The MiG-23 Flogger in CubaRuben Urribarres |
This was the most important fighter of the USSR in the 70-80's, with variable-geometry
configuration and nuclear capacity.
Perform its first flight on June 10,
1967 by A. Fedotov. Was built between 1969 and 1985 in two factories (Moscow
and Irkutsk) in the quantity of 4,278 aircrafts of combat versions, 769 training
and 560 in the attack version MiG-27, for a total of 5,607 aircrafts (more then
the F-4 Phantom).
MiG-23ML from Air Museum, Havana. Picture: Rubén Urribarres
It was exported to 18 countries. Fought in numerous conflicts as the Liban, Afghanistan, Persian Gulf, Angola, Iran-Iraq, Libya.
In those conflicts the MiG-23 achieved numerous victories. Only the Syrian MiG-23 in 1982-1985 shoot down 12 aircrafts (3 F-15, 5 F-16, 3 F-4, 1 BQM-34), losing 10.
The First MiG-23 flights in Cuba
The FAR receives the first MiG-23 on June 6, 1978, they were 14 MiG-23BN Flogger H and 2 MiG-23UB Flogger C, with serials from the 700. The reports that the airplanes that arrive to Cuba were MiG-23MS Flogger, or that was in 1977, or in number of 45 aircraft, are not correct. This first Squadron already was ready in September for the 231° Regiment of San Antonio of the Baños.
Their first action was already on October 3, 1978, when "they attack" the Naval Soviet Fleet on the sea 20km to the north of Matanzas. The MiG-21bis grasp the attention of the ships anti-aircrafts batteries, while the MiG-23BN appear in contrary direction in low level flight, and "strike". At the beginning of December of 1978 the MiG-23BN participate in the strategic exercises 'Granma XXII', where for them are assigned "objects' in US territory (as the air bases of Homestead and McDill).
The MiG-23 appear for first time in public during the great
military parade of January 2, 1979, by the XX Anniversary of the Revolution. In
spite of the bad weather conditions (rain, low visibility), 9 MiG-23BN at the
command of the Colonel Rafael del Pino pass over the Revolution Square
in three groups ('Troikas') with the variable geometric wings in three different
positions: 16°, 45°, 72°. The pass in low level of the nine MiG-23BN
impresses to all, for the visible satisfaction of the brothers Castro, that were
in the tribune (the MiG-21bis not pass for the bad weathers conditions). Like
affirms the General Rafael del Pine, when the American troops landing in Granada,
on October 30, 1983, is ordered to maintain ready the MiG-23BN to attacks objectives
in the Florida, as the Homestead air base and the nuclear central Turkey Point,
as an answer, in case of US attack to Cuba. The appear of the Cuban MiG-23 provokes
too that the Government of Ronald Reagan decide to deliver 36 F-16 Fighting
Falcon to Venezuela. 
In 1982 arrives a second Squadron of 14 fighter-bombers MiG-23BN, and another
in the second half of the 80's, until arrive at 45 fighters version. This permits
that in 1991, with the arrival of the MiG-29, an
Squadron with 14 MiG-23BN pass from San Antonio to Santa Clara, and later a second
Squadron to Holguin. In 1984 the USSR delivers some 24 MiG-23MF Flogger
E. These are the first MiG-23 air-air (equipped with a radar capable of detecting
objectives to 45km to low level and under any weather condition) until the arrival
of the MiG-23ML in 1985 with its 85 km range radar. The ML are the most
capable MiG-23 version in Cuba, and various ML arrive from Angola
in 1989-1990, after the victory of the Cuban troops. The reports that Cuba
receives MiG-23MS Flogger not have any base, as does neither receive the MiG-27,
that are confused for many people with the MiG-23BN by its shaped nose.
