You are correct and I am wrong. Some MLD-regiments received an upgrade to carry R-73 in the 80s.

No problem, Errare humanum est i was also wrong about the Libyan MiG-23MLDs, beside i was wrong many other times, any way i think the Libyans example as well the Syrian and Bulgarian MiG-23MLD did not have R-73s.

In fact airforce.ru has an article where they confirm the Libyans have MiG-23MLDs and the Syrian MiG-23 that flew to Israel had R-60 launchers
http://www.airforce.ru/aircraft/mikoyan/mig-23/mig-23mld/index.htm

The reason might be that you’re overestimating the Mig-29, and underestimating the F-14.

Well, let us study what the Russians did, the Russians stablished a similar training center program to some american programs such as Top Gun and Red Flag.

To accelerate the MiG-29 program they sent some of the early MiG-29s to several test centers one at Marii in Turkmeninstan, where the Soviet agressor traning program was stablished, there some of the best pilots in the Soviet Union flying MiG-23MLD defeated MiG-29s most of the time in the initail parts of the traning program.

One of the reason was that the Saphir had longer range than the original first series of MiG-29 radars.

Read it by your self

В Марах агрессора имитировала 2-я эскадрилья, вооруженная МиГ-23МЛД. Но, как оказалось, техническое преимущество – это еще не все. В кабинах “двадцать третьих” сидели лучшие летчики ВВС, обладавшие богатейшим практическим опытом. Они хорошо знали местность и свою матчасть….. Да и МиГ-29 на первых порах не во всем превосходил МиГ-23МЛД. Одним из крупных недостатков “9-12” первых серий была существенно меньшая дальность обнаружения его РЛС, по сравнению с установленным на МиГ-23 “Сапфиром”.

here it says the 2nd MiG-23MLD squadron acted as the aggressor, however the technical advantage is not all what it counts, since the best Soviet pilots were manning the MiG-23MLD, and they had a lot of flying experience and they knew the terrain well…….. however at the begining not all the MiG-29 did defeat the MiG-23MLD in air combat, because one of the major flaws in the early MiG-29 was to have a radar with less detection range than the Saphir fitted to the MiG-23MLDs

source http://aircraft.by.ru/mig-29part3.htm

you could say the F-14A was more capable than the MiG-29, but just by looking by the failures of the US navy F-14Ds using AIM-54 versus MiG-25s and MiG-23s at BVR attacks and the fact the MiG-23s attacked by the US navy were attacked at short distance i guess there is a possibility a well flown MiG-23MLD armed with AA-11s could defeat a F-14 armed with AIM-9L and early Sparrows, and no doubt a MiG-23MLD flown by experienced pilots could have shot down F-16s, even a MiG-23M could have done it.

The R-73 was no option, without integration. In the 90s the MiG-23-98 upgrade was offered.
http://wp.scn.ru/mig_okb/planes-mig23-23_98
Of cause the USN did outsmart the Libyans. They did misinterpret the Libyan intentions in their way. 😀
Maybe the Libyans have had the intention to go to the limits, but they forget, the the USN was giving the rules for such encounters and not the other way around. Without CGI support the MiG-23s had no chance against the F-14A and their network really. 😉

Sens you are totally wrong the MiG-23MLD in Soviet service did have R-73 and i can prove it very easily, post soviet MiG-23MLD did have also R-73s.

However the Bulgarian and export versions did not and i assume it since the manual for the MiG-23MLD comes from a Bulgarian webpage and author and this does not mention it

see first this:
Этот МиГ-23МЛД — из бывшего 894 ИАП ПВО (сейчас 894 ИАП ВПС Украiни).
Не особенно часто публиковавшиеся (хотя в войсках их было совсем немало) варианты — с Р-73.
Озерное, сентябрь 2000 г.

