{
  "id": "mig-23",
  "name": "MiG-23 (Flogger)",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "air",
  "country": "RUS",
  "category": "Fighter aircraft",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 1970,
  "operators": [
    "AGO",
    "CUB",
    "ETH",
    "IND",
    "KAZ",
    "LBY",
    "PRK",
    "RUS",
    "SDN",
    "SYR",
    "UKR"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 11,
  "summary": "The 'swing-wing' MiG-23 (NATO reporting name: Flogger) was developed in the 1960s in response to the US F-14 Tomcat. It succeeded the previous MiG-21.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 1,
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Missiles & Rockets",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "Missile and rocket load out packages vary based on variants and mission.",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Missiles & Rockets: aa-7 apex (k-23r/t)",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "2",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Missiles & Rockets: aa-8/aphid aam launchers",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "2",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Missiles & Rockets: as-7/kerry asm",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "4",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Missiles & Rockets: as-10/karen asm",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "4",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Missiles & Rockets: as-12/kegler asm",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "4",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Missiles & Rockets: as-14/kedge asm",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "4",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Missiles & Rockets: 240-mm s-24 rockets",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "1",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Missiles & Rockets: 80-mm s-8 rkt pods",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "20",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Missiles & Rockets: 57-mm s-5 rkt pods",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "32",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "armament",
      "v": "23-mm twin gun, Gsh-23L",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "23-mm twin gun, Gsh-23L",
      "role": "Weapon",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Rate of fire": "9,000 rpm"
      }
    }
  ],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "MiG-23S \"Flogger-A\"",
      "text": "The \"Flogger-A\" was the initial production variant. An interim variant, it was externally similar to the prototype but as the Sapfir-23 had been delayed it was equipped with the RP-22SM Sapfir radar and lacked an IRST.",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "MiG-23M \"Flogger-B\"",
      "text": "The \"Flogger-B\" was the most produced variant of the first-generation 'Floggers,' the MiG-23M first flew in June 1972 and became the VVS' chief air superiority fighter, giving it a true look-down/shoot-down capability.",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "MiG-23U \"Flogger-C\"",
      "text": "The \"Flogger-C\" was a twin-seat training variant based on the MiG-23S, first appearing six months after the single-seater's introduction.",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "MiG-23BM \"Flogger-D\"",
      "text": "The \"Flogger-D\" is considered an experimental variant and is upgraded with a digital computer and several experimental features, such as it's dielectric heads being moved from the pylons to directly on the wing roots.",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "MiG-23MS \"Flogger-E\"",
      "text": "The \"Flogger-E\" was another export variant, and was a downgraded version of the MiG-23M. This variant was designed for to exclude advanced capabilities so as to maintain secrecy.",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "MIG-23B \"Flogger-F\"",
      "text": "The \"Flogger-F\" was created to meet the need for a new fighter-bomber, the MiG-23B was similar to the MiG-23S but with a redesigned forward fuselage and a dielectric head just above the pylon.",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "MiG-23MLA \"Flogger G\"",
      "text": "The \"Flogger-G\" first flew in 1977, with mass production beginning in 1978 and sales to foreign customers starting in 1981. Externally, the \"MLA\" had an improved Sapfir-23MLA (N003) radar with better range, reliability and ECM resistance, and a frequency…",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "MiG-23BK/BN \"Flogger-H\"",
      "text": "The \"Flogger-H\" BK export was variant reserved for sales exclusively to former Warsaw Pact countries. In addition to the PrNK-23 system, additional radar warning receivers were mounted on the intakes.",
      "src": [
        "weg-mig-23"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "fighter",
  "image": {
    "file": "mig-23.jpg",
    "thumb": "mig-23-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "Dezidor",
    "license": "CC BY 3.0",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leteck%C3%A9_muzeum_Kbely_(189).jpg",
    "title": "File:Letecké muzeum Kbely (189).jpg"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Added photo (CC BY 3.0)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/mig-23.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-mig-23": {
      "title": "MiG-23 (Flogger) Russian Fighter Aircraft",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/MiG-23_Flogger_Russian_Fighter_Aircraft",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}