- Yes
- No
In the early 1960s and impressed by the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom which was just entering service with the US Navy, the Soviet Air Force desired a new aircraft that could match it and replace the MiG-21. The first production fighters of this new fighter would be given the designation MiG-23S by the OKB, with the S either referring to the new RP-23 ‘Sapphire-23’ radar set it was intended to carry or ‘sereeynyy’ (suffix meaning series or production).
While production began in 1969, there were several immediate problems. Firstly, the Saphir-23 was not available in sufficient numbers to meet production, requiring that many of the MiG-23S had to be fitted with the older RP-22SM ‘Sapphire-21’ and ASP-PFD-21 gunsight used on late variants of the MiG-21. Like the MiG-21 and unlike later variants of the MiG-23, the MiG-23S continued to use the old style of hooded radar scope that sat just below the gunsight. The MiG-23S also lacked the TP-23 IRST system used on later variants of the MiG-23. While these deficiencies were significant, they didn’t prevent the MiG-23S for serving its primary function to provide pilots an opportunity to train and develop tactics for the new fighter type.
Armament consisted of the same GSh-23L twin-barrelled 23 mm cannon used on the MiG-21 mounted under the fuselage and a total of four air-to-air missiles which could be either the R-3S, R-3R, or R-13M. There was also a limited ground attack capability including the radio controlled Kh-23 and Delta-NG pod, S-5, S-8, and S-24 unguided rockets, or a variety of dumb bombs. Power was provided by the Tumansky R-27F2-300 afterburning turbojet engine which provided 6,900 kgf dry and 10,000 kgf with afterburner.
While these early production MiG-23s were not considered for export, one did manage to find its way into East German Air Force (LSK) service. During testing by the Soviet Air Forces in Germany of the so-called ‘Mig-Fänger’ (MiG catcher), an emergency landing system, the MiG-23S 08 Red suffered damage to the radome, wing mechanism, and tailplane. Instead of repairing it, the damaged aircraft was sold to the LSK where it was then overhauled and sent to the officer school in Kamenz for pilot training. In 1980 it was then sent to the Military Technical School in Bad Düben where it was used for ground crew training until the German reunification in 1990. 08 Red still survives to this day on display at Luftfahrtmuseum Finowfurt.
Armament
Guns:
1 x 23mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23L double-barreled cannon (200 rds total)
Missiles:
4 x R-3S infrared-homing/heat-seeking air-to-air missiles or,
4 x R-3R active radar-guided air-to-air missiles or,
4 x R-13M infrared-homing/heat-seeking air-to-air missiles or,
2 x Kh-23 Grom air-to-surface missiles (+ Delta-NG pod)
Bombs:
16 x 100 FAB or,
4 x 250 FAB or,
4 x 500 FAB
Rockets:
16 x 57mm S-5K unguided rockets in 4 x UB-16-57UM rocket pods or,
32 x 57mm S-5K unguided rockets in 2 x UB-32 rocket pods or,
20 x 80mm S-8 unguided rockets in 2 x B-8M rocket pods or,
4 x 240mm S-24 unguided rockets
Specifications
Wing span
- at 16 degree sweep: 13.97 m
- at 72 degree sweep: 7.78 m
Length
- without nose pitot: 15.76 m
- with nose pitot: 16.71 m
Wing area
- at 16 degree sweep: 37.27 m2
- at 72 degree sweep: 34.16 m2
Weight empty: 10,460 kg
Weight loaded: 14,600 kg
Internal fuel load: 3530 kg
Max IAS at 12,800 m
- clean: 2,405 km/h or mach 2.27
- with four R-3S missiles: 2,100 km/h or mach 2.27
Service ceiling
- clean: 18,000 m
- with four R-3S missiles: 16,500 m
Ferry range
- clean: 2000 km
- with 800-litre drop tank: 2,500 km
- with four R-3S missiles, no drop tank: 1,800 km
Take-off run: 650 m
Landing run: 550 m
Landing speed: 240 km/h
Sources
Yefim Gordon and Keith Dexter - Mig-23/27 Flogger (2005)
Bill Gunston - MIG-23/-27 Flogger (1986)
LSK MiG-23S? - Military and General Aviation - CombatACE