Mikoyan MiG-27
Mikoyan-Gurevich · Soviet Union · first flew 1972 · fighter
A Soviet single-seat, variable-sweep ground-attack aircraft optimised for low-level battlefield strike, developed from the MiG-23.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 17.1 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Variable-sweep wings on a high-set fixed glove
- Sharply downward-sloping 'duck-bill' armoured nose with no radar
- Single engine fed by simple fixed side intakes
Spot the swing wings on a high glove, the unmistakable sloping armoured nose without a radar dome, and the single engine with plain side intakes.
Specifications
- The Mikoyan MiG-27 has a length of 17.1 m (56 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.8 m (45 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1885 km/h (1171 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1972, the MiG-27 reworked the MiG-23 fighter into a dedicated attack aircraft, replacing the radar nose with an armoured sloping 'duck-bill' housing for a laser rangefinder and giving it simpler fixed intakes. It carried a heavy six-barrel cannon and a wide range of air-to-ground weapons.
Variants
Soviet production ran through the MiG-27, MiG-27K, M and D variants with improved attack avionics; India built licensed examples locally as the MiG-27ML 'Bahadur'.
Where you'll see it
A Soviet, Russian and export ground-attack type that was never UK-based and has not been seen flying in Britain; spotters meet it only overseas or in museums.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.