Fact File: The MiG-23 Flogger at War

[Matt Wiser]

The MiG-23's service in the war:


The MiG-23 Flogger in World War III


The MiG-23 (NATO code name Flogger) was the primary Soviet Air Force air superiority fighter in the Third World War. Not only did the aircraft see service in the Soviet Air Force and in the Voyska PVO, the Soviet Air Defense Force, but it also saw service in Soviet-allied air forces in both Eastern Europe as well as in North America. Comparable to the F-4 Phantom, the aircraft saw service in both the air superiority as well as in the ground-attack role, and two dedicated versions were produced with the attack mission in mind. This work will examine those Flogger variants that saw service during the war and afterwards, with combat not only in North America and Eastern Europe, but in a number of postwar conflicts, including both the Baja War of 2010 and the Fall of the Rump USSR later that year.


Variants:

MiG-23M (NATO Flogger-B): Initial production variant: Saphir 23L (“High Lark”) radar with limited look-down/shoot-down capabilities, Twin 23-mm Gsh-23 cannon, two AA-7 Apex SARH AAMs, two AA-8 Aphid IR AAMs, (increased to four with double pylon launcher), Tumansky R-29 engine. AS-7 Kerry ASM capabilities added later.

MiG-23MF (NATO Flogger-B): Export version of MF produced in two versions. One for WARPAC air forces (as well as Cuba), second downgraded version for export to the Middle East and Africa. Former retained radar, AA-7, AA-8 AAMs, AS-7 Kerry ASM. Downgraded version with Jay Bird radar and no SARH AAMs for Middle East clients. AA-2 Atoll and AA-8 Aphid.

MiG-23MS (NATO Flogger-E): Export version of M. Jay Bird radar, AA-2 Advanced Atoll SARH missiles and AA-2 or AA-8 IR missiles. No IFF or data link installed. Mainly exported to Middle East. Unguided rocket pods and bombs only for ground attack.

MiG-23P (NATO Flogger-G): PVO interceptor version with GCI datalink and improved LD/SD to target cruise missiles. Most numerous PVO interceptor during the war.

MiG-23Pbis (NATO Flogger-G): Modified P with IRST restored.

MiG-23ML (NATO Flogger-G): Improved M/MS with new engine, improved High Lark radar, aircraft performance improved with excess weight removed, improved engine and IRST added. SAF use and exports to WARPAC, Cuba and Libya.

MiG-23MLA (NATO Flogger-G): Improved HUD/Gunsight, improved AA-7 with both IR and SARH versions, Improved High Lark radar with better ECM resistance. SAF and exports to WARPAC, Cuba, and to Iraq and North Korea.

MiG-23MLD (NATO Flogger-K): Final MiG-23 fighter version. Improved maneuverability and new version of High Lark radar with improved LD/SD capabilities and better ECM resistance. Originally upgraded from ML and MLA, but with the outbreak of war, new-build versions produced to fill attrition in SAF and selected allied air forces. Also used by SNAF at Cam Ranh Bay for local air defense.

Trainers:

MiG-23U (NATO Flogger-C): No radar, Tumansky R-27 engine. Only Cannon and IR AAMs for air combat.

MiG-23UB (NATO Flogger-C): Same as U, but R-29 engine in place of R-27. Produced for Soviet service and for export.


Ground Attack Versions:

MiG-23B (NATO Flogger-F): Prototype ground-attack version: No radar, but laser rangefinder, bomb sight, and analog computer with EW Suite. Gsh-23 cannon retained, with bombs and rockets for the ground attack mission.

MiG-23BN: (NATO Flogger-H): Main ground attack version, with R-29 engine as the fighter version. AS-7 Kerry ASM capabilities added. Produced mainly for Export, as Frontal Aviation only used them in a limited role. Primary ground-attack aircraft flown by Soviet allies in the war.

MiG-23BK (NATO Flogger-H): WARPAC ground-attack version with SAF standard nav-attack system. Some used in North America, others saw combat in 1989.

MiG-23BM: (NATO Flogger-D): Improved nav-attack system, digital computer replacing analog.Gsh-30-6 Gatling gun replaced twin 23-mm cannon. Introduced into SAF service as the MiG-27.

MiG-27M: (NATO Flogger-J): Gsh-30-6M Gatling gun, improved nav-attack system. SAF use only.

MiG-27K (NATO Flogger-J2): Most advanced Soviet version, with laser designator for use of laser-guided bombs, comparable with AS-10/14 ASMs, Gsh-30-6M Gatling gun.

MiG-27D (NATO Flogger-J): Upgraded MiG-23BM to MiG-27K standard. No external differences.


Users:

Soviet Air Force: Primary SAF air superiority fighter in 1985-7 time frame, until arrival of MiG-29. SAF still used the aircraft until the end of the war in North America in both Northern and Southern Theaters. MiG-27 family saw extensive service in the ground-attack role.

Soviet Air Defense Force: MiG-23P regiments saw service defending against SAC and RAF bombers during the EASTERN EXPRESS bombing campaign.

Soviet Naval Aviation: One regiment MiG-23MLK based at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, 1985-87 for local air defense. Combat against USAF aircraft from both the Philippines and Taiwan.

Czechoslovakia: Czech MiG-23s did not deploy to North America, but saw service in 1989. All retired from either Czech Republic or Slovak service after.

Cuba: Cuban AF was a heavy user of the fighter and attack versions during the war, flying from both occupied territory as well as Cuba. MiG-23s encountered during U.S intervention in support of anti-Castro uprisings, 2009. All destroyed or captured.

East Germany: One Regiment (JG-9) in North America with MiG-23MF. One squadron MiG-23BK from JBG-37 deployed also. JG-7 reequipped with MiG-23MF prior to 1989. Combat during 1989 campaign.

