MiG-23 and failed to replace earlier developed MiG-21, although it was created for this purpose.The reasons for this are several, but most of them lies in the fact that it entered service with the Soviet Air Force at a time when the Vietnam War is almost over, and the armed conflicts in which he was to participate, could not fully reveal the potential of this car.
The design of the airplane embodies almost all the innovations typical of fighter aircraft mid to late sixties of the twentieth century.Designer General Artyom Mikoyan borrowed for the MiG-23 adjustable air vents at the "Phantom" ventral ridge to increase the area had a swivel mechanism that allowed to take off with no risk to hurt their runway, and most importantly - the wing could change the sweep angle from 16 to 72 degrees.This feature can significantly reduce the take-off and landing speed, it was only 250 km / h, and, consequently, the length of the CPA could be considerably less.Besides the opportunity to flight at extremely low altitude, increasing reticence to enemy radar.
position of the wing, where the sweep is 45 °, designed for high-speed air combat maneuvering, it allows for an increase in power overload airframe.
Finally, full deflection of the wing with respect to the longitudinal line of the fuselage, wherein the angle is 72 °, applied for supersonic flight speed which can reach two thousand kilometers per hour.
MiG-23 built under the scheme with high-wing monoplane, which, in turn, consists of two parts.Fuselage influx of supports for the mobile console, the position of which is set Screw converters, receiving power from the gears and hydraulic drives.
Such unique flight characteristics of the new fighter promised a great future, besides, he is constantly modernized, which, in general, is characteristic of all combat aircraft.To improve on-board equipment, to change the design of the airframe.The peak of perfection was the MiG-23 MLD, embodied in themselves the full capabilities of the original design, coupled with technological and electronic database of its time.
involvement in numerous wars and conflicts of the late twentieth century began in 1974, when the Iraqi Air Force used the latest Soviet fighters as a shock attack aircraft in operations against Kurdish separatists.Such an application under the full domination of the air made it impossible to judge the fighting qualities of the MiG-23, then you could do a simpler technique.However, while the Syrian-Israeli conflict occurred dogfights.Two wins in the Syrian Air Force recorded by its pilots manage these interceptors, however, did not provide documentary evidence, and Israel has not denied nor confirmed these facts.The same situation occurred in the 80s during the fighting in the Lebanese skies.In 1980, the Iran-Iraq war, during which confusion reigned complete information, and each side recorded a victory as much as she wanted.
In Afghanistan, the MiG-23 is clearly not used for its intended purpose, it is, unlike the well proven Su-25 is not conceived as attack.
other wars in Africa, Asia and the Middle East also showed his superiority.Caught at the disposal of the Americans "Migi" did not add clarity, and one of them has caused the death of General Robert Bond, tortured him "to travel".
However, the impressive number of countries to procure and operate the aircraft MiG-23.Photo available for viewing on the Internet and in print publications, is often depicted with these machines Sensor detection marks the most exotic countries.
In Russia, these aircraft have already been removed from combat duty, and the remaining copies are conserved.
