In the 1960’s the Soviet military required a replacement for the MiG-21 that could compete with
the USAF F-14 Tomcat. It had to be very fast, rapid acceleration, carry a larger payload, capable
of a high service ceiling, long range and beyond visual range intercept capabilities. The project
was given to the Mikoyan- Gurevich Design Bureau that produced the Model 23-11 that first flew
on June 10, 1967. Production began in 1969 and eventually completed over 5,000 swing-wing
MiG-23s. A ground-attack variant was also produced, the MiG-27.

2nd Squadron 1. SLP (Fighter Aviation Regiment) based at České Budějovice, Czech Republic
was equipped with the MiG-23MF beginning in 1978. In the spring of 1992 the unit began to use
aircraft markings from the 1960s and 70s so the Bat was once again used. MiG-23MF “3922”
MSN 0390213922 was delivered to 1. SLP in March 1979, in 1983 it went to 11 SLP and
returned to 1. SLP in 1989. In 1994 the aircraft was flown to the military aviation museum
Prague-Kbely by pilot Colonel George Trunečka.

General specifications for the MiG-23 (NATO code name FLOGGER)

Country of Origin – Soviet Union

Manufacturer – Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau

Role – Fighter-Interceptor

Crew – 1 Pilot   (2 X for the MiG-23UB and the MiG-23UM

First Flight – June 10, 1967

Dimensions
Length – 54 ft 8 ins   (16.71 m) including nose probe
Height 15 ft 1 in   (4.82 m)
Wingspan
Fully Swept – 26 ft 7 ins   (7.78 m)
Fully Spread – 45 ft 8 ins   (13.97 m)

Weight
Empty – 22,440 lbs   (10,200 kg)
Maximum Take-Off – 39,160 lbs   (17,800 kg)

Performance
Powerplant – 1 X Soyuz/Tumansky R-35-300 Afterburning Turbojet
Thrust – 28,600 lbs   (13,000 kg)
Maximum Speed – 1,553 mph   (2,500 kmh)
Service Ceiling – 60,680 ft   (18,500 m)
Range – 1,211 miles   (1,950 km)

Armament
1 X GSh-23L 23mm Two-Barrel Cannon w/200 Rounds
Maximum External Weapons Load – 6,600 lbs   (3,000 kg)
Weapons Options
AAMs and ASMs
R-3 (AA-2 Atoll)
R-13R (AA-2-2 Atoll-C)
R-13M (AA-2-2 Atoll-D)
R-23R (AA-7 Apex)
R-23T (AA-7 Apex)
R-24R (AA-7 Apex)
R-24T (AA-7 Apex)
R-60 (AA-8 Aphid)
R-60M (AA-8 Aphid)
Unguided Rockets
S-5
S-8
S-24
Unguided Bombs
FAB-250
FAB-500
OFAB-100 Fragmentation Bombs
Cluster Bombs
ZAB-500 Napalm Bombs
UPK-23 250 Pods with a GSh-23L Cannon

Known variants
MiG-23B, MiG-23BN, MiG-23BK, MiG-23BM, MiG-23BN, MiG-23M, MiG-23MF, MiG-23ML
MiG-23MLA, MiG-23MLD, MiG-23MS, MiG-23P, MiG-23S, MiG-23UB, MiG-23UM,
MiG-24 (export MiG-23)

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