MiG-23M

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Rank 7 USA
F-5C Pack
This page is about the Soviet jet fighter MiG-23M. For other versions, see MiG-23 (Family).
mig_23m.png
GarageImage MiG-23M.jpg
MiG-23M
AB RB SB
11.3 11.3 11.3
Research:300 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:830 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The MiG-23M is a rank VII Soviet jet fighter with a battle rating of 11.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "Red Skies".

The MiG-23M is the first version of the MiG-23 to see wide operational service. It is a very different plane from the preceding MiG-21bis, with variable sweep wings, side air intakes, sophisticated avionics, and access to R-23 missiles with good range. The MiG-23M is the first Soviet fighter with a real BVR capability and pilots can enjoy using R-23R missiles for long range radar-guided jousting or R-23T missiles for IRST-cued sneak attacks. It is no slouch in close quarter engagements either, where lower wing sweep settings give it great sustained turning capability and its all-aspect R-60M missiles can do good work. As to be expected however for an early variant of such a revolutionary aircraft, it is a bit rough around the edges: the thrust-to-weight ratio is worse than the MiG-21bis, it is not great at short-term turning, and it has a limited supply of only 12 large-caliber countermeasures. Still, it brings a lot of new features to the table, and Soviet pilots who master it will be very pleased with the succeeding MiG-23MLD.

General info

Flight performance

Air brakes
Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps
Drogue parachute
Reduces braking distance when landing on any runway
Max speed
at 13 000 m2 358 km/h
Turn time35 s
Max altitude16 000 m
EngineTumansky R-29-300
Type
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight20 t
Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 13,000 m)
Max altitude
(metres)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(metres/second)
Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 2,339 2,329 16000 35.6 35.6 147.4 140.4 750
Upgraded 2,380 2,358 34.5 35.0 194.4 169.9

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear Drogue chute
X X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
1470 630 N/A 508 473 ~12 ~5
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 665 < 650 < 700 N/A

Engine performance

Engine Aircraft mass
Engine name Number Basic mass Wing loading (full fuel)
Tumansky R-29-300 1 11,155 kg 395 - 445 kg/m2
Engine characteristics Mass with fuel (no weapons load) Max Takeoff
Weight
Weight (each) Type 10m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel 35m fuel
1,780 kg Afterburning axial-flow turbojet 12,367 kg 13,462 kg 14,615 kg 15,195 kg 18,400 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB) Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition 100% WEP 10m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel 35m fuel MTOW
Stationary 7,950 kgf 10,494 kgf 0.85 0.78 0.72 0.69 0.57
Optimal 8,268 kgf
(1,400 km/h)
12,987 kgf
(1,400 km/h)
1.05 0.96 0.89 0.85 0.71

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff
Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar
Crew1 person
Speed of destruction
Structural0 km/h
Gear630 km/h

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB2 738 → 3 981 Sl icon.png
RB8 039 → 11 688 Sl icon.png
SB8 211 → 11 938 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications273 500 Rp icon.png
430 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 900 Ge icon.png
Crew training240 000 Sl icon.png
Experts830 000 Sl icon.png
Aces3 000 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 140 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
100 / 310 / 600 % Sl icon.png
238 / 238 / 238 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods jet compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
7 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
12 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods booster.png
New boosters
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
510 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
470 Ge icon.png
Mods jet engine.png
Engine
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
600 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
7 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
12 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
510 Ge icon.png
Mods g suit.png
G-suit
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
470 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
600 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
ns23_belt_pack
Research:
7 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
12 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods heli false thermal targets.png
Flares/Chaff
Research:
7 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
12 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon block rocket.png
UB-16
Research:
7 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
12 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods air to air missile.png
R-3S
Research:
7 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
12 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
OFAB-100
Research:
7 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
12 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon block rocket.png
UB-32
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
510 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods air to air missile.png
R-13M
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
510 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
FAB-250
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
510 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
ns23_new_gun
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
470 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon rocket.png
S-24
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
470 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods air to air missile.png
R-60M
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
470 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
FAB-500
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
470 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
FAB-500
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
470 Ge icon.png
Mods napalm fire bomb.png
ZB-500
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
600 Ge icon.png
Mods jet engine extinguisher.png
EFS
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
600 Ge icon.png
Mods agm missile.png
Kh-23M
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
600 Ge icon.png
Mods air to air missile.png
R-23R
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
600 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow right 0.png
Mods air to air missile.png
R-23T

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns) CCIP (Rockets) CCIP (Bombs) CCRP (Bombs)
Icon GreenCheckmark.png Icon GreenCheckmark.png Icon RedXCross.png Icon RedXCross.png

Offensive armament

Main article: GSh-23L (23 mm)

The MiG-23M is armed with:

  • A choice between two presets:
    • 1 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannon, belly-mounted (200 rpg)
    • 1 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannon + 12 x large calibre countermeasures

Suspended armament

Main articles: R-3S, R-13M1, R-23R, R-23T, R-60M
Main articles: Kh-23M, S-5K, S-24B

The MiG-23M can be outfitted with the following ordnance presets:

  • Without load
  • 4 x R-3S missiles
  • 2 x R-13M1 missiles
  • 4 x R-13M1 missiles
  • 6 x R-60M missiles
  • 2 x R-23R missiles
  • 2 x R-23T missiles
  • 64 x S-5K rockets
  • 64 x S-5K rockets
  • 4 x S-24B rockets
  • 2 x Kh-23M missiles
  • 16 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (1,600 kg total)
  • 4 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (1,000 kg total)
  • 2 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,000 kg total)
  • 2 x ZB-500 incendiary bombs

