The Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-8 was a supersonic jet fighter developed in the Soviet Union from and to replace the MiG-21. It was the intent of its creators that it would bear the name of MiG-23 in series production.

Only two prototypes were built in 1960-61. The air intakes were placed under the fuselage, freeing up the nose where a larger and more powerful radar able to deliver longer range air-to-air missiles could be built in. Canards were built to both sides of the nose, in front of the cockpit. The two prototypes flew in 1962. On September 11, 1962, the Tumansky R-21F-300 engine, also under development, exploded in midair at a speed of Mach 2.15. Test pilot Georgy Konstantinovich Mosolov, then one of the leading Soviet test pilots, was severely injured by debris of the compressor and had to eject at Mach 1.78. Due to unsolved technical problems the aircraft's development was abandoned; some parts were used on what we now know as the MiG-23, including R-23 missiles and their associated Sapfir-23 radar.

This build is the “Mig-23” as it could have been if it had actually seen service, armed with two Vympel R-23T (NATO: AA-7 Apex) medium-range missiles for its interceptor duties and four small short-range Vympel R-60 (NATO: AA-8 Aphid) short-range missiles for dogfighting/defense. To complete the package, a centerline pod is added with ASO chaff dispensers and a GSh-23 double-barrel autocannon.

Controls;

• AG1 afterburner
• AG2 lights
• AG3 nose wheel steering lock
• AG4 drag chute

In the cockpit view I used the cool Russian HUD mod by MOPCKOEDNISHE, which you can find at https://www.simpleplanes.com/Mods/View/1012976/HUD -it’s mainly for show so I guess you could do without it, but the cockpit view will probably look at bit weird.

Enjoy!