The Cuban MiG-23 Crisis
The appear in the FAR of these airplanes, considerably growed its attack capacity,
which trembles the political circles in USA. Various congressman use American
satelite photos where are seen the MiG-23BN in Cuba, and declared that the
agreements of the Crisis of the Missiles were violated with the USSR, therefore
the MiG-23BN were evidently more effective that the Il-28 Beagle retired
in 1962. The explication that the Cubans MiG-23 do not have nuclear weapons are
not listened, and the Republican Congressman "discovers" too, that there is a
Motorized Soviet Brigade in Cuba. This scandal was one of the factors of the rout
of the President Carter in the following elections. The Congress then threatens with not ratifying the treated SALT-1 of strategic weapons with the USSR. President Carter is seen obliged to authorize two flights of SR-71 over Cuba at the beginning of November of 1978, to verify the presence of the MiG-23. Havana protests for this air space violation. On November 16, twelve American senators visit Moscow for the SALT conversations, and ask for the theme of the Cubans MiG-23 with the Soviet Prime Minister Alexey Kosyguin, that denies every threat for US. The next day, on November 17, 1978, the USSR admits for first time officially (before that Cuba), about the delivery of MiG-23 fighters to the island, but is declared that they are aircraft of defensive character, and that its configuration does not threaten the north neighbor. At the same time is admit the presence in Cuba of a Soviet Motorized Brigade.
The
senator Richard Helms says that he has reports that the Cubans MiG-23 are being
equipped with nuclear weapons, and appears an article of Rowland Evans and Robert
Novak about it threatens to US. This obliges to President Carter to call a press
conference on November 30, 1978. Carter explains that the Soviet Government assure
it that those airplanes do not enter in the offensive weapons limitations by the
agreements of 1962. The crisis is dissipated little to little, and January 17,
1979, the US Department of State declares that they have arrived at the conclusion,
that the Cubans MiG-23 not they are configured to carry nuclear weapons, and therefore,
they not violate the agreements Kennedy-Jrushov of 1962.
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| San Antonio, 1985 | |
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The Cuban MiG-23 today 
On
March 20, 1991 the major Orestes Lorenzo lands with its MiG-23BN N°722
in NAS Key West, Florida. Lorenzo was the second leader of the Santa Clara Air
Base, and desert in his first flight in the MiG-23BN. The fighter was returned
and Lorenzo ask for political asylum, but his family remain in Cuba. Frustrated
by not being able to achieve the exit of his family, on December 19, 1992 he secretly
land in Cuba in a Cessna-310, he embarks his wife and two children, and
returns to the US. This espectacular history was reflected in the book "Wings
of the Morning', that describes inside the Cuban Air Force, including passages
about the Angolan campaign, where Lorenzo flew in 40 combat missions.
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Another event where participate Cubans MiG-23 was the shoot down on February 24, 1996 of the two airplanes Cessna-337 of the Cuban exiled organization 'Brothers to the Rescue'. In the action participated a MiG-23UB piloted by the colonel lieutenant Francisco Perez Perez, and the MiG-29UB of the too colonel lieutenant Alberto Perez Perez (brother of Francisco). The MiG-23UB served as radio delay between the ground radar controllers, while the MiG-29UB shoot down the two airplanes with R-60M missiles. The reports that that MiG-23 shoot down one of the Cessna-337 are not correct. But in detail this event is described in the MiG-29 section.
By 1990 Cuba had in service 58 MiG-23 form versions BN, ML, UB:
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Zona Aérea Occidental. 2° Brigada de la Guardia "Playa Girón" |
| Regimiento de Caza / San Antonio de los Baños Air Base Escuadrón de Caza with 12 MiG-23ML, 4 MiG-23UB (Air Defense/Attack) |
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Zona Aérea Central. 1° Brigada de la Guardia "Batalla de Santa Clara" |
| Regimiento de Caza / Santa Clara Air Base Escuadrón de Cazabombardeo, with 12 MiG-23BN, 2 MiG-23UB (Attack) Escuadrón de Cazabombardeo, with 12 MiG-23BN, 2 MiG-23UB (Attack) |
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Zona Aérea Oriental. 3° Brigada de la Guardia "Cuartel Moncada" |
| Regimiento de Caza / Holguín Air Base Escuadrón de Caza, with 12 MiG-23ML, 2 MiG-23UB (Air Defense/Attack) |
Photos
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| (Photo courtesy of Air & Space Power Journal) | |
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(Photo courtesy of Air & Space Power Journal) |
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Characteristics of the Cubans MiG-23 Flogger
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MiG-23MF Flogger E. (Product 23-11M). Export version for nearby allies (Pact
of Warsaw, Cuba and India) of the frontal fighter MiG-23M. Radar Sapfir-23D of
65 km range to objective fighter type. |  |
| MiG-23ML
Flogger G. (Product 23-12). Air superiority version. Radar Sapfir-23ML
of 85km range. Chassis 175mm higher, vertical tail modified. New more powerful
motor, although less fuel. |  |
| MiG-23BN
Flogger H. (Product 32-23). Fighter-bomber version to ground attack.
