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. The 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron is based at the Tonopah Test Range Airfield, Nevada and was tasked with training USAF, USN and USMC crews how to better fight Soviet aircraft. The 4477th pilots would act as aggressors called Bandits flying Soviet built aircraft acquired by countries friendly to the US. Some of the aircraft used were MiG-17, 21, 23 and the Chinese Shenyang F-7B. MiG-23MS “Red 49” was used by Major Thomas Drake in 294 sorties and was the most experienced pilot of the 69 Bandits. 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) |
Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA5303 MIG-23MS Red 49, 4477th Test and Evaluation Sqn., Tonopah Test Range Airfield, USAF, 1980s |
HOBBY MASTER COLLECTOR |