The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 (NATO reporting name: Flogger) is a variable-geometry fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is considered to belong to the Soviet third-generation jet fighter category, along with similarly aged Soviet fighters such as the MiG-25 "Foxbat". It was the first attempt by the Soviet Union to design look-down/shoot-down radar and one of the first to be armed with beyond visual range missiles, and the first MiG production fighter aircraft to have intakes at the sides of the fuselage. Production started in 1970 and reached large numbers with over 5,000 aircraft built. Today the MiG-23 remains in limited service with various export customers.

The basic design was also used as the basis for the Mikoyan MiG-27, a dedicated ground-attack variant. Among many minor changes, the MiG-27 replaced the MiG-23's nose-mounted radar system with an optical panel holding a laser designator and a TV camera. Ground-attack variants of the MiG-23 were also produced, and these generally saw better export success, retaining more multi-mission capability.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of an East German MiG-23ML "Flogger-K" fighter that was attached to Jagdfliegergeschwader 9 "Heinrich Rau", then deployed to Peenemunde-West, East Germany, during 1990. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7-3/4-inches
Length: 9-1/4-inches

Release Date: September 2022

Historical Account: "Heinrich Rau" - Jagdfliegergeschwader 9 (JG-9) was the honorary title of Heinrich Rau and was a flying unit in regimental strength of the NVA air forces that was directly subordinate to the 3rd Air Defense Division.

Originally created in December 1953, the 3rd department of the 2nd Aero Club of the Kasernierte Volkspolizei (KVP) at the Cottbus-Drewitz airfield and was the forerunner to JG-9. On August 28th, 1954, it was renamed the 3rd command of the 2nd Aero Club of the KVP. When it was taken over by the NVA on December 26th, 1956, it became the 9th Air Wing of the 3rd Air Division. From May 16th, 1961, the squadron was relocated to Peenemunde airfield located on the northern tip of the island of Usedom, where it was renamed Jagdfliegergeschwader 9 (JFG-9; later JG-9) on June 9th, 1961.

On March 1st, 1966, the 10th anniversary of the NVA, JG-9 became the first fighter squadron to receive the honorary name "Heinrich Rau".