Originally conceived as a replacement for the famous MiG-21, changing
priorities turned the MiG-23 into a STOL fighter with variable-geometry
wings that first flew in June 1967. After two years of testing, the
aircraft, codename Flogger, entered service in 1969.
From then on development of the Flogger proceeded along two parallel
lines originally as a fighter/interceptor with a two-seat trainer
variant and later as a fighter/bomber which evolved into the MiG-27 used
by the Soviet Air Force. This, in turn, was progressively improved as
the MiG-27D/MiG-27M and the MiG-27K.
The MiG-23 family was widely exported. New aircraft were supplied to the
Soviet Union's Warsaw Pact allies and selected nations in the Middle
East, Africa and Asia. Later, second-hand machines were sold from CIS
stocks to various parts of the world, which allowed the MiG-23 to remain
active abroad longer than in Russia where single-engined combat jets had
been phased out in 1997. The Flogger saw a good deal of action. Soviet
MiG-23MLDs were actively used in the Afghan War; elsewhere, the fighter
variants saw action in Syria (both in against Israel in the 1970s and in
the Syrian Civil War), Libya, Iraq, Angola and Sudan. The
fighter-bombers also fought in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Sri Lanka.
This comprehensive book describes the development and service history of
all variants of these aircraft, featuring fleet lists and numerous rare
photos and color profiles.
