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Mikoyan Gurievich MiG-23 Flogger by Rubén

  The First MiG-23 flights in Cuba

The MiG-23 appear for first time in public during the great military parade of January 2, 1979, by the XX Anniversary of the Revolution. In spite of the bad weather conditions (rain, low visibility), 9 MiG-23BN at the command of the Colonel Rafael del Pino pass over the Revolution Square in three groups (“Troikas”) with the variable geometric wings in three different positions: 16°, 45°, 72°. The pass in low level of the nine MiG-23BN impresses to all, for the visible satisfaction of the brothers Castro, that were in the tribune (the MiG-21bis not pass for the bad weathers conditions). Like affirms the General Rafael del Pine, when the American troops landing in Granada, on October 30, 1983, is ordered to maintain ready the MiG-23BN to attacks objectives in the Florida, as the Homestead air base and the nuclear central Turkey Point, as an answer, in case of US attack to Cuba. The appear of the Cuban MiG-23 provokes too that the Government of Ronald Reagan decide to deliver 36 F-16 Fighting Falcon to Venezuela. 

In 1982 arrives a second Squadron of 14 fighter-bombers MiG-23BN, and another in the second half of the 80’s, until arrive at 45 fighters version. This permits that in 1991, with the arrival of the MiG-29, an Squadron with 14 MiG-23BN pass from San Antonio to Santa Clara, and later a second Squadron to Holguin. In 1984 the USSR delivers some 24 MiG-23MF Flogger E. These are the first MiG-23 air-air (equipped with a radar capable of detecting objectives to 45km to low level and under any weather condition) until the arrival of the MiG-23ML in 1985 with its 85 km range radar. The ML are the most capable MiG-23 version in Cuba, and various ML arrive from Angola in 1989-1990, after the victory of the Cuban troops. The reports that Cuba receives MiG-23MS Flogger not have any base, as does neither receive the MiG-27, that are confused for many people with the MiG-23BN by its shaped nose. 

  The Cuban MiG-23 Crisis

The Congress then threatens with not ratifying the treated SALT-1 of strategic weapons with the USSR.  President Carter is seen obliged to authorize two flights of SR-71 over Cuba at the beginning of November of 1978, to verify the presence of the MiG-23. Havana protests for this air space violation. On November 16, twelve American senators visit Moscow for the SALT conversations, and ask for the theme of the Cubans MiG-23 with the Soviet Prime Minister Alexey Kosyguin, that denies every threat for US. The next day, on November 17, 1978, the USSR admits for first time officially (before that Cuba), about the delivery of MiG-23 fighters to the island, but is declared that they are aircraft of defensive character, and that its configuration does not threaten the north neighbor.  At the same time is admit the presence in Cuba of a Soviet Motorized Brigade. 

The senator Richard Helms says that he has reports that the Cubans MiG-23 are being equipped with nuclear weapons, and appears an article of Rowland Evans and Robert Novak about it threatens to US. This obliges to President Carter to call a press conference on November 30, 1978. Carter explains that the Soviet Government assure it that those airplanes do not enter in the offensive weapons limitations by the agreements of 1962. The crisis is dissipated little to little, and January 17, 1979, the US Department of State declares that they have arrived at the conclusion, that the Cubans MiG-23 not they are configured to carry nuclear weapons, and therefore, they not violate the agreements Kennedy-Jrushov of 1962. 
 

Explains to the personal about the MiG-23BN (Photo Henry Pérez, Piloto Maestro)	The Technician in contact with the pilot of the MiG-23BN N°716	MiG-23MF Pilots with different camouflage.  San Antonio, 1985	One of the MiG-23BN that take part in the parade on January 2, 1979	A technician help this pilot to rise to this MiG-23BN N°717, San Antonio (Enrique Carreras, Por el dominio del aire)

The Cuban MiG-23 today 

Two versions of the camouflage of the Orestes Lorenzo´s MiG-23BN FAR-722

Another event where participate Cubans MiG-23 was the shoot down on February 24, 1996 of the two airplanes Cessna-337 of the Cuban exiled organization “Brothers to the Rescue”. In the action participated a MiG-23UB piloted by the colonel lieutenant Francisco Perez Perez, and the MiG-29UB of the too colonel lieutenant Alberto Perez Perez (brother of Francisco). The MiG-23UB served as radio delay between the ground radar controllers, while the MiG-29UB shoot down the two airplanes with R-60M missiles. The reports that that MiG-23 shoot down one of the Cessna-337 are not correct. But in detail this event is described in the MiG-29 section. 

