Kill MiG

[tomo pauk]

Premise of the thread: after the MiG-25 impeding introduction in the service, the MiG-23 programs have more serious issues than it was historically so, up and including mid-air disintegrations, so 'other' companies stand better chances to step into the 'light fighter' niche that was basically territory of MiG company for the last 15+ years. Companies like Sukhoi, Yakovlev, even Ilyushin pitch their projects to fill the need of replacing the different MiG light fighters from late 1960s on. These can be bespoke designs, and can be modifications of the existing deigns (be it big or small mods, whatever you like).

 

[CV12Hornet]

Sukhoi IMO is too busy to get in on this in the late 60s - they've just wrapped up Su-15 development, are working on the Su-17 and Su-24, and are starting development on the Su-25.

Yakovlev, based on their actual design history, would be best suited toward swooping in in replacement of the MiG-29: they had a delta-canard design that competed with the MiG-29.

I think it's gonna have to be something bespoke to replace the MiG-23. Perhaps the USSR gives Ilyushin the Shturmovik contract and tells Sukhoi to crash-build their own single-engine swing-wing fighter with the Flogger's engines and avionics.