This thread talks about the MiG-23ML fighter, which had a cool trick called the Метка system. It let pilots manually steer some missiles, like the R-60, using a control button on the stick. This made close combat more precise. The system used a few parts and was mainly for Soviet models, with some versions used in Afghanistan.
MiG-23ML - Метка queuing system🧵
A little known fact is that the MiG-23ML (with ASP-17ML sight) had one interesting trick up its sleeve for close air combat, namely that the pilot could manually steer the R-60's infrared seeker. This was accomplished with the Метка system.
The Метка system consisted of 3 main elements:
1 - control button
2 - MT7 preamplifier
3 - MT28 matching unit
You can read more about the Метка system in these pages from the MiG-23 23-12B weapons description book from 1982.
The control button, which guided the missile seeker, was mounted on the aircraft control stick (РУС), You can see it on the lower left (black) of the controls stick of this Bulgarian Air Force MiG-23MLD (23-18A) № 308.
The missiles seekers it could steer before launch were the R-60 (изд. 62), R-60M (изд. 62М) & R-13M1 (изд. 380М). It was also used to steer the Kh-23 (изд. 68) & Kh-23M (изд. 68М) missiles down to the target.
The page below is from the Soviet MiG-23ML 23-12 (domestic) manual.
Since the R-13M1 was never exported, MiG-23ML 23-12B & 23-12A users could only use the R-60 & R-60M with the Метка system.
You can see that the R-13M1 is missing in this MiG-23ML 23-12B (non Warsaw-Pact countries export) manual.
MiG-23ML.
MiG-23ML inverted.
Soviet MiG-23MLD over Afghanistan.
MiG-23MLD over Afghanistan.
MiG-23MLD over Afghanistan.
Just hangin' around the R-24R, just chillin' & havin' sum fun.
MiG-23MLD over Afghanistan.
MiG-23MLD with wings swept at 33°.
MiG-23ML - Метка queuing system🧵
A little known fact is that the MiG-23ML (with ASP-17ML sight) had one interesting trick up its sleeve for close air combat, namely that the pilot could manually steer the R-60's infrared seeker. This was accomplished with the Метка system.The Метка system consisted of 3 main elements:
1 - control button
2 - MT7 preamplifier
3 - MT28 matching unitYou can read more about the Метка system in these pages from the MiG-23 23-12B weapons description book from 1982.The control button, which guided the missile seeker, was mounted on the aircraft control stick (РУС), You can see it on the lower left (black) of the controls stick of this Bulgarian Air Force MiG-23MLD (23-18A) № 308.The missiles seekers it could steer before launch were the R-60 (изд. 62), R-60M (изд. 62М) & R-13M1 (изд. 380М). It was also used to steer the Kh-23 (изд. 68) & Kh-23M (изд. 68М) missiles down to the target.
The page below is from the Soviet MiG-23ML 23-12 (domestic) manual.Since the R-13M1 was never exported, MiG-23ML 23-12B & 23-12A users could only use the R-60 & R-60M with the Метка system.
You can see that the R-13M1 is missing in this MiG-23ML 23-12B (non Warsaw-Pact countries export) manual.MiG-23ML.MiG-23ML inverted.Soviet MiG-23MLD over Afghanistan.MiG-23MLD over Afghanistan.MiG-23MLD over Afghanistan.Just hangin' around the R-24R, just chillin' & havin' sum fun.MiG-23MLD over Afghanistan.MiG-23MLD with wings swept at 33°.
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MiG-23ML - Метка queuing system🧵
A little known fact is that the MiG-23ML (with ASP-17ML sight) had one interesting trick up its sleeve for close air combat, namely that the pilot could manually steer the R-60's infrared seeker. This was accomplished with the Метка system. ... The Метка system consisted of 3 main elements:
1 - control button
2 - MT7 preamplifier
3 - MT28 matching unit ... You can read more about the Метка system in these pages from the MiG-23 23-12B weapons description book from 1982. ... The control button, which guided the missile seeker, was mounted on the aircraft control stick (РУС), You can see it on the lower left (black) of the controls stick of this Bulgarian Air Force MiG-23MLD (23-18A) № 308. ... The missiles seekers it could steer before launch were the R-60 (изд. 62), R-60M (изд. 62М) & R-13M1 (изд. 380М). It was also used to steer the Kh-23 (изд. 68) & Kh-23M (изд. 68М) missiles down to the target.
The page below is from the Soviet MiG-23ML 23-12 (domestic) manual. ... Since the R-13M1 was never exported, MiG-23ML 23-12B & 23-12A users could only use the R-60 & R-60M with the Метка system.
You can see that the R-13M1 is missing in this MiG-23ML 23-12B (non Warsaw-Pact countries export) manual. ... MiG-23ML. ... MiG-23ML inverted. ... ... Soviet MiG-23MLD over Afghanistan. ... MiG-23MLD over Afghanistan. ... MiG-23MLD over Afghanistan. ... Just hangin' around the R-24R, just chillin' & havin' sum fun. ... MiG-23MLD over Afghanistan. ... MiG-23MLD with wings swept at 33°.
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