Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA5316MIG-23MS "Flogger E" Red 39, 4477th Test & Evaluation Sqn., Nevada, 1981 to 1988
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
On October 11, 1989, Major Adel Bassem was flying a Syrian MiG-23ML as part of a 2 aircraft training flight next to the Israeli held “Golan Heights”. Bassem saw the opportunity he had been waiting for and broke away from the second Syrian aircraft. He turned toward Israel and accelerated as he descended below radar coverage. With afterburners lit he crossed into Israel and landed at the civilian airport of Megiddo. This was a bit of embarrassment for the Israelis because the Syrian fighter was never challenged.
Hobby Master HA5316, MIG-23MS "Flogger E" Red 39, 4477th Test & Evaluation, 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)