It reads like this: this is a MiG-23MLD from the former 894 air regiment ( currently 894 air regiment Ukrainian air force) which were not particularly published ( however it was a common aircraft) variant with R-73
September 2000

http://www.airforce.ru/photogallery/tsvetkov/mig-23/mig-23_7.htm

and airwar.ru

says Типовой вариант вооружения включает две ракеты средней дальности Р-24Р или Р-24Т (под крылом) и 4 ракеты ближнего маневренного боя Р-60 (на сдвоенных пусковых устройствах под фюзеляжем) или две Р-73
This variant included the following weaponry, two BVR AAM, an R-24R and an R-24T in underwing pylons and 4 Short range AAM for close combat R-60 (underfuselage weapon pylons) or 2 R-73

МиГ-23МЛД 894-го ИАП ВВС Украины ╘ В.МильяченкоMiG-23MLD 894 air regiment Ukranian air force , V Milyachenko
source http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fighter/mig23mld.html

To say the american outsmarted the Libyans in that way is not more than your opinion, the Libyans and Soviets did say their own version, and the only hostile intent and aggressor was the US navy from their own point of view.

At least you got the idea, that the Libyans were outsmarted by the USN. Otherwise the USN had published the radio intercepts to bolster their claims about true hostile Libyan behavior.
The link is interesting, but does not show something new knowledge, To outsmart a radar in a critical moment is to change direction in the described way or do change position close by as a pair in a roll-over or sicissor.
How long it last will dependent on the speed of your electronics.
Some data given their are not real intelligence data.
The Kfir has a nominal max of Mach 2,3 and was flown to Mach 2,4.
The initial climb rate is 233 m/s.
The peace-time design limit was 7,5 g and that was lowered later to 6,7 g to conserve live-time.
The Kfir built in the 80s had a J-79E with combat plus mode similar to MiG-21 Bis.
The F-4E/Kurnass had a peace-time design limit of 7,5 g in general*, but were freed for 8,6 g in Israeli service. (*loaded subsonic it was 7,75 g and max loaded subsonic 5.17 g f.e.)
I will not do further neat-picking, but the data given do show that generalisation is misleading in many ways, when the general assumption can be, that clever flown examples had no problem to engage each other in combat. 😉
The USN did use Kfir C1 to simulate MiG-23 attacks, because it showed similar high speed and and agility behavior. (The inst. turn-rate was up to 15.8°/s or 18.9°/s related to version) The missing radar data were data-linked into the cockpit of the Kfir. Here was the main difference, the Kfir was limited to ground attack at first and the all-weather and BVR capability was lacking without a dedicated radar fitted similar the Saphir 23, except the last exports of the Kfir, but that are out of the scope of the 80s at all.
So the Kfir could be compared with a MiG-23BN or MiG-27 at best, the main mission in mind.
Your claim about the missing look-down/shoot down capability is a general one, with the exception of some variants exspecially the USN ones.
By the way, that data given for the MiG-23 and its radar are quoted for the last examples too. To ease the temper on both sides, we can agree, that the data given do show something about capabilities under optimum conditions.

I think the MiG-23MLD variant they talk about does not have R-73s, since they only mention the R-60MK and R-60.
I guess this is the export MiG-23MLD variant without the R-73

http://krilebg.net/main/images/stories/gr3.jpg

source http://www.airwar.ru/image/idop/fighter/mig23mld/mig23mld-9.jpg
So i do not think the MiG-23MLD armed with R-73 would had been an easy pray.

Honestly i do not think the US navy outsmarted the Libyans from my point of view, the American pilots just attacked the Libyans MiG-23s without a real hostile intention because at least by the Manual the Libyan pilots did everything a good MiG-23MLD pilot should not do

Wrong. Till today I have not heard, that the Russians do not stick to that verification comittment any longer. The Vienna CFE Negotiations were a highlight of that. – Neither did I sign a treaty about that nor do I have to prove something about that, when the Russians have to do so. 😉
Every F-4 built can be tracked as every F-16 can be f.e.

http://www.sipri.org/contents/webmaster/databases
http://anniversary.sipri.org/book/book_html/pe76/personal-essays-and-sipri-yearbook-extracts-2

I missed the post of TEEJ and your apology, so that is no longer a question here, when the Russian websites are in some need of update about that.

