The MiG-27 shares the basic airframe of the MiG-23, but with a revised nose - nicknamed "Utkonos" ("Platypus") in Russian service, first introduced on the MiG-23B.
Since the MiG-27 was intended to fly most of its missions at low altitude, the MiG-23's variable intake ramps and exhaust nozzles were discarded in favor of a simpler fixed configuration, reducing weight and maintenance requirements.