For more than one decade, the Soviet Union’s MiG-23 represented the primary frontline fighter of the Warsaw Pact. Given the moniker Flogger, the variable-geometry jet became the most produced variable-sweep aircraft in history with over 5,000 of these fighters built in its heyday.

During the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union desired an airframe that could go head-to-head with American and European third-generation counterparts.

Despite the MiG-23’s high export numbers, the fighter does not necessarily have the best connotations.

In fact, the platform’s mixed combat record and poor safety record led Russia and other former Soviet states to retire their MiG-23 airframes following the dissolution of the USSR.

Some even say it might be the worst fighter jet ever. 

Introducing the MiG-23 Flogger

The MiG-23 Flogger was designed to feature several key improvements from its predecessor the MiG-21, including longer-range capabilities, larger weapons load and enhanced radar. In addition to these modifications, Soviet engineers wanted to produce a platform that could carry more capable weapons like beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles.

The MiG-23 possessed similar variable “sweep wing geometry to that of the General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark.

Engineers also focused on enhancing the jet’s take-off and landing performance, allowing it to operate from shorter, remote runways than its MiG-21 predecessor. Powered by a single Khatchaturov R-35-300 afterburning jet, the Flogger could travel at speeds as fast as roughly 1,500 miles per hour and range of around 1,200 miles.

Even from the start, the MiG-23 had a poor reputation

Despite the Flogger’s various improvements from its MiG-21 predecessor, the platform suffered rather significant issues since its introduction to service in the Soviet Union. According to reports, the Flogger was challenging to fly and very costly to properly maintain.

Additionally, the Khatchaturov afterburning jet notoriously had short service lives. Some analysts believe these factors influenced Warsaw Pact countries to operate the Flogger alongside its older and technically less capable predecessor the MiG-21.

The Flogger has a mixed combat record

The MiG-23’s notable design flaws did not fully hinder the platform from performing well in combat. As explained by Military Watch Magazine, Floggers were able to hold their own against American-made third generation platforms flown by Iran, including the F-4E and F-5E in the Lebanon War and in Iraqi service during both the Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf War.

However, the MiG-23 would have its reputation permanently tainted when the platform suffered overwhelming losses against the Israeli Air Force: “These defeats were caused by a number of factors, including Israel’s access to very detailed intelligence on the MiG-23, with fully operational fighters provided by Egypt to its ally the United States for testing in the 1970s, the superior quality of Israeli pilots, and the fact that the U.S. made jets they were fighting were not only a full generation ahead - but also twice as heavy.”

Specifically, more than one dozen Floggers were shot down by Israeli-piloted F-15s and F-16s over the course of the Arab-Israeli wars and were routinely outperformed by Egyptian-flown MiG-21 pilots during the Libyan-Egyptian War.

Due to the Flogger’s lackluster deployment record, the platform has become known for being one of the only fighter airframes to retire ahead of its predecessor.

Today, the MiG-23 remains in service in only a few air forces.

Maya Carlin is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.

All images are Creative Commons.