MiG-23MLA (Germany)

Description

The MiG-23MLA was a direct export variant of the MiG-23ML, albeit with multiple noteworthy upgrades. Chief of these was the installation of the N-003 (Sapphire-23MLA) radar with upgraded range and ECCM reliability. The aircraft was also the first export model with the new TP-23M IRST and the first export variant cleared for firing the R-24R/T missiles. The East German Air Force received 28 of this type.

The ◊MiG-23MLA was introduced in Update "Wind of Change" as a German equivalent to the MiG-23MLD in the Soviet tree. The aircraft is completely identical in gameplay to the MiG-23ML, having the same BDS-50-60 countermeasure dispensers and R-24 missiles which distinguish it over the older MiG-23M/MF variants. As such, its playstyle is also very similar, utilizing its great weapon systems and avionics to best its opponents, but not afraid to dogfight some of its less manoeuvrable adversaries either. All in all, the MiG-23MLA acts as a great stepping stone between the MiG-21bis-SAU and the MiG-29 around it in the tech tree in terms of playstyle, and teaches the pilot valuable lessons in engagement prioritization and missile employment before they get their hands on the MiG-29 that follows it in the tech tree.

General info

Flight performance

Details

Engine performance

Survivability and armour

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Modifications and economy

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)

Offensive armament

The MiG-23MLA (Germany) is armed with:

• 1 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannon, belly-mounted (200 rpg)
• 60 x large calibre countermeasures

Suspended armament

The MiG-23MLA (Germany) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3	4	5
23 mm GSh-23L cannons (250 rpg)	1				1
100 kg OFAB-100 bombs	4	4†		4†	4
250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs	1	1		1	1
500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs	1				1
ZB-500 incendiary bombs		1		1
S-5K rockets	16, 32	16		16	16, 32
S-8KO rockets	20				20
S-24B rockets	1	1		1	1
Kh-23M missiles	1*				1*
R-13M1 missiles	1	1		1	1
R-23R missiles	1				1
R-23T missiles	1				1
R-24R missiles	1				1
R-24T missiles	1				1
R-60MK missiles	1	2		2	1
Large calibre countermeasures			12
Delta-NG targeting pod		1*
820 l drop tanks			1†
* It is required to equip the Delta-NG targeting pod with the Kh-23M missiles † The drop tank cannot be equipped in conjunction with quad bombs on adjacent hardpoints

Usage in battles

This aircraft has a versatile set of play styles any pilot can use for any situation, a good set of examples would be ones seen below focusing on two sides of the spectrum of engagements.

• High Speed SARH Slinger: The idea of this playstyle is to climb to between 5,000 and 7,000 m altitude and travel around Mach 1.4 to 1.8 in a straight line finding alone enemies who look like good targets and to send an R-24R at them biting fast and retreating fast like a snake, allowing you to score a relativity easy hit, and if it misses or you are noticed, an escape is easy to pull off thanks to your already high speed and higher altitude allowing you to retreat to the airfield to restock. Though be careful for any other aircraft at that altitude that could shoot you down, this is why speed is key to survival.
• Close Quarters All Aspect: The idea of this playstyle is to hang low to the ground in-between hills and tree lines while travelling around Mach 1, this allows you to be ready to ambush and turn fight any aircraft that gets close, and with the ability to carry the all-aspect R-24T you can send one to an enemy between 4 km to 6 km away from cover at most angles to get a surprise hit, or if they evade it to try to turn into you, you can easily use your mobility to out-turn them and A) gun them down, or B) fire an R-60MK at them.

Those are just two examples of play styles that works for this aircraft on different sides of the spectrum, BVR engagements and close range engagements. You do not need to however use these exclusively, but use the knowledge learned to see where this aircraft can perform best at in given situations, and test varying levels play styles to find one that fits you well. This aircraft is great at surprising enemies with its mobility and speed, so playing around those strengths well help a lot in making the most of the aircraft. This can also be applied through out AB, RB and SB, but it is recommended to test and adjust elements of the desired playstyle to fit the game mode of your choosing.

One of the most interesting quirks about this plane is that its radar operates in the J-band. Many planes that you will commonly encounter, especially in downtiers, are not able to detect the J-band on their RWRs, and will only be able to avoid your R-24Rs if they actually see you firing it at them.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Wide selection of air-to-air weapons such as short range IR R-13M1/R-60MK and long range R-24T/R-24R
• Excellent manoeuvrability
• Outstanding speed (reaching Mach 1.2 - 1.6 is easy to achieve and can provide a large advantage, reaching Mach 1.9 to 2.2 on EC maps is even easier)

Cons:

• Carries a limited number to air-to-air weapons
• Radar is limited to 30 km range vs. its NATO counterparts (this is however fixed by flying above 2,000 m to enter "look-down" (LD) mode, there is also a 60 and 90 km option)
• Very few options for air-to-ground loadouts

History

Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the MiG-23MLA (Germany) from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

Related development

• MiG-23 (Family)

Other jet planes with variable sweep wings

• Tornado (Family)
• Su-17/22 (Family)
• F14 (Family)
• F-111A

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.

Germany jet aircraft
	Luftwaffe
He 162	He 162 A-1 · He 162 A-2
Me 163	Me 163 B · Me 163 B-0
Ho 229	Ho 229 V3
Ar 234	Ar 234 B-2 · Ar 234 C-3
Me 262	Me 262 A-1a · Me 262 A-1a/Jabo · Me 262 A-1a/U1 · Me 262 A-1/U4 · Me 262 A-2a
	Me 262 C-1a · Me 262 C-2b
	LSK
Fighters	◊MiG-15bis · ◊Lim-5P · ◊MiG-19S
	◊MiG-21MF · ◊MiG-21bis-SAU · ◊MiG-21 "Lazur-M"
	◊MiG-29
Attackers	◊MiG-23BN · ◊MiG-23MF · ◊MiG-23MLA
	◊Su-22UM3K · ◊Su-22M4
	◊IL-28
	Luftwaffe
F-84	◄F-84F
F-86	◄CL-13A Mk 5 · ◄CL-13B Mk.6 · ◄F-86K
F-104	◄F-104G
F-4	◄F-4F Early · ◄F-4F · ◄F-4F KWS LV
G.91	◄G.91 R/3 · ◄G.91 R/4
Tornado	◄Tornado IDS WTD61 · ◄Tornado IDS MFG · ◄Tornado IDS ASSTA1
Other	Alpha Jet A · ◄Sea Hawk Mk.100
Ex-LSK	◄MiG-21 SPS-K · ◄MiG-29G · ◄Su-22M4 WTD61
	Swiss Air Force
	◌Hunter F.58 · FFA P-16