Hungary: One interceptor Regiment. Not deployed to North America.

Libya: One squadron MS, then ML, in North America. Remainder defended against strikes from U.S. Sixth Fleet.

North Korea: One regiment of ML in Northern Theater.

Poland: One regiment each of MLA and BK in North America. Remainder saw combat in 1989.


Postwar users:

Russian Republic: Use of fighter, interceptor,and ground-attack versions during Second Russian Civil War. All retired after fall of Rump USSR:

Kazakhstan: Fighter, interceptor and attack versions used in Civil War and in fall of Rump USSR. Now retired.

Far East Republic: Still in service in fighter and attack roles.

Rump USSR: Mostly retired after Civil War. All destroyed or captured during fall of the Rump Soviet State.

Ukraine: Still in service in ground-attack role and in intercept duty.


Mexico: Numbers of SAF and Cuban AF MiG-23s and MiG-27s of several variants left behind after the Armistice. Cuban and Soviet advisors assisted Mexican AF with maintenance of the aircraft, and used them in COIN missions prior to Baja War. Most destroyed during the Baja War, but some believed to be still in service in Mexico, despite extensive serviceability problems.


Captured Examples:

A number of MiG-23/7 aircraft were captured or turned over by defectors during the war to both the USAF and Commonwealth air forces. USAF examples evaluated at Edwards AFB, then flown as Aggressor aircraft out of Tonopah Test Range, NV. All USAF examples retired and donated to Museums. Aircraft acquired in Canada also evaluated, then donated to museums in both Canada and the UK. At least two examples flying on warbird circuit at air shows. .

[Poohbah]

I refuse to attend airshows that feature a flying Flogger.

I don't want to be there when the thing decides to kill the pilot and anyone else in reach.

[jemhouston]

I refuse to attend airshows that feature a flying Flogger.

I don't want to be there when the thing decides to kill the pilot and anyone else in reach.

I thought the FAA banned them from doing flying demos?

[clancyphile]

I refuse to attend airshows that feature a flying Flogger.

I don't want to be there when the thing decides to kill the pilot and anyone else in reach.

I thought the FAA banned them from doing flying demos?

Nope, just very stringent inspections. India actually makes spare parts for the airworthy examples of the Flogger, plus for MiG-21s as well.

Wasn't even due to an accident. A former WARPAC country sold a few of its survivors to collectors - the contract was clear the planes were being sold in "as is" condition. Almost your typical used-plane sale.

In this case, "as is" meant that everything was still working, and when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING.

Said WARPAC country's terms broke when one private Flogger driver accidentally fired off an Apex. Didn't hit anything, the missile landed in the middle of the New Mexico desert.

But they soon found out it wasn't just happening with Floggers. Quite a few Fitters, Fishbeds, Farmers, and Frescos were, shall we say... not exactly spayed/neutered before they were adopted?

Between the Apex incident and a privately-purchased Backfire from the Far Eastern Republic that still had three AS-4s attached, there were heads rolling at Customs, FAA, DOJ, FBI, CIA, NSA and I think there were a few casualties at Air Force Intelligence as well. Word had it Sophie Lodge was taken aback by the swiftness and brutality of the bureaucratic head-rolling.

[jemhouston]

Was she actually taken aback or was she upset she didn't get to swing the ax herself?

[Poohbah]

Was she actually taken aback or was she upset she didn't get to swing the ax herself?

Why not both?

[clancyphile]

Was she actually taken aback or was she upset she didn't get to swing the ax herself?

Why not both?

Hilarity ensued when one batch of parts included a tactical freefall nuclear bomb.

[Wolfman]

Was she actually taken aback or was she upset she didn't get to swing the ax herself?

Why not both?

Hilarity ensued when one batch of parts included a tactical freefall nuclear bomb.

Dare I assume that Sundown went high order?

[jemhouston]

Why not both?

Hilarity ensued when one batch of parts included a tactical freefall nuclear bomb.

Dare I assume that Sundown went high order?

Sundown didn't survive very long after the war. A lot of the three and four stars keeled over dead or retired. I think I remember reading that most of the senior military leadership died with in decade of war's end.

[Wolfman]

That sucks.

[Matt Wiser]

Sundown died in 2005. Schwartzkopf passed back in '12.

Okay, I'm officially curious about selling a Flogger-D or -J with the "Special Weapon." It has to be either a training munition that mimicks the real weapon, or an actual bomb minus the Physics Package.

[Poohbah]

Sundown died in 2005. Schwartzkopf passed back in '12.

Okay, I'm officially curious about selling a Flogger-D or -J with the "Special Weapon." It has to be either a training munition that mimicks the real weapon, or an actual bomb minus the Physics Package.

I dunno. Remember Lubbock? We recovered over 300 weapons--and the paperwork for 282 of them. Remember, the typical Russian safety program amounts to a guy saying "Please, for the love of God, don't fuck this up" who then starts drinking heavily when his request is ignored...

[Wolfman]

And that guy was already buzzed if not actually drunk to begin with.

[Poohbah]

And that guy was already buzzed if not actually drunk to begin with.

Yup. He was only lightly drinking to begin with, then he watches the antics of the work crew and decides to self-medicate.

[Wolfman]

How in Hell did the Soviet Union survive as long as it did with that standard of behavior?

[Poohbah]

How in Hell did the Soviet Union survive as long as it did with that standard of behavior?

Everyone ended up too shitfaced to notice it had failed...

[Wolfman]

How in Hell did the Soviet Union survive as long as it did with that standard of behavior?

Everyone ended up too shitfaced to notice it had failed...

Good point.