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MiG-27 Mikoyan Gurevich
MiG-27
ASCC codename: Flogger
Ground Attack Fighter

DESCRIPTION:
The success of later MiG-23 attack variants led to the development of a dedicated ground attack aircraft based on the MiG-23 design. This new aircraft was designated as the MiG-27. Though using the same basic airframe as the MiG-23, the MiG-27 has a different engine, a longer nose, a new cockpit, different landing gear for rough-field operations, a navigation/attack system tailored to the ground attack mission, and lacks a radar. Though considered to be a new aircraft, there have been numerous cross-overs in later models of the MiG-23 and MiG-27 family such that the final versions built were mostly hybrid MiG-23BM/BN attack fighters.
Production of the MiG-27 in the Soviet Union ended in the mid-1980s, though license manufacture in India may have lasted longer. Both the MiG-23 and MiG-27 were largely phased out of Russian service by the mid-1990s, but the type remains in use with export customers. Primary users currently are India and Sri Lanka, where the MiG-27 was particularly useful in ending the Tamil civil war.
Last modified 17 March 2012

HISTORY:

First Flight 20 August 1970

Service Entry 1975

Retirement (Russia) 1994

CREW: one: pilot

ESTIMATED COST:

unknown

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root TsAGI SR-12S (6.5%)

Wing Tip TsAGI SR-12S (5.5%)

DIMENSIONS:

Length 56.02 ft (17.076 m)

Wingspan unswept: 45.83 ft (13.965 m)
swept: 25.54 ft (7.779 m)

Height 16.42 ft (5.00 m)

Wing Area 293 ft² (27.3 m²)

Canard Area

not applicable

WEIGHTS:

Empty 26,250 lb (11,910 kg)

Normal Takeoff 34,170 lb (15,500 kg)

Max Takeoff 44,750 lb (20,300 kg)

Fuel Capacity internal: unknown
external: unknown

Max Payload

8,820 lb (4,000 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant one Soyuz/ Khachaturov R-29B-300 afterburning turbojet

Thrust 17,625 lb (78.40 kN)
25,335 lb (112.7 kN) with afterburner

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed at altitude: 1,170 mph (1,885 km/h) at 26,250 ft (8,000 m), Mach 1.5
at sea level: 840 mph (1,335 km/h), Mach 1.1

Initial Climb Rate 39,370 ft (12,000 m) / min

Service Ceiling 45,900 ft (14,000 m)

Range typical: 415 nm (770 km)
ferry: 1,350 nm (2,500 km)

g-Limits +6

ARMAMENT:

Gun one 23-mm GSh-23L or 30-mm GSh-6-30 two-barrel cannon (260 rds)

Stations 5 external hardpoints

Air-to-Air Missile K-13/AA-2 Atoll, R-60/AA-8 Aphid

Air-to-Surface Missile AS-7 Kerry, AS-14 Kledge, Kh-29

Bomb FAB-250, FAB-500 conventional bombs, nuclear bombs, cluster bombs

Other rocket pods, ECM pods

KNOWN VARIANTS:

MiG-23B 'Flogger-F' First MiG-23 attack variant that later led to the MiG-27 series; 24 production models built

MiG-23BK 'Flogger-H' Ground attack fighter based on the MiG-23B sold for export to Warsaw Pact nations

MiG-23BN 'Flogger-H' Primarily an export model similar to the MiG-23B except with a different engine, an improved wing design, and new avionics; 624 built ending in 1985

MiG-23BM 'Flogger-D' Upgrade to the MiG-23BK to replace the ground attack sight system and introduce a digital attack computer, became the basis of the MiG-27 family and several MiG-23BM test aircraft introduced increasingly radical changes from the original fighter series

MiG-27M 'Flogger-J' Significantly more capable attack model based on the MiG-23BK with a new gun, improved electronic countermeasures, and a nav/attack system allowing automatic flight control, weapons release and gun control, and automatic flight to the target using preprogrammed data; 200 built from 1978 to 1983 plus 160 license-built by India

