MiG-23MLA (Germany)

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Rank VI USA | Premium | Golden Eagles
A-10A Thunderbolt (Early)
This page is about the jet fighter MiG-23MLA (Germany). For other versions, see MiG-23 (Family).
mig_23mla.png
GarageImage MiG-23MLA (Germany).jpg
◊MiG-23MLA
AB RB SB
11.7 11.7 11.7
Research:350 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:950 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The MiG-23MLA was a direct export variant of the MiG-23ML, albeit with multiple noteworthy upgrades. Chief of these was the installation of the N-003 (Sapphire-23MLA) radar with upgraded range and ECCM reliability. The aircraft was also the first export model with the new TP-23M IRST and the first export variant cleared for firing the R-24R/T missiles. The East German Air Force received 28 of this type.

The ◊MiG-23MLA was introduced in Update "Wind of Change" as a German equivalent to the MiG-23MLD in the Soviet tree. The aircraft is completely identical in gameplay to the MiG-23ML, having the same BDS-50-60 countermeasure dispensers and R-24 missiles which distinguish it over the older MiG-23M/MF variants. As such, its playstyle is also very similar, utilizing its great weapon systems and avionics to best its opponents, but not afraid to dogfight some of its less manoeuvrable adversaries either. All in all, the MiG-23MLA acts as a great stepping stone between the MiG-21bis-SAU and the MiG-29 around it in the tech tree in terms of playstyle, and teaches the pilot valuable lessons in engagement prioritization and missile employment before they get their hands on the MiG-29 that follows it in the tech tree.

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 Sl icon.png
RB8 215 → 11 944 Sl icon.png
SB8 935 → 12 991 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications294 200 Rp icon.png
457 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost3 000 Ge icon.png
Crew training270 000 Sl icon.png
Experts950 000 Sl icon.png
Aces3 200 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 210 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
100 / 320 / 600 % Sl icon.png
244 / 244 / 244 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods jet compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
8 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods booster.png
New boosters
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mods jet engine.png
Engine
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 000 Sl icon.png
650 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
8 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mods g suit.png
G-suit
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 000 Sl icon.png
650 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
ns23_belt_pack
Research:
8 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
OFAB-100
Research:
8 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon block rocket.png
UB-32
Research:
8 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods air to air missile.png
R-13M
Research:
8 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods heli false thermal targets.png
Flares/Chaff
Research:
8 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods weapon.png
ns23_new_gun
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
FAB-250
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon block rocket.png
B-8M1
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods air to air missile.png
R-60MK
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods gunpods.png
Gun pod UPK-23-250
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
FAB-500
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon rocket.png
S-24
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods air to air missile.png
R-23R
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mod arrow right 0.png
Mods air to air missile.png
R-23T
Mods napalm fire bomb.png
ZB-500
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 000 Sl icon.png
650 Ge icon.png
Mods jet engine extinguisher.png
EFS
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 000 Sl icon.png
650 Ge icon.png
Mods agm missile.png
Kh-23M
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 000 Sl icon.png
650 Ge icon.png
Mods air to air missile.png
R-24R
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 000 Sl icon.png
650 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow right 0.png
Mods air to air missile.png
R-24T

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-23MLA (Germany) is armed with:

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

Suspended armament

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

1 2 3 4 5
Hardpoints MiG-23MLA (Germany).png
23 mm GSh-23L cannons (250 rpg) 1 1
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-8KO rockets 20 20
S-24B rockets 1 1 1 1
Kh-23M missiles 1* 1*
R-13M1 missiles 1 1 1 1
R-23R missiles 1 1
R-23T missiles 1 1
R-24R missiles 1 1
R-24T missiles 1 1
R-60MK missiles 1 2 2 1
Large calibre countermeasures 12
Delta-NG targeting pod 1*
820 l drop tanks 1
* It is required to equip the Delta-NG targeting pod with the Kh-23M missiles
The drop tank cannot be equipped in conjunction with quad bombs on adjacent hardpoints
Default weapon presets
  • 1 x 820 l drop tank
  • 12 x large calibre countermeasures
  • 2 x R-13M1 missiles
  • 4 x R-13M1 missiles
  • 6 x R-60MK missiles
  • 2 x R-23R missiles
  • 2 x R-23T missiles
  • 1 x R-23T missile + 1 x R-23R missile
  • 2 x R-24R 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)
  • 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
  • 64 x S-5K rockets (across 2 pylons)
  • 64 x S-5K rockets (across 4 pylons)
  • 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)

Usage in battles

This aircraft has a versatile set of play styles any pilot can use for any situation, a good set of examples would be ones seen below focusing on two sides of the spectrum of engagements.

