| MiG-23 | |
|---|---|
 A Soviet Air Force MiG-23MLD | |
| General information | |
| Type | Fighter aircraft (M series) Fighter-bomber (B series) |
| National origin | Soviet Union |
| Manufacturer | Mikoyan-Gurevich / Mikoyan |
| Status | In limited service |
| Primary users | Soviet Air Force (historical) |
| Number built | 5,047 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1967–1985 |
| Introduction date | 1970 |
| First flight | 10 June 1967 |
| Variants | Mikoyan MiG-27 |
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 (‹See Tfd›Russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-23; NATO reporting name: Flogger) is a variable-geometry fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is a third-generation jet fighter, alongside similar Soviet aircraft such as the Su-17 "Fitter". It was the first Soviet fighter to field a look-down/shoot-down radar, the RP-23 Sapfir, and one of the first to be armed with beyond-visual-range missiles. Production started in 1969 and reached large numbers with over 5,000 aircraft built, making it the most produced variable-sweep wing aircraft in history. The MiG-23 remains in limited service with some export customers.
The basic design was also used as the basis for the Mikoyan MiG-27, a dedicated ground-attack variant. Among many minor changes, the MiG-27 replaced the MiG-23's nose-mounted radar system with an optical panel holding a laser designator and a TV camera.