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Icons of Aviation History: The Soviet MiG-23 Flogger [1]
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Date: 2023-08-15
The MiG-23 was the first Soviet fighter to feature variable-geometry swing wings, which allowed it to perform at both high and low speeds. But the jet was plagued by issues, and has been called the USSR's worst fighter.
"Icons of Aviation History" is a diary series that explores significant and historic aircraft.
MiG-23 on display at the Pima Air and Space Museum
Development of the MiG-23 began in the early 1960s. The highly-successful MiG-21 was showing its age, and the Russians hoped to take advantage of new advances in aviation technology. The MiG-21 had been designed for interception and air superiority. But in the post-Vietnam era, the Soviet Union decided that it needed a multi-role fighter that would be equally suitable for air combat, ground attack, and high-speed interception. The Russians also wanted the ability to operate from rough grass airfields, without the long concrete runways required by the MiG-21.
To reach these requirements, the Mikoyan-Guryevich bureau turned to a concept that was also already being researched by the Americans, but which would be new for the USSR--the swing wing. The prototype project would be dubbed "Model 23-11".
The MiG-23's variable-geometry wing was designed to move between 72 and 16 degrees of sweep while in flight, to allow the best performance at a variety of speeds and to give the airplane better flexibility for a variety of missions. At high speed, the wings would sweep back into a delta shape, reducing drag and giving the maximum possible speed. This made the fighter effective for intercepting incoming bombers or reconnaissance planes. At slower speeds, including landings and takeoffs, the wings would be extended straight out to the sides to give greater lift and maneuverability, making the jet effective for close air combat or ground-attack.
The MiG-23 was also equipped with the newest advanced Soviet avionics, including an autopilot, an inertial navigation system, and a Heads-Up Display (HUD). The new RP-23 Sapfir radar system, in conjunction with the TP-23 infra-red search and tracking system, was capable of simultaneously tracking multiple targets at long ranges and could also be used for ground mapping and navigation. In addition, the MiG-23 carried a variety of air-to-air missiles, including the R-60 (NATO codename AA-8 "Aphid") and R-23 (NATO codename AA-7 "Apex"): later versions carried the R-73 (NATO codename AA-11 "Archer"), and R-77 (NATO codename AA-12 "Adder"). The fighter was also equipped with the Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23L 23mm cannon for close-in dogfighting.
The ground-attack model was fitted with the Kh-23 (NATO codename AS-7 "Kerry") air-to-ground missile, and was designated the MiG-27.
The MiG-23 entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1971, and received the NATO codename "Flogger". On paper, it all looked good. The maximum speed was around Mach 2.35 at high altitude, varying a bit according to which engines were in the different models. The combat range was between 400-500 miles (depending on the load-out) and the maximum range was over 1,000 miles with external fuel tanks.
The Flogger saw heavy service during the war in Afghanistan, where it was primarily used for ground attack missions but sometimes saw action against American-made Pakistani F-16s. The ruggedly-built MiG-23's ability to operate from almost any airfield made it an important tactical asset for supporting Russian ground troops. Export versions saw combat in the Middle East (where they did poorly against Israeli F-15 and F-16 fighters), in the Iran-Iraq War, in the Libyan combat with Chad, and in several other African conflicts.
For the most part, however, the MiG's performance proved to be unimpressive, though this may have been largely due to the lack of pilot training in most of the countries where it was used. The United States, meanwhile, tended to overestimate the capabilities of the Flogger, and it wasn't until the US Air Force managed to obtain a number of captured MiG-23s from Egypt and Syria in the 1980s that the aircraft's shortcomings really became apparent to the Americans, who flew the captured Floggers in mock combat against frontline US fighter squadrons. They found that the swing wings made the fighter difficult for inexperienced pilots to handle, especially at low speeds during takeoff and landing. The wings were also prone to mechanical malfunctions. The Flogger's R-27 and R-29 engines were delicate and had an alarming tendency to flame out during flight, and this caused a significant number of crashes. The Soviets tried to fix the engine issues with a series of upgrades and modifications, including the newer R-35 engine, but they never really solved the problem.
Nevertheless, the Flogger remained in service for several decades, long after the Cold War was over. The Russian Air Force did not formally retire the fighter until 1997. In all, some 4,500 MiG-23s of various models were built.
The Mig-23 on display at the US Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, was obtained during the Cold War and was flown against US fighter pilots as part of the Air Force's “Project Constant Peg”. It was declassified and donated to the Museum in February 2017.
In 1991, the Air Force received five frontline MiG-23G model Floggers from the former East German Air Force. One of these is now on exhibit at the SAC Air Museum in Omaha.
Another Flogger is on exhibit at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Arizona. This is a Soviet MiG-23MLD model that saw service in Afghanistan in the 1980s. At the end of the Cold War it was sold to a museum in Finland and then to a private individual in the United States, but was seized by the US Government and turned over to the Air Force. It is now on loan to Pima Air and Space.
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