  • High Speed SARH Slinger: The idea of this playstyle is to climb to between 5,000 and 7,000 m altitude and travel around Mach 1.4 to 1.8 in a straight line finding alone enemies who look like good targets and to send an R-24R at them biting fast and retreating fast like a snake, allowing you to score a relativity easy hit, and if it misses or you are noticed, an escape is easy to pull off thanks to your already high speed and higher altitude allowing you to retreat to the airfield to restock. Though be careful for any other aircraft at that altitude that could shoot you down, this is why speed is key to survival.
  • Close Quarters All Aspect: The idea of this playstyle is to hang low to the ground in-between hills and tree lines while travelling around Mach 1, this allows you to be ready to ambush and turn fight any aircraft that gets close, and with the ability to carry the all-aspect R-24T you can send one to an enemy between 4 km to 6 km away from cover at most angles to get a surprise hit, or if they evade it to try to turn into you, you can easily use your mobility to out-turn them and A) gun them down, or B) fire an R-60MK at them.

Those are just two examples of play styles that works for this aircraft on different sides of the spectrum, BVR engagements and close range engagements. You do not need to however use these exclusively, but use the knowledge learned to see where this aircraft can perform best at in given situations, and test varying levels play styles to find one that fits you well. This aircraft is great at surprising enemies with its mobility and speed, so playing around those strengths well help a lot in making the most of the aircraft. This can also be applied through out AB, RB and SB, but it is recommended to test and adjust elements of the desired playstyle to fit the game mode of your choosing.

One of the most interesting quirks about this plane is that its radar operates in the J-band. Many planes that you will commonly encounter, especially in downtiers, are not able to detect the J-band on their RWRs, and will only be able to avoid your R-24Rs if they actually see you firing it at them.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Wide selection of air-to-air weapons such as short range IR R-13M1/R-60MK and long range R-24T/R-24R
  • Excellent manoeuvrability
  • Outstanding speed (reaching Mach 1.2 - 1.6 is easy to achieve and can provide a large advantage, reaching Mach 1.9 to 2.2 on EC maps is even easier)

Cons:

  • Carries a limited number to air-to-air weapons
  • Radar is limited to 30 km range vs. its NATO counterparts (this is however fixed by flying above 2,000 m to enter "look-down" (LD) mode, there is also a 60 and 90 km option)
  • Very few options for air-to-ground loadouts

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

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.
Related development
Other jet planes with variable sweep wings

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

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


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

Germany jet aircraft
Germany flag.png  Luftwaffe
He 162  He 162 A-1 · He 162 A-2
Me 163  Me 163 B · Me 163 B-0
Ho 229  Ho 229 V3
Ar 234  Ar 234 B-2 · Ar 234 C-3
Me 262  Me 262 A-1a · Me 262 A-1a/Jabo · Me 262 A-1a/U1 · Me 262 A-1/U4 · Me 262 A-2a
  Me 262 C-1a · Me 262 C-2b
GDR flag.png  LSK
Fighters  ◊MiG-15bis · ◊Lim-5P · ◊MiG-19S
  ◊MiG-21MF · ◊MiG-21bis-SAU · ◊MiG-21 "Lazur-M"
  ◊MiG-29
Attackers  ◊MiG-23BN · ◊MiG-23MF · ◊MiG-23MLA
  ◊Su-22UM3K · ◊Su-22M4
  ◊IL-28
FRG flag.png  Luftwaffe
F-84  ◄F-84F
F-86  ◄CL-13A Mk 5 · ◄CL-13B Mk.6 · ◄F-86K
F-104  ◄F-104G
F-4  ◄F-4F Early · ◄F-4F · ◄F-4F KWS LV
G.91  ◄G.91 R/3 · ◄G.91 R/4
Tornado  ◄Tornado IDS WTD61 · ◄Tornado IDS MFG · ◄Tornado IDS ASSTA1
Other  Alpha Jet A · ◄Sea Hawk Mk.100
Ex-LSK  ◄MiG-21 SPS-K · ◄MiG-29G
Switzerland flag.png  Swiss Air Force
  ◌Hunter F.58 · FFA P-16