The MiG-23 introduced variable-sweep wings and beyond-visual-range missiles to Soviet frontline fighter units. The later MLD refinement improved handling, avionics, and countermeasures, addressing many limitations of earlier Flogger variants while preserving the design’s emphasis on acceleration and interception.
INTERACTIVE MODEL LOADS WHEN NEARBY
2016 / ModernAirframe B
F-35A Lightning II
Lockheed Martin · Conventional multirole fighter
HISTORICAL FIELD NOTE
The conventional-runway F-35A combines low-observable shaping, sensor fusion, and internal weapons carriage with the lightest airframe and largest internal fuel load of the three F-35 variants. It entered U.S. Air Force operational service in 2016 and is designed for both air-to-air and precision-strike missions.
PERFORMANCE
SPECIFICATION BREAKDOWN
METRICMiG-23MLD FloggerF-35A Lightning II
Top speed
Mach 2.35REFERENCE VALUE
Mach 1.6REFERENCE VALUE
Ceiling
60,000 ftREFERENCE VALUE
50,000 ftREFERENCE VALUE
Range
1,750 miREFERENCE VALUE
1,200+ nmiAPPROXIMATE / PUBLISHED
Archive milestone
Service entry · 1982REFERENCE VALUE
Service entry · 2016REFERENCE VALUE
Nation
Soviet UnionDESCRIPTIVE VALUE
United StatesDESCRIPTIVE VALUE
Primary role
Variable-sweep interceptorDESCRIPTIVE VALUE
Conventional multirole fighterDESCRIPTIVE VALUE
Values are concise archive references and can vary by variant, payload, configuration, altitude, operating conditions, and source. Range may describe different published measures where a directly comparable figure is unavailable.