This is some data that will show you the MiG-23 was more or less capable of handling the F-4, Kfir and F-16
This shows you the detection range of a target of 3 squared meters at different altitudes as you can see only the f-15 was absolutely better

Sourcehttp://krilebg.net/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=34

If you read what are the recomendations for a MiG-23MLD you will know it won`t get closer to a fighter like an F-15 to less than 20km, do you think a good MiG-23MLD pilot would had done what the Libyans did?

Също така пилотите изрично се предупреждават да не се сближават в насрещни и насрещно-пресичащи се курсове с цели от неизвестен тип. Причината – противникът може да се окаже F-15А, който има възможност да изпревари МиГ-23МЛД в използването на оръжието, защото на малки височини, при работа на радара в режим МВ пилотът няма да може да пусне ракети навреме. Ако ли пък се знае, че целта не е F-15, тогава се препоръчва на пилота смело да атакува в насрещен курс. Ако ли пък целта е от неизвестен тип (възможно е да е F-15) и не се изключва възможността противникът първи да използва оръжие, тогава на пилота на МиГ-23МЛД се препоръчва, ако разстоянието е над 20 km

http://krilebg.net/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=34

You do show that behavior you do blame others, do you?
When a second thought may have prevented you in doing so.
From the mid 70s the MiG-23M did see service in numbers.
All the graphs shown about the MiG-23s are that of a small number built only including refitted ones. The ones with wing 3 and the R-35 engine!!!
Even the Saphir radar did reach some useful look-down capability in the 80s, when those of the late 70s were in need of upgrade.
But at that time-scale the promising MiG-29 did made the MiG-23 obsolete in a few years at all. Compared to the MiG-21 the MiG-23 gave new A2A capabilities similar the F-4 and did surpass that even in some areas.
There were at least 8 variants of AIM-9 before the AIM-9L in 1977. Of cause did the appearance of the R-60 in 1976 trigger the AIM-9L.
It was a constant weapons race and small advantages were not kept long.
Maybe you missed it, but the intended replacement of MiG-21s by MiG-23s did never take place, except in the Russian units. For the foreseen kind of warfare in Central Europe the MiG-21 without BVR capability was still enough.
Just the MiG-29 and the Su-27 at the end of the 80s did switch the A2A to BVR really. The R-27 was seen similar in capability to the latest AIM-7s.
What did boost the first AIM-120A into service from 1989. The first prototype of that was started from a F-16A in 1981.
No side was in interest of a landslide shift in power-balance. When the Russians were eager to show something new as early as possible, it took some more time to mature in something useful. So some claims about different time scales to proof something are questionable at best.
When it comes to losses of the MiG-23 all the questionable supporters of that interesting fighter are fast in claiming “monkey or downgraded” variants or weapons. Most do ignore, that even that claim was wrong most of the time. The comparisons in the 90s did show, that the differences were neither in the engines nor in the weapon-systems in general. For export models the wiring for special = atomic weapons was deleted. The IFF was different as well as some RWR or avionic elements. But even there it was the next best thing to that in actual service. The time-gap in technology was seldom more than 2 years. Some findings did even show, that some Russian regiments did operate older and less capable MiG-23s compared to that in Syrian service in the 80s.
Nothing new, but constantly ignored by some people for very strange reasons to stay polite.
When the details are the most interesting part to learn something about a favorite fighter, which have not be the best in many ways.
When in 1972 the Israelis did start to refit their F-4Es with slats, that were cleared for 750 kt and 8,6 g on Israeli F-4s. So we get an idea by that, about the limits of Israeli F-4s f.e. c;)

The MiG-23 was a good fighter in the 1970s, and up to the mid 1980s, the fact was, the MiG-25 and MiG-23 were reliable fighters up to 1990, when the were replaced by the Su-27, MiG-29 and MiG-31.

In 1982 the MiG-25 was a good enought to have only have 5 or 6 losses and the MiG-23MLD and MiG-23ML a few too.

Teh rest is a war of sources we can not end between me and you.

Still wriggling, Flogger? Remember to keep up the constant searching of your Russian websites to prove that the MLs, as seen at LAVEX, were delivered post 1989.

