Doomed to fail. What's wrong with the Russian MiG-23 fighter jet?
news.online.ua
Sun, 19 Jan 2025 18:01:37 +0200
The MiG23 fighter jet is another highprofile Russian failureAccording to the expert, the MiG23 was a vivid example of the Soviet approach, because then they cared about quantity, not quality.Caleb Larson points out that the MiG23 had a variable sweep wing, which allowed it to change the shape of the wing for different flight profiles, effectively optimizing lift and drag characteristics at different speeds.
However, while this provided operational flexibility on paper, it was also a rather complex design, the expert notes.
Compared to Western fighters such as the F4 Phantom II or the later F15 Eagle, the MiG23 had significant shortcomings in terms of maneuverability, onboard avionics, and overall reliability.
According to the expert, its control at low speeds was particularly problematic, and the unstable design frightened even experienced pilots.
The advantages of the MiG23 could not save itCaleb Larson does not deny the fact that the MiG23 had some notable strengths, writes 19FortyFive .First of all, it is about its impressive speed, especially compared to other Soviet aircraft of that era, such as the MiG21.Moreover, it was the MiG23 that could boast improved flight range, payload, and radar capabilities.
The MiG23 was relatively inexpensive and easy to produce in large quantities, which would have allowed the Soviet Union to saturate potential war zones with many hundreds of MiG23s, creating a significant offensive air presence, regardless of the shortcomings of jet aircraft.
Despite this, it is important to understand that the Soviet fighter never managed to close the qualitative gap with its NATO jet fighter counterparts.
The planes successes and failures underscore the broader dynamics of the Cold War, in which the West sought qualitative superiority over the Soviet Union, while the USSR relied solely on quantity.
Latest news
more news