MiG-23

Mikoyan-Gurevich · Soviet Union · first flew 1967 · fighter

The MiG-23 is a single-engine, variable-geometry swing-wing fighter built in large numbers for the Soviet Union and its allies.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, swept
E — Engines	1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	16.7 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Variable-sweep wings
Box-section side intakes
Tall fin with ventral fold-fin

Spot it by the variable-sweep wings pivoting from a fixed glove, the slab-sided rectangular intakes flanking the fuselage and the large fin with a folding ventral fin beneath the tail.

Specifications

The MiG-23 has a length of 16.7 m (55 ft).
It has a wingspan of 13.97 m (46 ft).
Its maximum speed is 2445 km/h (1519 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1967, the MiG-23 introduced a variable-sweep wing to give the Soviet air force a fighter with both good field performance and high dash speed. Over 5,000 were built, making it the most-produced swing-wing aircraft ever.

Variants

The line ran from the early MiG-23M and export MiG-23MS to the much-improved MiG-23ML and MLD. The dedicated ground-attack derivative became the MiG-27 Flogger.

Where you'll see it

Widely exported across the Warsaw Pact, Middle East and Africa, the MiG-23 saw extensive combat. It never served in the UK, but preserved examples are held in European museums and the type is a Cold War icon.

Related aircraft

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