Hobby master HA5304 | MIG-23MS "IAF F-4E Killer" Captain al-Masry, Syrian Air Force 19th April 1974

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:
In October 1973 the first new MiG-23MS arrived in Syria. On April 19, 1974 Captain al-Masryof the Syrian Air Force was on a weapons test mission and spotted eight Israeli F-4E Phantoms. Realizing he had to attack first he charged the F-4Es breaking their formation. Making a turn as hard as the MiG-23MS would allow al-Masry rolled in behind some F-4Es. He fired three missiles downing two but his MiG-23MS was hit by friendly SAM SA-6s destroying the aircraft but some
how al-Masry managed to escape the wreckage.


General specifications for the MiG-23 (NATO code name FLOGGER)

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
Height 15 ft 1 in   (4.82 m)
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
Powerplant – 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)