Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23. Photo: US military, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
| |
| Make | Mikoyan-Gurevich |
|---|---|
| Model | Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 |
| Type | Fighter aircraft (M series), Fighter-bomber (B series) |
| Country |  Soviet Union
|
| First flight | 10 June 1967 |
| Built | 1967–1985 |
| Status | In limited service |
| Number built | 5,047 |
| Registered in the US | 3 (FAA register, October 30, 2026) |
| Seats | 1 sat on a Mikoyan KM-1M ejection seat |
| Engine | Khatchaturov R-35-300
|
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The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a Soviet supersonic fighter with wings that swing forward and back in flight (variable sweep).[1] With more than 5,000 built from 1969, it is the most-produced variable-sweep airplane in history, and some export customers still fly it.[1] In the U.S. there are 3 with a valid registration, all two-seat MiG-23UB trainers.[2]
History
The MiG-23 first flew on June 10, 1967, and entered service in 1970.[1] It was the first Soviet fighter with a look-down/shoot-down radar, the RP-23 Sapfir, and one of the first armed with missiles that could hit targets beyond visual range.[1] It is a third-generation jet fighter, like the Su-17 of the same period.[1] The ground-attack MiG-27 was built from it, with the radar nose replaced by a laser designator and TV camera.[1] NATO called it "Flogger".[1]
Registered in the United States
The FAA register lists 3 of these airplanes with a valid U.S. registration. Here they are by the model name the FAA uses.[2]
| FAA model name | Registered |
|---|---|
| MIG-23UB | 3 |
Specifications (MiG-23MLD)
| Item | MiG-23MLD |
|---|---|
| Crew | 1 sat on a Mikoyan KM-1M ejection seat |
| Length | 16.7 m |
| Wingspan | 13.965 m |
| Height | 4.82 m |
| Fuel | 4260 L internal with provision for up to 3x 800 L drop-tanks |
| Engine | Khatchaturov R-35-300 (afterburning turbojet) |
| Maximum speed | 2,500 km/h |
| Range | 1,900 km |
Figures as given in the Wikipedia article and its sources.[1]
Photos
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Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23. Photo: Akpch, CC BY-SA 3.0 -
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23. Photo: U.S. Navy, Public domain -
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Flogger. Photo: Clemens Vasters from Viersen, Germany, CC BY 2.0 -
East German Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-23ML (L – lightweight) Flogger. Photo: Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23. Photo: Nockson, CC BY-SA 3.0 -
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-23 - NATO "Flogger". Photo: Clemens Vasters from Viersen, Germany, Germany, CC BY 2.0
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All photos are from Wikimedia Commons; click a photo for its full credit and license.
Buying a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Wikipedia, "Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23", read November 1, 2026. Airplane Wiki's text is written in its own words; facts are checked against this article and its sources.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Federal Aviation Administration, Releasable Aircraft Database, file dated October 30, 2026. Valid registrations of fixed-wing airplanes whose FAA maker and model names belong to this family. Airplane Wiki uses only counts from this file, never owner names or addresses.