The Soviet Union needed a large number of combat aircraft that would meet all modern requirements and trends. In 1972, in fact, a unique combat vehicle was born that could perform a wide range of combat missions. However, the plane that could serve the Fatherland faithfully for many decades ended up in the dustbin of history ahead of schedule. How did it happen?
At the end of the 1960s, it became clear in the Soviet Air Force that the existing assault aircraft no longer meet all modern requirements at that time. The troops still used modifications of the MiG-17, MiG-19, MiG-21 and Su-7 fighters adapted for striking, including against ground targets. The designers of the MiG Design Bureau were tasked with developing a new and modern fighter-attack aircraft with the ability to use the widest range of weapons and equipment.
In 1972, the third-generation MiG-27 aircraft was born, which, in fact, became an adaptation of the most successful MiG-23 fighter aircraft at that time. By inheritance from the fighter, the strike aircraft received the PrNK-23 sighting and navigation system and the Orbit-20-23K on-board computer system, as well as the KN-23 navigation system and a number of other units, most of which have been modified to enable strike operations. Inherited the car and wings, consisting of two parts with the ability to change the sweep.
The plane was designed for one pilot. With a fuselage length of 17.10 meters, the attack aircraft had a wingspan of 13.80 meters in the unfolded position and 7.40 meters in the folded position. The plane was 5 meters high. A fully equipped MiG-27 fighter-attack aircraft weighed 18.1 tons. The combat vehicle was driven by one P-29-300 turbojet engine, which allowed it to reach speeds of 1.885 km / h in the sky (approximately Mach 1.77). The combat radius of the aircraft reached 780 km, and the practical flight path was 14 km.
Since the MiG-27 was an attack aircraft, it was entitled to the most serious and diverse weapons. The highlight of the third generation aircraft was the use of the originally shipborne six-barreled 30 mm GSh-6-30A cannon. The gun's ammunition was 300 rounds, and the rate of fire reached 5,000 rounds per minute. At the same time, in total, the aircraft had as many as 7 weapons installation nodes, and the combat weight could reach 4 tons. Depending on the specific task, it was possible to equip the attack aircraft with air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, Molotov cocktails, and Blizzard anti-radar missiles. The aircraft could carry a variety of bombs: cluster, incendiary, concrete-piercing, tandem, armor-piercing and even tactical nuclear bombs. Finally, instead of part of the weapon, the MiG-27 could be equipped with additional tanks to increase the range.
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After 1991, one of the best aircraft in the USSR was out of work. In all the republics of the former Soviet Union, with the exception of Kazakhstan, the unique vehicle was removed from service and simply sent for disposal. Then it was explained by the "lack of money." Until 2019, the MiG-27 was successfully in service with a number of satellite countries and partners of the USSR. For example, it was used in India. Thus, the 27th served there for almost 3 decades more than in his homeland, until he was decommissioned as part of the army modernization program.
Continuing the topic, read about trick plane: because of what the pilots of the Second World War were afraid of the "Aircobra" during and after the battle.
A source: https://novate.ru/blogs/150421/58594/
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