The MiG-23MLD was fitted for the R-73 and was often seen carrying the launch rails for such weapons. In fact, the MiG-23MLD at the USAF Museum in Ohio has some of them fitted (see below). The FCS was never modified to allow R-27 carriage. This was an assumption made on the part of the aviation media. They reasoned that the new, more maneuverable MiG-23 might have been refitted with elements of the MiG-29’s FCS, the R-27 replacing the R-23/24 and the R-73 replacing the R-60. However, since the R-24 was a relatively decent weapon and much more reliable than the older R-23, the Russians only replaced the R-60 with the R-73.
SOC
THe assuption made by the aviation media was partially righ, the MiG-23-98 can launch the R-27/AA-10 Alamo, however the main problem was not the Missile but rather the Radar, The Saphire-23MLA-2 ( Saphire-23MLD) was thought being capable of firing the AA-10 Alamo and being also capable of multitarget engagement capability because since the introduction of the AA-12 Adder the MiG-23 was tested as an AA-12/R-77 platform, however it seems it never enter service with the Soviet/Russian Air Force as such and was only offered as an upgrade option for MiG-23 users.
This was complicated by the fact the AA-10 Alamo has an active radar homing variant and the fact that there are reports of Soviet/Russian MiG-23MLD Flogger K retrofitted with Multitarget engagement capability despite that technically it is possible to make the MiG-23MLD Flogger K to do such feats it seems it has never entered service as that but can anyone confirm the MiG-23MLD`s multitarget engagement and AA-10 firing capability?.
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