-22SM
MIG-23B Flogger F: version of preproduction for the attack on the ground (10 specimens)
MIG-23ML Flogger G: version largely improved with new radar, new engine, etc
MIG-23BN Flogger H: version of production for the attack on the ground (624 specimens)
MIG-23MLA: new radar which can operate on several wavebands
MIG-23P: interceptor which can be remote-controlled from a station on the ground (500 specimens)
MIG-23MLD Flogger K: improved radar, new position of the wings and other improvements (75 new planes plus 500 modified MIG-23ML/MLA)
MIG-23UM: two-seat trainers with avionics given on level

Total production estimated at approximately 4.400 specimens (except MIG-27).

Engagements

The the USSR engaged the MIG-23 in support of its planes of attack between 1984 and 1989, at the time of the Guerre of Afghanistan.

The Iraq engaged its MIG-23 at the time of the Guerre Iran-Iraq, asserting several victories over the Iranian planes.

At the time of the Israeli Military intervention in Lebanon of 1982, many MIG-23 Syria NS were cut down by the Israeli fighter plans.

Other MIG-23 have undergoes the test of fire, in particular those used by the Angola and the Libya.

Country users

The MIG-23 was a great success with export and the deliveries exceeded the borders of the countries of the ex- Warsaw Pact.

It (or was) is used in Algérie, Angola, Bulgaria, Bielorussia, North Korea, Cuba, Ethiopia, India, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Libya, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sudan, Syria, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine, Vietnam, Yemen, Venezuela.

See too

Internal bonds

List of the military aircrafts
Mig-27 Mikoyan-Gourevitch Flogger

External bonds

the MIG-23 on Air Vectors
the MIG-23 on GlobalSecurity.org
the MIG-23 on DefenceTalk.com

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