Hobby Master 1/72 MIG-23MLD Blue 03, Soviet Air Force, Bagram, Afghanistan, July 1987 Diecast Aircraft

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.

At Bagram AB, Afghanistan MiG-23MLD Blue 03 was one of the very few aircraft to receive desert camouflage. Late in the 1980s the MiG-23MLD Blue 03 was assigned to the 2nd AE, Center of Flight crew training (Aggressor). The unit had 2 squadrons with the 1st flying Mig-29s and the 2nd MiG-23. The MiG-23s would wear special “star” stripes on both sides of the fin and rudder as well as a sharkmouth. Under the starboard side of the cockpit the MiG-23s had a painted “Brave Viking” holding a cudgel and a helmet with a 2 on it.

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
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
Power Plant:	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)