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MIG-23ML Flogger 2786, Israeli Air Force, 1990s "defection plane of Maj. Adul Bassem of Syria AF"
General Background
In the 1960’s the Soviet military required a replacement for the MiG-21 that could compete with
the USAF F-14 Tomcat. It had to be very fast, rapid acceleration, carry a larger payload, capable
of a high service ceiling, long range and beyond visual range intercept capabilities. The project
was given to the Mikoyan- Gurevich Design Bureau that produced the Model 23-11 that first flew
on June 10, 1967. Production began in 1969 and eventually completed over 5,000 swing-wing
MiG-23s. A ground-attack variant was also produced, the MiG-27.
The Aircraft
On October 11, 1989, Major Adel Bassem was flying a Syrian MiG-23ML as part of a 2 aircraft training flight next to the Israeli held “Golan Heights”. Bassem saw the opportunity he had been waiting for and broke away from the second Syrian aircraft. He turned toward Israel and accelerated as he descended below radar coverage. With afterburners lit he crossed into Israel and landed at the civilian airport of Megiddo. This was a bit of embarrassment for the Israelis because the Syrian fighter was never challenged.
Specifications :
| Country of Origin: | Soviet Union |
| Manufacturer: | Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau |
| Role: | Fighter-Interceptor |
| Crew: | 1 Pilot (2 X for the MiG-23UB and the MiG-23UM |
| First Flight: | June 10, 1967 |
| Dimensions | |
| Length: | 54 ft 8 ins (16.71 m) including nose probe |
| Wingspan: | Fully Swept – 26 ft 7 ins (7.78 m) |
| Fully Spread – 45 ft 8 ins (13.97 m) | |
| Weight: | |
| Empty: | 22,440 lbs (10,200 kg) |
| Maximum take-off: | 39,160 lbs (17,800 kg) |
| Performance | |
| Power Plant: | 1 X Soyuz/Tumansky R-35-300 Afterburning Turbojet |
| Thrust: | 28,600 lbs (13,000 kg) |
| Maximum speed: | 1,553 mph (2,500 kmh) |
| Service Ceiling: | 60,680 ft (18,500 m) |
| Range: | 1,211 miles (1,950 km) |
| Armament: | 1 X GSh-23L 23mm Two-Barrel Cannon w/200 Rounds |
| Maximum External Weapons Load: | 6,600 lbs (3,000 kg) |
| Weapons Options: | AAMs and ASMs |
| R-3 (AA-2 Atoll) | |
| R-13R (AA-2-2 Atoll-C) | |
| R-13M (AA-2-2 Atoll-D) | |
| R-23R (AA-7 Apex) | |
| R-23T (AA-7 Apex) | |
| R-24R (AA-7 Apex) | |
| R-24T (AA-7 Apex) | |
| R-60 (AA-8 Aphid) | |
| R-60M (AA-8 Aphid) | |
| Unguided Rockets | |
| S-5 | |
| S-8 | |
| S-24 | |
| Unguided Bombs | |
| FAB-250 | |
| FAB-500 | |
| OFAB-100 Fragmentation Bombs | |
| Cluster Bombs | |
| ZAB-500 Napalm Bombs | |
| UPK-23 250 Pods with a GSh-23L Cannon | |
| Known variants: | MiG-23B, MiG-23BN, MiG-23BK, MiG-23BM, MiG-23BN, MiG-23M, MiG-23MF, MiG-23ML MiG-23MLA, MiG-23MLD, MiG-23MS, MiG-23P, MiG-23S, MiG-23UB, MiG-23UM, MiG-24 (export MiG-23) |