Hobby Master HA5302 1:72 MIG-23MS Libyan Air Force

Hobby Master HA5302 1:72 MIG-23MS 6915, Libyan Air Force 1980s

In the 1960’s the Soviet military required a replacement for the MiG-21 that could compete with the USAF F-14 Tomcat. It had to be very fast, rapid acceleration, carry a larger payload, capable of a high service ceiling, long range and beyond visual range intercept capabilities. The project was given to the Mikoyan- Gurevich Design Bureau that produced the Model 23-11 that first flew on June 10, 1967. Production began in 1969 and eventually completed over 5,000 swing-wing MiG-23s. A ground-attack variant was also produced, the MiG-27.

Libya’s first air force was established in 1951 as the Royal Libyan Air Force but after a 1969 coup that saw Col. Gaddafi seize power the name was changed to the Libyan Arab Republic Air Force. This brought about the aligning with the Soviet Union that would supply Libya with arms and aircraft. Some of the aircraft supplied were MiG-17/19/25 fighters and Tu-22 bombers and Mil Mi-24 Hind helicopters. Libya received a total of 170 MiG-23MS. MiG-23MS 6915 was C/N 039126915 and delivered to Libya in 1976.