The MiG-23, more popularly known by its NATO reporting name “Flogger,” stands out as one great testament to Soviet genius in the fields of military aviation. From the design tables of the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau comes this third-generation jet fighter aircraft that would change the face of fighter aircraft, bringing with it the adoption of variable-geometry wings. In general terms, it’s the ability to change the wing configuration during flight to realize different performance spectrums regarding both speed and altitude.
The MiG-23 was conceived in the 1960s as a replacement for the MiG-21 and was meant to be a fast climber and flyer at high altitudes with a substantial degree of ground attack. What sets this aircraft apart is a revolutionary “swing-wing” design reminiscent of the F-14 Tomcat; the wings swept back in flight for high speeds can also splay out for low speeds in flight and on landing. This revolutionary design helped it stay versatile in a multi-role use airplane.
With its afterburning turbojet motor, the Khachaturov R-35-300 motor powered the MiG-23 to a top speed of Mach 2.35. A two-spool axial arrangement with a three-stage low-pressure compressor and a six-stage high-pressure compressor helped give the engine its decent thrust-to-weight ratio, although it was relatively thirsty for fuel, particularly in full afterburner.
The aircraft was equipped with modern radar and weapon systems and was able to engage low-flying targets with the help of the RP-23 Sapfir look-down/shoot-down radar. The principal armament of the MiG-23 is the R-23 (AA-7 Apex) missile with a range of 35 km. The aircraft could also be armed with a 23 mm GSh-23L autocannon and carry a variety of air-to-surface ordnance in the ground-attack role.
First entering the Soviet Air Force service in 1970, the aircraft has been used in some conflicts, most notably the Yom Kippur War, the Iran–Iraq War, and the Gulf War. MiG-23s were used by the Syrian Air Force to confront other American-made advanced aircraft, significantly the F-4 Phantom II used by the Israeli Air Force, during the Yom Kippur War. Despite technological advantages, the MiG-23 often proved to be difficult to employ effectively in conflicts, due in part to poor training of pilots and maintenance, resulting in mixed combat results.
The aircraft had one of the major uses in the said War of Ground attacks on the positions of Mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan War. The swing-wing design had also been highly versatile under the rough Afghan conditions for numerous types of missions, including close air support, interdiction, and reconnaissance.
This aside from its novelty design and multirole capability, made the MiG-23 have a checkered safety record and was often criticized as tough and expensive to fly and maintain. Western observers initially eyed it as no more than a “serviceable” aircraft, but retrospectively the MiG-23 has won respect as an impressive design that could stand up against at least some of the Western aircraft of the period.
The MiG-23 was produced in large quantities and was actively exported for use in many subcontinental air arms, from Eastern Europe to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. More than 5,000 units had been manufactured by the end of the Cold War. Although most air arms have retired their fleets of MiG-23s by now, some are still in service—including a very few.
The MiG-23 was an important chapter in military aviation history that reflected technological progress and strategic doctrines of the time. The induction and large-scale use of the craft speak volumes about the dynamic character of aerial combat and military technology during the second half of the 20th century. Even while falling far short of perfection, the MiG-23 leaves a heritage worth studying among world military aviation enthusiasts.