Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA5314MIG-23-98 White 36, Russian Air Force (with 4 x R-77 missiles)
General Background
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 Aircraft
The first MiG-23 was the Soviet Union’s first “third generation” fighter aircraft and entered service in 1970. The upgrade to a Mig-23-98 was intended to extend the life of the MiG-23 until 2010. It would include new radar; new avionics, its air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities were improved by making the aircraft capable of firing R- 27 and R-77 missiles. The MiG-23-98 used systems from the MiG-29SMT aircraft. The MiG-23 was the primary multirole fighter used by the Warsaw Pact countries.
Hobby Master HA5314, MIG-23-98 White 36, Russian Air Force (with 4 x R-77), 1:72
- 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
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
Power Plant: 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)