MiG-27D MiG-23BM airframes upgraded to the MiG-27M standard; 305 converted

MiG-27K 'Flogger-J2' Similar to the MiG-27M but incorporating a laser designator and compatibility with TV-guided electro-optical weapons, the final version used by the Soviet Union; approximately 200 built

MiG-27L or
MiG-27M Bahadur Export model sold to India based on the MiG-27M and largely identical except with a different window for the infrared search and track camera; about 150 assembled in India from kits or built under license

MiG-27H Upgrade applied by India to its MiG-27L fleet consisting of new French avionics including glass cockpit displays, compatibility with GPS and GLONASS, improved communications systems, inproved inertial navigation, electronic warfare equipment, and installation of a radar to provide anti-ship capability; some 140-180 modified

MiG-27J Export model

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD: Afghanistan War (Soviet Union, 1979-1989)
Iran-Iraq War (Iraq, 1980-1988)
Iraq - Operation Desert Storm (Iraq, 1991)
Iraq - Operation Desert Fox (Iraq, 1998)
Kargil War (India, 1999)
Tamil conflict (Sri Lanka, 2000-2009)

KNOWN OPERATORS: Cuba, Defensa Antiaerea y Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria (Anti-Aircraft Defense and Revolutionary Air Force)
Georgia (Georgian Air Force)
India, Bharatiya Vayu Sena (Indian Air Force)
Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force)
Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan Air Force)
Russia, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Russian Air Force)
Sri Lanka (Sri Lankan National Air Force)
Ukraine, Viys'kovo-Povitriani Syly Ukrayiny (Ukraine Military Air Forces)
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Soviet Air Force)

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

MiG-27

SOURCES:

Bishop, Chris, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Weapons: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Weapon Systems from 1945 to the Present Day. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1999, p. 274.

Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 633.

Gunston, Bill and Spick, Mike. Modern Air Combat: The Aircraft, Tactics and Weapons Employed in Aerial Combat Today. NY: Crescent Books, 1983, p. 134-135.

Isby, David C. Jane's Fighter Combat in the Jet Age. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1997, p. 179.

Munro, Bob and Chant, Christopher. Jane's Combat Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995, p. 168-169.

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	Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-27 ASCC codename: Flogger Ground Attack Fighter

