Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23BN

[PremiumFuelOnly 1,603]

Aircraft: Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23BN

 

Classification: fighter-bomber/attacker jet with variable wing sweep geometry

 

Visuals: 

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Description: Based on the MiG-23B fighter-bomber, the MiG-23BN was an export variant destined for Warsaw Pact countries’ air forces, which included East Germany. Due to a shortage of Lyul’ka AL-21F-3 engines used in the Soviet MiG-23B, it was decided to use a development of the original Tumansky R29 engine used in interceptor variants of the MiG-23. This development, known as the R29B-300, was optimized for low-level flying regimes and had a simplified two-position afterburner nozzle which was better suited to the expected usage of a MiG-23BN.

 

Production MiG-23BNs incorporated all the changes seen in the original MiG-23 including their Sokol radar (though this time exchanged for a -23N instead of a -23S) and Type 3 wings. Because it was destined for WarPac users, MiG-23BNs also “featured” downgraded avionics and armaments, though much like its Soviet sibling, lacked the ability to fire BVR missiles due to its lack of a fire control radar system. Most other armaments were otherwise identical to the MiG-23B, though the BN lacked the ability to carry special stores.

 

MiG-23BNs were produced from 1974 until 1985 with a total of 624 units produced, and most were exported to a wide variety of WarPac nations, though a few units served with the Soviets as trainers to aid in the transition to newer MiG-27s. 

 

East Germany was among one of the states to receive MiG-23BNs, and first started taking delivery of them in 1979 until they ultimately ended up operating 22 examples. Four of these aircraft would ultimately be lost in accidents, and eventually a reunited Germany took over the remaining MiG-23BNs on October 3rd, 1990.

 

Fuel and Oil Data:

Internal Fuel Capacity: 5750 liters (1265 imp. gals)

Oil Capacity: ? liters (? gallons)

Fuel Grade: Kerosene T-1 or TS-1 

Full Fuel Weight: 4600 kg (10140 lbs)

 

Engine Data:

Manufacturer: Tumansky

Designation: R29B-300

Type: axial-flow afterburning turbojet           

Compressor Stages: 2-spool, 5-stage LP / 6-stage HP

Combustors: Annular

Turbine: 2-stage HP / 1-stage LP

 

Power Data:

Afterburner Power: 11500 kgf (25360 lbf) ? RPM 

Dry Max Power: 8300 kgf (11500 lbf) @ ? RPM

 

Dimensional Data: 

Length: 16.70 m (54.79 ft)

Height: ? m (? ft) 

Wing Span @ 16º Sweep: 13.97 m (45.83 ft)  

Wing Span @ 72º Sweep: 7.78 m (25.52 ft)  

Wing Area @ 16º Sweep: 32.27 sq meters (347.35 sq. ft)

Wing Area @ 72º Sweep: 34.16 sq meters (367.70 sq. ft)

Wing Loading: 482 kg/sq.m (98.8 lbs/sq.ft) @ normal takeoff weight w/ 72º degree wing sweep

 

Weight Data:

Empty Weight: 10450 kg (23040 lbs)

Normal Takeoff Weight: 18600 kg (41010 lbs)

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 20000 kg (44100 lbs)

 

General Performance Data:

Max IAS (at 12500 m): 1810 kph (1125 mph)

Mach No. above 11000 m: 1.7M

Maximum Rate of Climb @ SL:  ? m/s (? ft/min)

Power-off, flaps-up Stall Speed: ? kph (? knots)

Takeoff Distance @ SL: 900 m (2950 ft)

Service Ceiling: 15600 m (51180 ft) 

Landing Speed: 250 kph (155 mph)

 

Maximum Combat Load Factor:

...up to Mach 0.85: 7G

...above Mach 0.85: 7G

 

Maximum IAS Speeds (clean configuration, normal takeoff weight):

At SL: 1350 kph (839 mph)

At 12500 m: 1.7M / 1810 kph (1125 mph)

 

Note: Climb data is currently unavailable for the MiG-23B. One can surmise it’s broadly similar to the MiG-23S it’s based upon, but due to the different powerplant and weight it’s difficult to draw any conjectures without looking at actual data. Should any such data make itself available, a climb performance section will be added here.

 

Armament: 

Guns: 1x Gsh-23L twin-barrel 23mm cannon (250 rds)

Maximum Warload Weight: 3000 kg (6615 lbs)

Additional Ordnance: 

• 2x R-3S air-to-air missiles 
• 2x R-13M air-to-air missiles
• 2x Kh-23/Kh-23M/Kh-25MR air-to-surface missiles
• UPK-23-250 underwing gunpods
• 18x 100 kg bombs
• 6x 500 kg bombs
• 8x 250 kg bombs
• S-24 rockets
• 122mm rockets

 

Radar: Sokol-23N navigation & attack system + KN-23 radar

 

Electronic Countermeasures Equipment: 

• SPS-141 Siren-Fsh + SB-1 Bar’yer jammers 
• SPO-10 Sirena-3M passive radar warning device

 

Sources:

[1] MiG-23/27 Flogger Soviet Swing-Wing Fighter/Strike Aircraft by Yefim Gordon and Keith Dexter, Aerofax, Midland Publishing, 2005, ISBN: 1 85780 211 X

[2] MiG-23/27 Flogger in action, Aircraft Number 101 squadron/signal publications, 1990, ISBN: 0-89747-244-6

[3] MiG-23/27 Flogger by Bill Gunston, Combat Aircraft Series, Osprey Publishing, London, 1986, ISBN: 0-85045-718-1

 

Edited March 10, 2020 by Aquilachrysaetos
Conversion errors in dimensions and weights have been corrected.

[Miki_Hoshii 2,449]

Open for discussion.

[Milocat 4,854]

I have no problem with this as we get more and more advanced jets.  +1.

[Borotovas 4,500]

+1

[eleks12 1,079]

+1

[MonkeyBussiness 1,228]

+1

[Capt_JamesTKirk 1,710]

+1

[Bend_Ova 110]

+1!

[Capt_JamesTKirk 1,710]

+1 with unified German flag.

[OsirisD 4,025]

When Germany will receive MiG-23 i hope it will be version (ML?) with normal nose and not this ugly thing 

[krokodyl_ 41]

+1

[m_a_r_v 27]

+1

[gojuancamilo@psn 307]

Currently Germany (as well as other nations) have quite limited ground strike at the top Br compared to US and Russia. Actually, france and UK also have good options. I think the Mig-23BN would be a quite welcome addition. Unfortunately Germany gets top air stuff quite late and whent they do they first get added as event vehicles... F-4F Early anf Mig 23MF. Such a shame

Edited January 8, 2022 by gojuancamilo@psn

[january19 57]

+1

[Evo3s 55]

Hope we will get this, beautiful jet that I would love to see

 

And it would fit after the IL-28, that line is anyways already kinda untouched for a while

Edited June 16, 2022 by Evo3s

[Godvana 533]

This would fit great at 9.7/10.0 where Germany is in dire need of some decent CAS.

[NestleKitkat 1,404]

Here it comes!

[leroyonly 4,310]

As the German MiG-23BN has been implemented with Update 2.19 Drone Age,

 

Moved to Implemented Suggestions.