Custom loadout options

1 2 3 4
Hardpoints MiG-23MLA (Germany).png
100 kg OFAB-100 bombs 4 4 4 4
250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs 1 1 1 1
500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs 1 1
ZB-500 incendiary bombs 1 1
S-5K rockets 16, 32 16 16 16, 32
S-24B rockets 1 1 1 1
Kh-23M missiles 1* 1*
R-3S missiles 1 1 1 1
R-13M1 missiles 1 1 1 1
R-23R missiles 1 1
R-23T missiles 1 1
R-60M missiles 1 2 2 1
Delta-NG 1*
* It is required to equip the Delta-NG targeting pod with the Kh-23M missiles
R-23R and R-23T missiles cannot be mixed, only one type may be carried across hardpoints

Usage in battles

Two different tactics are recommended when flying the MiG-23M:

  • Low altitude, high speed, side of the map. Try to get as much speed as possible maintaining a very low altitude and go to the right if you want a more head-on engagement or to the left if you want a side/back of the enemy attack position (in a majority of maps players go to their left). Better used with a squadron, the MiG-23M can eliminate several enemy aircraft if played right with 3 teammates and using the all-aspect IR-guided R-23T missile.
  • High altitude, high speed, together with your team, BVR. Fly along with your team, maintain a high altitude until all enemy aircraft are below you, then make surprise attacks on enemies that are busy, normally use the R-23R to destroy the high altitude F-4s or F-104s with BVR missiles.

No matter which tactic though, it is recommended to engage your enemy from their front hemisphere, since you can carry all-aspect IR missiles. This way it leaves your enemy less time to react and dodge the missiles.

Also, since both the R-60Ms and the R-23Ts have a relatively wide FOV, it is recommended to lock the enemy using your IRST before engaging the missile lock to slave the missile, and better utilise their wide FOV.

Only use the R-60Ms at close range, around 1.5 km. They perform best under such range, and it also gives your enemy less reaction time to release the countermeasures, since R-60Ms are easily tricked by flares.

When in a 1v1 situation, try to use your great low-speed performance to trick the enemy into low speeds, especially when against Phantoms. When your speed drops below 400 km/h, manually control the wing to the most frontal position to improve your manoeuvrability.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Very high low-altitude top speed, could outrun any of your opponents.
  • Decent sustained turn rate.
  • Reasonably high acceleration for its size.
  • R-23T and R-60M all-aspect missiles.
  • Variable swept-wing aircraft, allowing for decent performance at any speed.
  • HUD displays speed and altitude information, most useful in simulator mode.
  • Can carry 6 x R-60M AAMs.
  • Contains IRST tracking system and decent radar that allows you to track aerial targets at ground level.
  • Varied armament preset selection.

Cons:

  • Underwhelming instantaneous turn rate, cannot pull some extreme windows easily.
  • Loses quite a lot of speed in turns.
  • Low countermeasures count.
  • Low ammo count and low muzzle velocity for the GSh-23L cannon.
  • R-60Ms are easily distracted by flares.
  • R-23T/R-23R air-to-air missiles struggle in close combat.
  • Radar is not on par with NATO counterparts.

History

Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).

Media

Skins
Videos

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the aircraft;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links


Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau (Микоя́н и Гуре́вич Опытное конструкторское бюро)
Fighters  MiG-3-15 · MiG-3-15 (BK) · MiG-3-34
  I-225
Jet fighters  MiG-9 · MiG-9 (l)
  MiG-15 · MiG-15bis · MiG-15bis ISh
  MiG-17
  MiG-19PT
  MiG-21F-13 · MiG-21PFM · MiG-21S (R-13-300) · MiG-21SMT · MiG-21bis
  MiG-23M · MiG-23ML · MiG-23MLD
  MiG-27M · MiG-27K
  MiG-29 · MiG-29SMT
Export/Licensed  ␗MiG-9 · ␗MiG-9 (l)
  ◊MiG-15bis · ◔MiG-15bis · J-2*
  MiG-17AS · ◔MiG-17PF · J-4* · Shenyang F-5*
  ◊MiG-19S · J-6A*
  ◄MiG-21 SPS-K · ◊MiG-21MF · ◔MiG-21MF · ▄MiG-21bis · ◔MiG-21bis-SAU · ◊MiG-21bis-SAU · ◊MiG-21 "Lazur-M" · ▄MiG-21 Bison · J-7II**
  ◊MiG-23BN · ◊MiG-23MF · ◔MiG-23MF · ◊MiG-23MLA
  ◔MiG-29 · ◊MiG-29 · ◄MiG-29G
  *Licensed and domesticated with Chinese designations.
  **Unlicensed, reverse-engineered and domesticated with Chinese designations.
See Also  Shenyang · Chengdu

USSR jet aircraft
Bereznyak-Isayev  BI
Yakovlev  Yak-15 · Yak-15P · Yak-17 · Yak-23 · Yak-28B · Yak-30D · Yak-38 · Yak-38M · Yak-141
Mikoyan-Gurevich  MiG-9 · MiG-9 (l) · MiG-15 · MiG-15bis · MiG-15bis ISh · MiG-17 · MiG-17AS · MiG-19PT
  MiG-21F-13 · MiG-21PFM · MiG-21S (R-13-300) · MiG-21SMT · MiG-21bis
  MiG-23M · MiG-23ML · MiG-23MLD · MiG-27M · MiG-27K
  MiG-29 · MiG-29SMT
Lavochkin  La-174 · La-15 · La-200
Sukhoi  Su-9 · Su-11
  Su-7B · Su-7BKL · Su-7BMK · Su-17M2 · Su-17M4 · Su-22M3
  Su-24M
  Su-25 · Su-25BM · Su-25K · Su-25T · Su-25SM3 · Su-39
  Su-27 · Su-27SM
Ilyushin  IL-28 · IL-28Sh
Tupolev  Tu-14T