MiG-23MS Flogger-E “Constant Peg” Die-Cast Model

Utlized for the "Constant Peg" project, this MiG-23 Flogger was flown by American pilots against their own contemporary aircraft.

Improving on the venerable MiG-21 Fishbed interceptor, the MiG-23 Flogger was further adapted for beyond-visual-range combat. With it’s new “look-down shoot-down” radar system and enhanced weapons capabilities, the Soviet forces expected to take on advanced foes of the early 1970s. Across numerous variants and high amounts of export orders, more than 5,000 would be manufactured in a two-decade span, serving nations into the modern day. Flown during the highly classified US Air Force “Constant Peg” project, this first-generation MiG-23MS Flogger-E provided valuable information and combat training against newer Soviet aircraft. Alongside the MiG-17 and MiG-21 fighters that were previously obtained, the MiG-23 would fly over the dedicated Tonopah test range in Nevada. Across their decade of operation, the Soviet adversary fighters would fly more than 15,000 sorties, training 6,000 American pilots against their foes. On display in the National Museum of the United States Air Force, this aircraft's history remains clouded in secrecy.

Features

• High-quality camouflage livery with engraved panel lines, printed decals, antennas, and surface details
• Includes deployed or retracted landing gear and display stand to show the aircraft in flight
• Comes with a full set of air-to-air weaponry and fuel tanks which simply press-fit into place
• Measures 9.25”l with a 7.75” wingspan at 1:72 scale
• Highly collectible and officially licensed model

History and Specifications:
Introduced in 1970 following several prototypes from Mikoyan Gurevich, the MiG-23 was an entirely revamped design of the earlier MiG-21 Fishbed concept. Carrying the new R-23 semi-active radar missiles in combination with the RP-23 Sapfir radar unit, the aircraft was the first Soviet beyond-visual-range interceptor. Equipped with Moving-Target-Indication (MTI) and Look-Down (LD) modes, it could track and deploy ordnance against aircraft in a vastly greater envelope. Additionally, new "swinging" wings provided much improvement over the earlier tailed-delta configuration. Though quick to react, the predecessor Fishbed was quick to lose energy in maneuvering, as well as unstable and hard to control. Comparatively, the Flogger design provided excellent energy retention at medium and low speeds, while maintaining a top speed beyond mach-2. Simplified for export duties, early MiG-23MS aircraft were delivered in 1973 under the designation Flogger-E, with access to the antiquated R-3S infrared and R-3R semi-active-radar missiles. Taken on by Syria, Algeria, Iraq, and Egypt, 179 units were manufactured over the following 4 years.