{"product_id":"mig-23-flogger-in-the-middle-east-mikoyan-i-gurevich-mig-23-in-service-in","title":"MiG-23 Flogger in the Middle East: Mikoyan i Gurevich MiG-23 in Service in","description":"MiG-23 Flogger in the Middle East: Mikoyan i Gurevich MiG-23 in Service in Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Libya and Syria, 1973-2018\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFollowing a protracted research and development phase, Mikoyan Gurevich's MiG-23 finally entered service with the former Soviet Air Force in the early 1970s. Almost immediately, a number of foreign customers pressed Moscow for deliveries of this long-overdue type, expected to succeed the popular MiG-21 as a standard interceptor. Correspondingly, large numbers of MiG-23 interceptors and fighter-bombers were exported to five major Arab air forces in the mid-1970s.  This is a detailed history of the operational service of this Soviet-manufactured interceptor and its fighter-bomber variants in service with Algerian, Egyptian, Iraqi, Libyan, and Syrian air forces, since 1974. While Egypt purchased only a handful before its final break with Moscow, and Algeria limited related acquisitions, Iraq, Libya and Syria continued purchasing advanced variants in significant numbers through the 1980s. The units operating MiG-23s were soon transformed into the backbone of the military services in question, and they saw combat service in a number of intensive military conflicts. In the 1980s, they fought against Israeli jets over Lebanon, against the Iranians in the Iran-Iraq War, and confronted US Navy's F-14s on numerous occasions off Libya. In 1991 Iraqi MiG-23s were deployed in combat against the US-led coalition's F-15s. Indeed, in Syria, different versions of MiG-23 continue flying combat operations today.  110 b\/w photos, 12 colour photos, 18 colour profiles, 6-8 maps","brand":"NATIONWIDE BOOKS","offers":[{"title":"Default","offer_id":41980566929541,"sku":"PR450574","price":66.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0562\/0213\/3637\/files\/flats9781912390328_1_TU6FSQ7JFYN0.jpg?v=1791939439","url":"https:\/\/smartfoxbooks.co.nz\/products\/mig-23-flogger-in-the-middle-east-mikoyan-i-gurevich-mig-23-in-service-in","provider":"Smartfox Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}