The first variable sweep Soviet plane The MiG-23MF is a third generation, jet-propelled, shoulder winged fighter plane, the first Soviet swing wing plane to be made in a number of variants. It was designed to be an interceptor fighter with great manoeuverability and short take-off and landing runs. A large portion of its parts were made from steel, which made the weight quite heavy. Hungary introduced 12 of them, which served between 1979 and 1997. NATO reporting name: Flogger B. It was designed to replace the MiG-21 The MiG-23 intended to overcome the shortcomings of the 21. The goal was for the new plane to have significantly better landing and take-off characteristics because in case of a possible war, airfields may quickly be destroyed. They also intended to greatly increase the plane's range. The prototype first flew in 1967. It had fighter and fighter-bomber versions About 5,000 of the 10 fighter versions of the MiG-23 were built; of the 8 fighter-bomber versions about 800 were built in the Soviet Union and a further one hundred in India. Weapons The model originally had four weapon attachment points. This was increased by one on the MiG-23SM and two on the MiG-23M, with an added hardpoint for carrying spare fuel tanks. The bomber versions had two additional hardpoints at the rear of the fuselage for carrying bombs. In Hungary The MF is the MiG-23M's simplified export version. Alongside the member states of the Warsaw Pact it was also used by Cuba, India, Syria, and Angola. Hungary purchased 12 of them. Over time, 5 planes crashed, causing 5 deaths. From 1975 the Southern Group of the Soviet Army posted several squadrons of MiG-23s in Hungary, some of which were capable of carrying nuclear weapons. The model on display was made in 1979; serial number: 0390217165. It served in Pápa.