Nose modified for better visibility to the ground. In the radar place, have a
annotation and navegation system Sokol-23, telemetric laser type Fon. |  |
| MiG-23UB
Flogger C. (Product 23-51). Two seat for combat trainning, with the same armament
that the other versions. Radar Sapfir-21 of the "S" of 29 km range. Produced until
1978. |  |
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Flogger E |
Flogger G |
Flogger H |
Flogger C |
| Year Lenght, m Wingspan, m (sweep 72°/ 16°) Height, m Wing area, m2 Weights Max takeoff weight, kg Normal takeoff weight, kg Empty weight, kg Internal fuel, kg External fuel, kg Combat load, kg Performances Max speed at sea level, km/h Max speed, km/h Ceiling, m Climb, m/s Range, km Range with aditional fuel, km G Engine Type (Tumansky) Dry thrust, kg After burning thrust, kg | 16,70 7,78-13,97 4,82 34,16-37,35 - 20,670 15,750 10,845 4,100 1,500 1,600 - 1,350 2,445 17,500 200 1,900 2,800 8 - R-29-300 8,300 12,500 |
16,70 7,78-13,97 5,77 34,16-37,35 - 17,800 14,700 10.550 3,800 1,500 2,000 - 1,350 2,445 18,500 240 1,950 2,820 8,5 - R-35-300 8,550 13,000 |
16,70 7,78-13,97 4,82 34,16-37,35 - 18,850 16,450 10,700 3,360 1,500 3,000 - 1,350 1,900 16,800 200 1,350 2,500 7,5 - R-29B-300 8,000 11,500 |
16,64 7,78-13,97 4,82 34,16-37,35 - 18,000 15,740 8,700 3,500 1,500 1,300 - 1,350 2,445 15,800 175 1,700 2,540 7 - R-27F2M300 6,900 10,000 |
| Armament: All carry a 23 mm GsH-23L gun, with 200 rounds. In 7 points (3 under the fuselage and 4 under the wings) carries armament in diverse combinations, as 6 medium range air-air missiles R-23, R-24 (AA-7 Apex), or of short range R-13 (AA-2 Atoll), R-60 (AA-8 Aphid). Air-ground rockets X-66, X-23 (AS-7 Kerry), or S-24, or 2 blocks with 16 rockets of 57mm UB-16, two blocks UB-32 with 32 rockets of 57mm, or two blocks of 20 rockets of 80mm S-80, two containers UPK-23 with GsH-23L guns, 4 bombs of until 500 kg, or 16 of 100 kg, etc. To the right, a plan with some load combat variants of the MiG-23. |  |
Sources
Roman Beliakov, G. Marmen. Samolety 'MiG'. Aviko Press, Moscou, 1996
Henry Perez. Piloto Maestro, Ediciones Mercedes y Rio, Canada, 1994
Rafael del Pino. Proa a la libertad. Editorial Planeta, Mexico, 1991
Akleksey Illarionov, "Balcon with view to the battle field", Mir Aviatsii, Moscou 1/2001
Cubans magazines Bohemia, Verde Olivo
Autor´s archives
See also:
Cuban MiG-15
Cuban MiG-17
Cuban MiG-19
Cuban MiG-21
Cuban MiG-21 in action
Operación Pico: Cuban MiG-21 over Dominican Republic
Cuban MiG-17 and MiG-21 in the Ogaden War (Ethiopia)
Cuban MiG-23
Cuban MiG-23 in action (air-to-ground missions in Angola)
Cuban MiG-23 in action (air-to-air missions in Angola)
Cuban MiG-29
External Links:
Cuban Air Force MiG-29 Fulcrum
Cuban MiGs
Cuban Military Forum
The MiG-29 Fighter
Cuban MiG-23 over Venezuela
Cuba in Africa, The Angola War
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