DESCRIPTION: The success of later MiG-23 attack variants led to the development of a dedicated ground attack aircraft based on the MiG-23 design. This new aircraft was designated as the MiG-27. Though using the same basic airframe as the MiG-23, the MiG-27 has a different engine, a longer nose, a new cockpit, different landing gear for rough-field operations, a navigation/attack system tailored to the ground attack mission, and lacks a radar. Though considered to be a new aircraft, there have been numerous cross-overs in later models of the MiG-23 and MiG-27 family such that the final versions built were mostly hybrid MiG-23BM/BN attack fighters. Production of the MiG-27 in the Soviet Union ended in the mid-1980s, though license manufacture in India may have lasted longer. Both the MiG-23 and MiG-27 were largely phased out of Russian service by the mid-1990s, but the type remains in use with export customers. Primary users currently are India and Sri Lanka, where the MiG-27 was particularly useful in ending the Tamil civil war. Last modified 17 March 2012
HISTORY:
First Flight	20 August 1970
Service Entry	1975
Retirement	(Russia) 1994
CREW:	one: pilot
ESTIMATED COST:	unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	TsAGI SR-12S (6.5%)
Wing Tip	TsAGI SR-12S (5.5%)
DIMENSIONS:
Length	56.02 ft (17.076 m)
Wingspan	unswept: 45.83 ft (13.965 m) swept: 25.54 ft (7.779 m)
Height	16.42 ft (5.00 m)
Wing Area	293 ft² (27.3 m²)
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	26,250 lb (11,910 kg)
Normal Takeoff	34,170 lb (15,500 kg)
Max Takeoff	44,750 lb (20,300 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: unknown external: unknown
Max Payload	8,820 lb (4,000 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	one Soyuz/ Khachaturov R-29B-300 afterburning turbojet
Thrust	17,625 lb (78.40 kN) 25,335 lb (112.7 kN) with afterburner
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 1,170 mph (1,885 km/h) at 26,250 ft (8,000 m), Mach 1.5 at sea level: 840 mph (1,335 km/h), Mach 1.1
Initial Climb Rate	39,370 ft (12,000 m) / min
Service Ceiling	45,900 ft (14,000 m)
Range	typical: 415 nm (770 km) ferry: 1,350 nm (2,500 km)
g-Limits	+6
ARMAMENT:
Gun	one 23-mm GSh-23L or 30-mm GSh-6-30 two-barrel cannon (260 rds)
Stations	5 external hardpoints
Air-to-Air Missile	K-13/AA-2 Atoll, R-60/AA-8 Aphid
Air-to-Surface Missile	AS-7 Kerry, AS-14 Kledge, Kh-29
Bomb	FAB-250, FAB-500 conventional bombs, nuclear bombs, cluster bombs
Other	rocket pods, ECM pods
KNOWN VARIANTS:
MiG-23B 'Flogger-F'	First MiG-23 attack variant that later led to the MiG-27 series; 24 production models built
MiG-23BK 'Flogger-H'	Ground attack fighter based on the MiG-23B sold for export to Warsaw Pact nations
MiG-23BN 'Flogger-H'	Primarily an export model similar to the MiG-23B except with a different engine, an improved wing design, and new avionics; 624 built ending in 1985
MiG-23BM 'Flogger-D'	Upgrade to the MiG-23BK to replace the ground attack sight system and introduce a digital attack computer, became the basis of the MiG-27 family and several MiG-23BM test aircraft introduced increasingly radical changes from the original fighter series
MiG-27M 'Flogger-J'	Significantly more capable attack model based on the MiG-23BK with a new gun, improved electronic countermeasures, and a nav/attack system allowing automatic flight control, weapons release and gun control, and automatic flight to the target using preprogrammed data; 200 built from 1978 to 1983 plus 160 license-built by India
MiG-27D	MiG-23BM airframes upgraded to the MiG-27M standard; 305 converted
MiG-27K 'Flogger-J2'	Similar to the MiG-27M but incorporating a laser designator and compatibility with TV-guided electro-optical weapons, the final version used by the Soviet Union; approximately 200 built
MiG-27L or MiG-27M Bahadur	Export model sold to India based on the MiG-27M and largely identical except with a different window for the infrared search and track camera; about 150 assembled in India from kits or built under license
MiG-27H	Upgrade applied by India to its MiG-27L fleet consisting of new French avionics including glass cockpit displays, compatibility with GPS and GLONASS, improved communications systems, inproved inertial navigation, electronic warfare equipment, and installation of a radar to provide anti-ship capability; some 140-180 modified
MiG-27J	Export model
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	Afghanistan War (Soviet Union, 1979-1989) Iran-Iraq War (Iraq, 1980-1988) Iraq - Operation Desert Storm (Iraq, 1991) Iraq - Operation Desert Fox (Iraq, 1998) Kargil War (India, 1999) Tamil conflict (Sri Lanka, 2000-2009)
KNOWN OPERATORS:	Cuba, Defensa Antiaerea y Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria (Anti-Aircraft Defense and Revolutionary Air Force) Georgia (Georgian Air Force) India, Bharatiya Vayu Sena (Indian Air Force) Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force) Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan Air Force) Russia, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Russian Air Force) Sri Lanka (Sri Lankan National Air Force) Ukraine, Viys'kovo-Povitriani Syly Ukrayiny (Ukraine Military Air Forces) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Soviet Air Force)
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: Bishop, Chris, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Weapons: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Weapon Systems from 1945 to the Present Day. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1999, p. 274. Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 633. Gunston, Bill and Spick, Mike. Modern Air Combat: The Aircraft, Tactics and Weapons Employed in Aerial Combat Today. NY: Crescent Books, 1983, p. 134-135. Isby, David C. Jane's Fighter Combat in the Jet Age. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1997, p. 179. Munro, Bob and Chant, Christopher. Jane's Combat Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995, p. 168-169.