MiG-23MLA (Germany)

This page is about the jet fighter MiG-23MLA (Germany). For other versions, see MiG-23 (Family).

◊MiG-23MLA

◊MiG-21bis-SAU

◊MiG-29

◊MiG-23MLA

◊MiG-21bis-SAU

◊MiG-29

Germany

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
11.7	11.7	11.3

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:350 000

Purchase:950 000

Show in game

Description

The ◊MiG-23MLA is a rank VII German jet fighter with a battle rating of 11.7 (AB/RB) and 11.3 (SB). It was introduced in Update "Wind of Change".

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-35-300

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	2,333	2,320	16000	35.5	35.5	193.5	185.5	750
Upgraded	2,498	2,358		32.6	33.0	248.3	220.0

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	+	-
1,470	630	N/A	508	473	~13	~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-35-300		1	10,555 kg		370 - 417 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)				Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		9m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	31m fuel
1,760 kg	Afterburning axial-flow turbojet		11,665 kg	12,870 kg	14,028 kg	14,255 kg	17,800 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition	100%	WEP	9m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	31m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	7,103 kgf	10,305 kgf	0.87	0.79	0.73	0.72	0.58
Optimal	8,368 kgf (1,400 km/h)	15,787 kgf (1,400 km/h)	1.34	1.21	1.11	1.10	0.89

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 793 → 4 061

RB8 215 → 11 944

SB8 935 → 12 991

Total cost of modifications294 200

457 000

Talisman cost3 000

Crew training270 000

Experts950 000

Aces3 200

Research Aces1 210 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

100 / 320 / 600 %

244 / 244 / 244 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor Research: 8 600 Cost: 13 000 350 New boosters Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 450 Wings repair Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 490 Engine Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 650	Fuselage repair Research: 8 600 Cost: 13 000 350 Airframe Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 450 G-suit Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 490 Cover Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 650	ns23_belt_pack Research: 8 600 Cost: 13 000 350 OFAB-100 Research: 8 600 Cost: 13 000 350 UB-32 Research: 8 600 Cost: 13 000 350 R-13M Research: 8 600 Cost: 13 000 350 Flares/Chaff Research: 8 600 Cost: 13 000 350 ns23_new_gun Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 450 FAB-250 Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 450 B-8M1 Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 450 R-60MK Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 450 Gun pod UPK-23-250 Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 490 FAB-500 Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 490 S-24 Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 490 R-23R Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 490 R-23T ZB-500 Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 650 EFS Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 650 Kh-23M Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 650 R-24R Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 650 R-24T

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)

Offensive armament

The MiG-23MLA (Germany) 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 + 72 x large calibre countermeasures

Suspended armament

The MiG-23MLA (Germany) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x R-13M1 missiles
• 4 x R-13M1 missiles
• 6 x R-60 missiles
• 2 x R-23R missiles
• 2 x R-23T missiles
• 4 x R-60 missiles + 2 x R-23T missiles
• 4 x R-60 missiles + 2 x R-23R missiles
• 1 x R-23T missile + 1 x R-23R missile
• 2 x R-24R missiles
• 2 x R-24T missiles
• 4 x R-60 missiles + 2 x R-24R missiles
• 4 x R-60 missiles + 2 x R-24T missiles
• 1 x R-24T missile + 1 x R-24R missile
• 16 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (1,600 kg total)
• 8 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs + 4 x R-60 missiles (800 kg total)
• 4 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 2 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs + 4 x R-60 missiles (500 kg total)
• 2 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 2 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs + 4 x R-60 missiles (1,000 kg total)
• 64 x S-5K rockets
• 64 x S-5K rockets
• 40 x S-8KO rockets
• 4 x S-24B rockets
• 2 x Kh-23M missiles
• 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons (250 rpg = 500 total)

Custom loadout options

	1	2	3	4
S-8KO rockets	20			20
500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs	1			1
R-23R missiles	1			1
R-23T missiles	1			1
R-24R missiles	1			1
R-24T missiles	1			1
23 mm GSh-23L cannons (250 rpg)	1			1
Kh-23M missiles	1			1
R-13M1 missiles	1	1	1	1
250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs	1	1	1	1
100 kg OFAB-100 bombs	4	4	4	4
R-60 missiles	1	2	2	1
S-24B rockets	1	1	1	1
S-5K rockets	16, 32	16	16	16, 32
Delta-NG targeting pod		1
Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 500 kg

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Pros and cons

Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".

Pros:

The aircraft is, as of now, the only top of the line fighter that Germany has access to that is competitive, and being a further upgraded version from the ML which was a further upgraded version from the MF, the aircraft contains many aspects that makes it on par with its MLD counter part. However the MLD does retain some performance improvements. Regardless the aircraft maintains a high level of flight performance and high level of armament performance within air battles.

The Mig-23MLA also has one of the best weapons systems in game for its time with the ability to use R13M1s being competitive equal to the AIM-9J as well as access to R24R and R24T which work great as BVR/Dogfight missiles while also having a 23mm dual barrel GSH cannon in the event you need to finish a stubborn target. Over all being a potent selection of armaments as well as being Germanys best, and only top end fighter at the highest tier of the game.

With its powerful R24R missiles it can use these with then powerful radar it gets access to. With the radar having impressive search and tracking abilities and amazing ground filtering above 1000m it can be devasting when used in close range, and having access to MTI and Lookdown modes, tracking and locking targets running away close to the ground will be an easy feat.

Cons:

The aircraft while having exceptional mobility does lack a slight amount than its MLD counter part as the MLD does have leading edge sawtooth slats. While this isn't noticeable in-game, long time players of the MLD might notice it more and have a slightly hard time adjusting.

The aircraft while having access to powerful R24R/T it can only carry 2x and 2x R13M1s vs for example the Phantoms which can carry 4x BVR missiles and 4x IR missiles like AIM-9J, though the MLAs better performance vs the phantoms does make it much easier to land hits, but if you are used to having more missiles for if you miss shots, you will need to make each missile on the MLA count as if you run out of what you have, you will not be able to have any more options other than your gun to fight back.

The R24R and R24T while great for BVR combat around 10km to 20km out, the MLA lacks any competitive options for longer ranges like the Phantoms AIM-7F. This will put you at a severe disadvantage when fighting aircraft at ranges farther than at most 30km, this wont be much of a problem on standard maps, but on EC maps, this can and will be a huge detriment meaning you will need to be careful and close in the distance a little more to secure a kill.

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

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

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

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• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.