Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 (Flogger)

The MiG-23 Flogger-B was the world's first variable swing-wing fighter.

Original models designed to replace the short-range yet successful MiG-21 Fishbed were accepted and reviewed by the Soviet military powers. One such version was actually an enlarged model of the base MiG-21 whilst the other was the Ye-23-11/1 which would be selected and designated as the MiG-23. The MiG-23 would go on to become the Soviet Unions first "swing-wing" supersonic interceptor and the world's first swing-wing fighter anywhere.

The single-engine, single-seat interceptor strayed away from traditional Mikoyan-Gurevich aviation engineering practices. With the aforementioned swing-wing capabilities, the system was also the first of the MiG family to feature intakes mounted on the side of the cockpit fuselage area - two intakes feeding the single Tumansky series powerplants. This intake arrangement also allowed for larger and more complex radar systems to be mounted in the nose cone.

The aircraft was built for speed, being capable of supersonic flights at above Mach 2.0. The variable geometry sing-wing assembly could be held in three positions, each one allowing for additional increases and decreases in drag or lift. This engineering success allowed the MiG-23 to become a stable platform from which to fulfill its interceptor duties.

The base MiG-23 was fitted with five hardpoints from which the system could mount the latest in Soviet air-to-air missiles systems. The initial MiG-23 would appear as the "Flogger-B" in the NATO designation and be shipped to a plethora of Warsaw Pact nations (stripped down versions would be sent beyond those nations).

The success of the MiG-23 airframe spawned the definitive strike-fighter variant in the MiG-27, featuring roughly the same design except fitted for a more ground-attack role including terrain following radar and weapons-assisted computer systems. The MiG-27 would see many numbers, also exported to other nations, and become the frontline fighter-bomber for those inventories across the globe. The MiG-27, due to the low-level ground attack role it was designed to fulfill, would be fitted with armor plating around the cockpit area to protect the pilot from random or targeted small arms fire. The MiG-27 also added additional hardpoints to form a potent weapons-carrying capability.