;Sapfir-23L The initial production version, the Sapfir-23L (L -
Lyogkiy or lightweight) pulse radar was first carried on the MiG-23 Edition 1971. Using a twist-
Cassegrain antenna in diameter, it used a continuous-wave target illuminator channel to provide guidance for the
semi-active radar homing (SARH) R-23R missile. However, as an interim variant it was considered unreliable and lacked the look-down/shoot-down capability of later Sapfir radars; it could only guide missiles onto targets flying above . ;Sapfir-23D Equipping the MiG-23M, the improved Sapfir-23D had look-down/shoot-down capability and could guide both R-23R and R-23T missiles. It was not a true
Doppler radar but used the less effective "envelope detection" technique common to
Western radars of the 1960s. All Sapfir-23Ds were eventually updated to the definitive Sapfir-23D-III during field upgrades. ;Sapfir-23ML (N003) Equipping the newer MiG-23ML, the Sapfir-23ML was an improvement upon the Sapfir-23D-III, being more reliable and with superior look-down/shoot-down capability. It had a maximum detection range of 65km against a fighter-sized target at high altitude, reduced to 25km in look-down mode. ;Sapfir-23MLA (N003) An improved version of the Sapfir-23ML with better range, reliability, ECCM and the capability to guide the updated R-24R/T air-to-air missiles. It also had a frequency spacing feature that prevented multiple radars from interfering with each other's operation, allowing for group-search patterns to be conducted. It was also carried on export versions of the MiG-23ML. The N003E had no ability to detect or track targets in a tail-chase engagement, relying on the fighter's
IRST instead. It's field of scan was +/- 30° to either side of the fighter's nose and +/- 6° in elevation. ;Sapfir-23MLA-II (N008) The ultimate version of the RP-23, the N008 was carried on the MiG-23MLD used by the VVS. Weighing , it had an average emitting power of 1
kW and peak output of 60
kW. It featured improved detection range, reliability, ECCM, look-down/shoot-down over rough terrain, and a close air combat mode with vertical-scan capability. Search range against high-altitude targets was 75km for a bomber-sized target and 52km for a fighter-sized target; in look-down mode it was 23km for both target types, except for fighter-sized targets in a head-on engagements in which case it was 14km. Tracking range against high-altitude targets was 52km for bomber-sized and 39km for fighter-sized targets; in look-down mode it was 23km for bombers, while for fighter-sized targets it was 15km in tail-chase or 9km in head-on engagements. The scan field was limited to 60° x 6°, although it could be steered up to 60° left and right to expand the search area. ;Sapfir-23P (N006) This derivative of the Sapfir-23ML was designed specifically for the MiG-23P
interceptor, although initial models were unreliable and required additional maintenance. It had slightly improved look-down/shoot-down, including against
cruise missiles. ==References==