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Soviet MiG-23M ‘Flogger-B’ aircraft storage
 in the Turkmen desert
Soviet MiG-23M/UB ‘Flogger-B/C’ row at the Yangadzha storage airport in Turkmenistan in 1992. Photo: Andrey Marusich

Soviet MiG-23M/UB ‘Flogger-B/C’ row at the Yangadzha storage airport in Turkmenistan in 1992. Photo: Andrey Marusich
Soviet MiG-23M ‘Flogger-B’ aircraft storage

It is known that the early MiG-23 airframe's lifetime was very short. In the early seventies the MiG Design Bureau determined the MiG-23M Flogger-B’s original service life be set at 1,500 hours and 17 years; the twin-seater has an original service life of 1,500 or 1,750 hours and 17 years.

The calendar life of the first MiG-23M ‘Flogger-B’ fighter aircraft expired between 1988 and 1989. This version of aircraft was obsolete at the time, and the Air Force has not planed to extend its lifespan. Following the example of the American Arizona depot, a Soviet aircraft depot was designed for the Turkmen desert! Similar to the Arizona desert, there was little rainfall and low humidity here.
The 56th Storage and Cutting base formed at the Kzyl-Arvat airport in the late eighties. The first retired MiG-23M ‘Flogger-B’ aircraft arrived at the Kzyl-Arvat airport From Central Europe in 1988. Since December 1990, the unnecessary Su-25 ‘Frogfoot-A’ aircraft have also been stored here. In 1991 the Soviet Air Force stored more than two hundred MiG-23Ms, forty Su-25s, and several Su-17s
The 56th Storage and Cutting base formed at the Kzyl-Arvat airport in the late eighties. The first retired MiG-23M ‘Flogger-B’ aircraft arrived at the Kzyl-Arvat airport From Central Europe in 1988. Since December 1990, the unnecessary Su-25 ‘Frogfoot-A’ aircraft have also been stored here. In 1991 the Soviet Air Force stored more than two hundred MiG-23Ms, forty Su-25s, and several Su-17s

The 56th Storage and Cutting base formed at the Kzyl-Arvat airport in the late eighties. The first retired MiG-23M ‘Flogger-B’ aircraft arrived at the Kzyl-Arvat airport From Central Europe in 1988. Since December 1990, the unnecessary Su-25 ‘Frogfoot-A’ aircraft have also been stored here. In 1991 the Soviet Air Force stored more than two hundred MiG-23Ms, forty Su-25s, and several Su-17s. Photo: Google Earth

Former Soviet MiG-23M ‘Flogger-B’ storage in Turkmenistan in 2007

Former Soviet MiG-23M ‘Flogger-B’ storage in Turkmenistan in 2007
Former Soviet 18th Air Defense Training Center's MiG-25 ‘Foxbat’ interceptor at the Yangadzha airport in 1991

Former Soviet 18th Air Defense Training Center's MiG-25 ‘Foxbat’ interceptor at the Yangadzha airport in 1992. Photo: Andrey Marusich
In 1991, a new storage base was opened in Yangadzha airport. It was the Soviet 18th Air Defense Training Center's airport. The first MiG-25 and MiG-23 aircraft arrived from this center here. The Soviet Airforce stored a few MiG-25, Su-15 interceptors, and nearly one hundred and fifty MiG-23M/UB ‘Flogger-B/C’ aircraft at Yangadzha airport. Photo: Google Earth

In 1991, a new storage base was opened in Yangadzha airport. It was the Soviet 18th Air Defense Training Center's airport. The first MiG-25 and MiG-23 aircraft arrived from this center here. The Soviet Airforce stored a few MiG-25, Su-15 interceptors, and nearly one hundred and fifty MiG-23M/UB ‘Flogger-B/C’ aircraft at Yangadzha airport. Photo: Google Earth
The Soviet Air Force stored nearly three hundred and fifty MiG-23M/UBs at the Yangadzha and Kzyl-Arvat airport in the Turkmen desert. The Russian companies used these aircraft as a parts mine for the world’s MiG-23s in the 1990s. The Soviet Air Force stored nearly three hundred and fifty MiG-23M/UBs at the Yangadzha and Kzyl-Arvat airport in the Turkmen desert. The Russian companies used these aircraft as a parts mine for the world’s MiG-23s in the 1990s.

The Soviet Air Force stored nearly three hundred and fifty MiG-23M/UBs at the Yangadzha and Kzyl-Arvat airport in the Turkmen desert. The Russian companies used these aircraft as a parts mine for the world’s MiG-23s in the 1990s.
All three photos were taken at Yangadzha airport about 2002.

All three photos were taken at Yangadzha airport about 2002.

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Yangadzha airport:

Soviet Air Defense Forces: The 116th and the 18th Air Defense Training Center



Kzyl-Arvat airport:

The Soviet 217th Fighter-Bomber Air Regiment's life at Kzyl-Arvat airport in the seventies

 

Iranian Revolution effect on the Soviet 49th Tactical Air Army

 

Soviet-Iranian border guard in the eighties