Today Cuba have in service 79 MiG-23 formed 5 Squadrons of 5 Regiments of the FAR They are: 39 MiG-23BN, 14 MiG-23ML, 21 MiG-23MF and 5 MiG-23UB (one MiG-23UB in each Squadron). Its situation today is the same one described in the MiG-21 section

Photos

MiG-23UB FAR-704 with his wings at 16° for landing (Photo courtesy of Air & Space Power Journal)	A FAR MiG-29 Fulcrum  over flight the tail of this MiG-23	Orestes Lorenzo´s MiG-23BN FAR-722 in Key West  ( cuortesy of Mike Little)	Technicians refueled this MiG-23BN.  Exercises of 1992	MiG-23UB FAR-704 in San Antonio  (Photo courtesy of Air & Space Power Journal)
MiG-23ML exposed in the Revolution Square with missiles R-60 and R-24 (Courtesy of Tulio Soto)	The same MiG-23ML (Courtesy of Tulio Soto)	A MiG-23ML  veteran of Angolain the DAAFAR Museum (Rubén)	Rafael del Pino ready to take off  in a MiG-23BN (Rafael del Pino, Proa a la libertad)	A Pair of MiG-23BN, 1986
Gunners placed radars missiles R-24R (AA-7 Apex C) under the fixed section of the wing of this MiG-23MF (from Air & Space Power Journal)	Pair of MiG-23BN in 1989	Piloto of MiG-23BN.  San Antonio Air Base, 1984	The General Colonel Yuan Shoufang of the People´s Army of  China in the San Antonio AB, August 2001	Profiles of the MiG-23MF with the wings at 16° and 72°
A Helicópter Mi-8 above this MiG-23ML FAR-212 (From Air & Space Power Journal)	Gunners placed a Medium Range Radar Missil R-24R (AA-7 Apex C) under the wing	Technician placed the parachute in a MiG-23ML. San Antonio, 1992	Review of the cockpit of  a MiG-23MF,  stick,  HUD, panels with switches	The Colonel Henry Pérez besides a MiG-23UB (Henry Pérez, Piloto Maestro)
MiG-23ML in the 2002 (Luis P.)	MiG-23ML in the 2002 (Luis P.)

Characteristics of the Cubans MiG-23 Flogger

MiG-23MF Flogger E. (Product 23-11M). Export version for nearby allies (Pact of Warsaw, Cuba and India) of the frontal fighter MiG-23M. Radar Sapfir-23D of 65 km range to objective fighter type.
MiG-23ML Flogger G. (Product 23-12).  Air superiority version.  Radar Sapfir-23ML of 85km range. Chassis 175mm higher, vertical tail modified. New more powerful motor, although less fuel.
MiG-23BN Flogger H. (Product 32-23).  Fighter-bomber version to ground attack. Nose modified for better visibility to the ground. In the radar place, have a annotation and navegation system Sokol-23, telemetric laser type Fon.
MiG-23UB Flogger C. (Product 23-51). Two seat for combat trainning, with the same armament that the other versions. Radar Sapfir-21 of the "S" of 29 km range. Produced until 1978.

Armament: All carry a 23 mm GsH-23L gun, with 200 rounds. In 7 points (3 under the fuselage and 4 under the wings) carries armament in diverse combinations, as 6 medium range air-air missiles R-23, R-24 (AA-7 Apex), or of short range R-13 (AA-2 Atoll), R-60 (AA-8 Aphid).  Air-ground rockets X-66, X-23 (AS-7 Kerry), or S-24, or 2 blocks with 16 rockets of 57mm UB-16, two blocks UB-32 with 32 rockets of 57mm, or two blocks of 20 rockets of 80mm S-80, two containers UPK-23 with GsH-23L guns, 4 bombs of until 500 kg, or 16 of 100 kg, etc. To the right, a plan with some load combat variants of the MiG-23.

Sources