In the annals of military aviation history, few fighter jets have garnered a reputation as contentious as the Soviet-era MiG-23 “Flogger.”

Designed to be the Cold War adversary of the U.S. F-4 Phantom, the MiG-23 aimed to pack advanced features such as variable swing-wing geometry and beyond-visual-range intercept capabilities into an affordable package for export.

However, this ambition fell short as the jet became a case study of compromised performance and reliability due to cost-cutting measures.

The MiG-23 is a formidable fighter aircraft, and the U.S. Air Force does not possess a fighter jet that can rival its turbulent past. Sympathize with the unfortunate MiG-23 “Flogger” jet fighter.

Built to replace the MiG-21 “Fishbed” and to contend with America’s F-4 Phantom, the MiG-23 instead “became the proverbial ‘redheaded stepchild’ of Soviet-designed fighters.”

Initially, the MiG-23’s specifications seemed promising. The design incorporated cutting-edge technologies when it debuted in the 1970s, including a robust landing gear for operations from remote runways.

However, this optimism quickly dissipated with the jet’s compromised build quality, intended to keep production costs low for wide export. This led to significant operational difficulties, a damning combat record, and an unfortunate legacy. The MiG-23’s combat performance was, to put it mildly, underwhelming.

As noted by Senior Editor Peter Suciu:“There is no ambiguity here: the MiG-23 boasts a long, well-documented, and deeply embarrassing service record. The full extent of its failures is too great to recount in detail, but here are a few highlights. Over a dozen Syrian MiG-23 jet fighters were shot down by Israeli F-15s and F-16s throughout the Arab-Israeli Wars. Iraqi MiG-23 jet fighters also fared even more poorly against Iran during the Iran-Iraq War, reportedly suffering upwards of fifty losses against Iranian F-14s, F-5s, and F-4s. Libyan MiG-23s were routinely outperformed by Egyptian MiG-21 jet fighters during the Libyan-Egyptian War, and two of these fighters were destroyed by two U.S. F-14 Tomcats during the 1989 Tobruk skirmish.”

From the deserts of the Middle East to the skies of North Africa, the MiG-23 was repeatedly bested in combat. “Iraqi MiG-23 jet fighters also fared even more poorly against Iran during the Iran-Iraq War, reportedly suffering upwards of fifty losses,” the senior editor added, further underscoring the aircraft’s deficiencies.

Despite its poor performance, the MiG-23 was widely exported to allies of the Soviet Union and saw extensive use, even as its flaws became increasingly apparent.

“The phrase ‘penny wise, pound foolish’ comes to mind; the plane was reported to be difficult to fly and expensive to maintain,” the editor lamented, illustrating the short-sightedness of its development philosophy.

The aircraft’s combat record was a sobering reflection of its limitations. During Operation Desert Storm, an Iraqi MiG-23 managed only a partial success, damaging an F-111 Aardvark. However, this did little to offset the heavy losses the type suffered in air-to-air combat.

The MiG-23’s shortcomings also resonated as a warning about the complexities of military innovation, where theoretical advances can be undone by flawed execution. “The MiG-23 boasts a long, well-documented, and deeply embarrassing service record,” a national security reporter noted. This extends to operational challenges and a lack of real-world effectiveness despite its advanced technological profile.

The MiG-23 has lingered on, with a production run of 5,000 units from 1967 to 1985 and some nations maintaining them in service decades later. Its history serves as a testament to the harsh realities of military hardware production, where the pursuit of cost-effectiveness can come at the expense of capability and dependability.

As military tech and politics enthusiasts, the complexities and ultimate failings of the MiG-23’s development and service resonate as a cautionary tale. It speaks to the critical balance between innovation, cost, and operational effectiveness—a balance that, when skewed, can lead to disastrous outcomes on the world stage.

Relevant articles:
– Russia’s MiG-23 Fighter Has Something the Air Force Can’t Ever Match, The National Interest
– Why the MiG-23 Flogger Ranks as History’s Most Disappointing Fighter Jet, nationalinterest.org