The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a variable-geometry fighter which first flew in June 1967 and entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1970 as a replacement for the aging MiG-21 jet fighter. When production ended in 1985 a total in excess of 5,000 aircraft had been produced. The NATO reporting name for this jet fighter was the "Flogger" and tests after the end of the cold war show similar performance to the American F-16 in many areas. It is of note that the ground attack MiG 27 is based on the MiG 23 airframe. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23MLD Specifications: - Crew: Pilot only
- Length: 16.70 m (56 ft 9.5)
- Wingspan: Spread, 13.97 m (45 ft 10 in)
- Height: 4.82 m (15 ft 9.75 in)
- Wing area: 37.35 m² spread, 34.16 m² swept (402.05 ft² / 367.71 ft²)
- Empty weight: 9,595 kg (21,153 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 18,030 kg (39,749 lb)
- Engine: Single 127 kN (18,850 lbf / 28,700 lbf) thrust Khatchaturov R-35-300 afterburning turbojet
- Maximum speed: Mach 2.32, 2,445 km/h
- Maximum range: 1,150 km (570 mi)
- Service ceiling: 18,500 m (60,695 ft)
Armament: - Single 200 round Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23L 23 mm cannon
- up to 3,000 kg (6,610 lb) of stores, including:
- R-23/24 (AA-7 "Apex")
- R-60 (AA-8 "Aphid")
- R-27 (AA-10 "Alamo")
- R-73 (AA-11 "Archer")
- R-77 (AA-12 "Adder")
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