MiG-23M

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

MiG-23M

MiG-21bis

MiG-23MLD

MiG-23M

MiG-21bis

MiG-23MLD

USSR

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
11.3	11.0	11.0

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:300 000

Purchase:830 000

Show in game

Description

The MiG-23M is a rank VII Soviet jet fighter with a battle rating of 11.3 (AB) and 11.0 (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

RB8 039 → 11 688

SB8 211 → 11 938

Total cost of modifications273 500

430 000

Talisman cost2 900

Crew training240 000

Experts830 000

Aces3 000

Research Aces1 140 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

100 / 310 / 600 %

238 / 238 / 238 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor Research: 7 500 Cost: 12 000 320 New boosters Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 510 Wings repair Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 470 Engine Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 600	Fuselage repair Research: 7 500 Cost: 12 000 320 Airframe Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 510 G-suit Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 470 Cover Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 600	ns23_belt_pack Research: 7 500 Cost: 12 000 320 Flares/Chaff Research: 7 500 Cost: 12 000 320 UB-16 Research: 7 500 Cost: 12 000 320 R-3S Research: 7 500 Cost: 12 000 320 OFAB-100 Research: 7 500 Cost: 12 000 320 UB-32 Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 510 R-13M Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 510 FAB-250 Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 510 ns23_new_gun Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 470 S-24 Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 470 R-60M Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 470 FAB-500 Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 470 FAB-500 Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 470 ZB-500 Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 600 EFS Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 600 Kh-23M Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 600 R-23R Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 600 R-23T

Armaments

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

Offensive armament

The MiG-23M is armed with:

• 1 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannon, belly-mounted (200 rpg)

Suspended armament

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

	1	2	3	4	5
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
Large calibre countermeasures			12
Delta-NG targeting pod		1*
800 l drop tanks			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 ‡ The drop tank cannot be equipped in conjunction with quad bombs on adjacent hardpoints

Default weapon presets

1 x 800 l drop tank 12 x large calibre countermeasures 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

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). Use boom and zoom tactics to minimize danger and revert to dogfighting with manually unswept wings when the enemy team thins out. 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. More applicable in uptiers, with a heavy emphasis on boom and zoom as the manuverability of the MiG-23M is poor compared to top tier aircraft.
• High altitude, high speed, together with your team, BVR. Fly to the side of a map at an angle, accelerate up to Mach 1, then climbing up to 5-7km. Turn back to face the furball and use your radar to lock onto high altitude enemy targets (if any). Once all high altitude targets are eliminated or have dove down to the deck, dive down to the deck and use boom and zoom tactics with your R-60Ms to minimize danger. Once the enemy team has thinned out, manually unsweep your wings in order to enhance manuverability and dogfight individual planes in a ratefight. Not reccomended fighting this style when flying in an uptier, as the R-23R missile, radar, aircraft performance, and countermeasure count is not up to par for top tier BVR engagements or dogfighting.

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. However, if the enemy target has no flares and you are closing in at high speed, ranges up to 2.5km can be reached even at the deck (under ideal conditions).

When firing R-60Ms in headons, try to wait until the last possible moment to launch and pull off the head on (pull off when you see enemy tracers) to minimize the amount of time your enemy has to react to drop countermeasures, maximizing probability of a hit.

When in a 1v1 situation, manually unsweep your wings and get into a ratefight to best utilize the performance if your aircraft. The MiG-23M is unable to pull off high AoA manuvers, so one circle fights are not reccomended unless it is against an unmanuverable enemy like a Phantom.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Very high low-altitude top speed, could outrun any of your opponents.
• Reasonably high acceleration for its size.
• Very good high speed acceleration.
• R-23T and R-60M all-aspect missiles.
• Good R-23R missiles for long range engagements.
• 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.
• Amazing energy retention if wings are fully unswept,.

Cons:

• Underwhelming instantaneous turn rate, cannot pull some extreme windows easily.
• Loses quite a lot of speed in turns if manual wing sweep is not properly utlized ,
• 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

The MiG-21 was the main Soviet fighter jet from the 1960's onward. However, the jet left much to be desired. The nose cone radar was too small and weak to be useful for BVR engagements, and the range of the MiG-21 was notoriously small. Compared to the American F-4 Phantom, the MiG-21 was far behind in avionics and missile armarment. To adress these shortfalls, a new Soviet fighter jet was concived. The MiG 21 had a short take off run, which the Soviets were pleased by as it gave the MiG-21 the ability to use improvised runways in a potential Cold War gone hot situation, so the successor to the MiG-21 would also have to have a short takeoff run. One prototype of the MiG-23 was the Ye-8, which resembled a larger MiG-21 with canards, an underbelly air intake and a large radome. Another was the 23-01 or Izdeliye 92, which resembled a larger MiG-21 with side mouted air intakes, a large radome, and most notably, liftjets to shorten its takeoff run. In the end, a variable sweep wing system was chosen to give the MiG-23 a short takeoff run.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the MiG-23M from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #255 - Metal Beasts section at 00:25 discusses the MiG-23M.

How To Use IRST (Infrared Search and Track) - TeaRex

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

• [Development] The MiG-23M and rank VII for aviation
• Official data sheet - more details about the performance