The compiler of the website is stating what he believes is currently in the arsenal at the time of writing. He is using the ‘P’ to cover the ML/MLD variant as he does with Syria.

http://topgun.rin.ru/cgi-bin/texts.pl?category=state&mode=show&unit=296&lng=eng

TJ

hahaha you also forgot to read the following

В 1984г. первые восемь самолетов МиГ-23МЛ были поставлены Северной Корее. В 1985г. истребители этой модификации получили ГДР и ЧССР. 14 МиГ-23МЛД были размещены на советской авиабазе Камрань (Вьетнам).
here it says:

In 1984 the first eight MiG-23ML were delivered to North Korea, these aircraft of this variant were also delivered to East Germany and Czech republic, 14 MiG-23MLD aircraft were based at Kamran airbase in Vietnam

К концу 1991г. МиГ-23 состояли на вооружении ВВС Алжира (МиГ-23МС и УБ), Анголы (МиГ-23МФ и УБ), Болгарии (МиГ-23МФ и УБ), Кубы (МиГ-23МС), Чехословакии (МиГ-23МФ, МиГ-23МЛ и УБ), Египта (МиГ-23МС, получены в 1974г., частично переданы США и Китаю), Венгрии (25 МиГ-23МФ и УБ), Индии (125 МиГ-23МФ, поставленные в 1982г. в качестве противодействия пакистанским F-16А и МиГ-23УБ), Ирака (МиГ-23МС, МиГ-23МФ, МиГ-23МЛ и МиГ-23УБ), Ливии (МиГ-23МС и УБ), КНДР (МиГ-23МЛ и УБ

later it say up to 1991 the MiG-23 was in the inventory of Algeria etc etc…. Libya MiG-23MS and UB …etc etc

So the russian are giving dates for the deliveries of MiG-23s to their clients and the MiG-23ML variant has only North Korea and Czech republic

http://topgun.rin.ru/cgi-bin/units.pl?field=3&unit=2040&page_num=4&page_max=8

Very relevant.

The “W” does only include two missiles and a bucket of fuel, so the pilot enjoys this T/W for a very brief moment.

The sad story is that the MiG-23ML does need high AOA to do any maneuvering, and at the same time will bleed lots of energy. The F-14 will make circles around the MiG-23 after short time.

Why should it have: The AA-2 misses from any angle. 😉

A half turn entered with 900 km/h will see the MiG-23ML end up with less 450 km/h.

Another lesson for you, Mr engineer: high AOA is not what it is about, it is high lift. If your aircraft can do lots of lift with 15° AOA you have a good aircraft, if it needs 27° AOA for the same you have a lousy one.
The F-16 is cleared to 25° AOA (that’s where the FCS limits pitch authority), a well flown F-16 will make tight turns and never ever touch the 20 mark.

The MiG-23 has severe problems generating lift. The best lift generating capability is with wings swept forward, the often quoted 8.5G are only allowed with wings fully swept back. The 45° position is a compromise.

Anyways, no self-respecting air force operates the MiG-23 any more and it is rightfully considered as one of the worst cold war aircraft. It totally missed the mark, never ever dominated the skies (not even for a very brief moment) and was a nightmare to operate. The only convincing performance figure was its take-off and landing performance, and the 2x R-23 at Mach 2.35.

The initial MiG-23 couldn’t compete with a Phantom A.
The MiG-23M couldn’t compete with a Phantom E.
The MiG-23ML couldn’t compete with a slatted Phantom E, F-16A or F-15A.
Neither could the MiG-23MLD.
The MiG-23BN never could compete with an F-104G.

Your statements are not more than bias and nationalistic ranting, since you have no manuals to prove all what you say.
This is what basicly say Russian manuals about the MiG-23 family

Perhaps you think the MiG-23MLD was not capable to shot down an F-16 but this will refresh your memory
Однако известен случай и воздушного боя, когда МиГ-23МЛД сбил ракетой Р-60М пакистанский F-16A.

That means a known case of a F-16 shot down by a MiG-23MLD using a R-60M ( this was covered up by Pakistan as fraticide despite the first version was the F-16 was shot down it was later recanted to fraticide)
source http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fighter/mig23mld.html

in performance the MiG-23 family matched and sometimes surpassed the F-4, and was a match in some areas to the F-16 but never was capable to beat the F-15