MiG-27 Series

It does not appear that the MiG-23B, the first fighter-bomber descend­ed from a family of genuine fighters, satisfied all of the hopes pinned on it. The main weaknesses were its power plant and its nav-attack system. The MiG-27 was therefore developed from a MiG-23B air­frame—in this case, a MiG-23BM (32-25) powered by the new R-29B- 300 turbojet rated at 7,840 daN (8,000 kg st) dry and 11,270 daN (11,500 kg st) with afterburner. But unlike the MiG-23, the MiG-27 had fixed air intakes and could be recognized by its very small splitter plates, set 80 millimeters (3 78 inches) away from the fuselage wall to act as bound­ary layer bleeds. The blow-in doors used at takeoff or in flight at low Mach numbers were retained.

Keeping in mind that the aircraft’s new missions (bombing, deep tactical support) might require sudden changes in trim, the displace­ment speed of the type 3 wing between settings was modulated, so that during any aircraft acceleration or deceleration the wing could be given in due time the most favorable sweep angle, considering the air­craft’s speed. The full-span trailing edge flaps were set to 25 degrees at takeoff and 50 degrees at landing (only when the wing was fully spread). The aircraft’s standard AOA at landing was 15 degrees but could be reduced to 10 degrees for hard landings. It had a tail chute that covered 21 m2 (226 square feet) and was housed in a canister at the base of the rudder.

The main equipment included the PrNK-23 nav-attack system, SAU automatic flight control system, SPS-141 thermal jammer, Rl-65 vocal warning (for sixteen facts), SUA-1 AOA indicator, KN-23 naviga­tion computer, SG-1 radar warning receiver, SO-69 transponder, SRZO/SRO-1P IFF interrogator/transponder, RV-5R/RV-10 radio­altimeters, and Fone range finder.

This MiG-27 carries three bombs and two rocket pods. Note the new shape of the engine air intakes

The MiG-27’s weaponry was quite impressive. It had one 30-mm six-barrel GSh-6-30 cannon with 260 rounds and could handle a total load of 4,000 kg (8,815 pounds) at seven store stations:

— two SPPU-22-01 gun pods carrying twin-barrel 23-mm guns that could be depressed to attack ground targets —R-3S and R-13M air-to-air missiles —Kh-23 or Kh-29 air-to-surface missiles —240-mm S-24/S-24B rockets —UB-32A or UB-32-16 rocket pods

-twenty-two 50- and 100-kg (110- and 220-pound) bombs, eighteen 100-kg (220-pound) bombs, nine 250-kg (550-pound) bombs, eight 500-kg (1,100-pound) bombs, or tactical nuclear bombs of various sizes

—napalm containers

The internal fuel capacity was 5,400 1 (1,426 US gallons), and the aircraft could also carry three drop tanks with 790 1 (209 US gallons) apiece.

Specifications

Span (72° sweep); 7.779 m (25 ft 6.3 in); span (16" sweep), 13.965 m (45 ft 9.8 in); overall length, 17.076 m (56 ft 0.3 in); height, 5 m (16 ft 4.8 in); wing glove sweep at leading edge, 70°; wheel track, 2.728 m (8 ft 11.4 in); wheel base, 5.991 m (19 ft 7 9 in); wing area (72° sweep), 34.16 m2 (367.7 sq ft); wing area (16° sweep), 37.35 m2 (402 sq ft); empty weight, 11,908 kg (26,245 lb); takeoff weight, 18,100 kg (39,890 lb); max takeoff weight, 20,300 kg (44,740 lb); internal fuel, 4,560 kg (10,050 lb); wing loading (72° sweep), 529.9-594.2 kg/m2 (108.6-121.8 lb/sq ft); wing loading (16° sweep), 485.7-544.7 kg/m2 (99.6-111.7 lb/sq ft).

Performance

Max speed in clean configuration (72° sweep) at sea level, 1,350 km/h (729 kt); at 8,000 m (26,240 ft), 1,885 km/h or Mach 1.7 (1,018 kt); landing speed, 260-270 km/h (140-146 kt); radius of action, lo-lo-lo, with two Kh-29 missiles, 225 km (140 mi); with two Kh-29 missiles and three 790-1 (209-US gal) drop tanks, 540 km (335 mi), plus 7% reserve fuel; takeoff roll, 950 m (3,115 ft); landing roll with tail chute, 900 m (2,950 ft); landing roll without tail chute, 1,300 m (4,265 ft).