MiG -23 variable swept wing fighter [data picture]
MiG -23 Variable Swept Wing Fighter
MiG -23 is the first variable swept wing fighter developed by the Soviet Union in the 1960s, and it was first exported to Syria in the Middle East in the early 1970s. On April 18, 1974, a Syrian Air Force pilot piloted a MiG -23 fighter jet for a new weapon test flight in the northwest airspace of the capital, and accidentally encountered an invading Israeli F-4 fighter formation. So MIG -23 launched an encounter over the Middle East for the first time.
MiG -23 urgently deployed the Middle East into a "friction war"
In 1964, the Soviet Union began to design the development fighter of MIG -21 fighter. It is the MIG -23 fighter. In 1970, Egypt, which was preparing for war, first proposed to the Soviet Union to buy the most advanced MiG -23 fighter. However, since MIG -23 has not been put into use, the Soviet Union rejected Egypt’s request. In 1971, the Soviet Air Force began to equip the new fighter MiG -23. On October 6, 1973, the fourth Middle East War broke out. Egyptian and Syrian combat aircraft suffered great losses. On October 14th, the Soviet Union urgently used a large transport plane to transport the first batch of four MiG -23 fighters to Syria. This is the first time that MIG -23 fighters have been deployed in the Middle East. However, before these MIG -23 fighters could be put into combat, the fourth Middle East War ended on October 24th.
Although the war is over, the situation in the Syrian border area is still tense. Syria began to step up the training in the use of MIG -23 fighters, so as to make MIG -23 fighters form combat effectiveness as soon as possible. The Syrian Air Force found that the MIG -23 fighter was not as easy to operate and fly as the Soviet Union said. At the beginning of 1974, several MIG -23 fighters of the Syrian Air Force crashed during the test flight. By April, the first MIG -23 fighter squadron in Syria still had not all formed combat effectiveness, and only eight fighters could be put into operational use.
The conflict in the Syrian Golan Heights continues. Syrian and Israeli forces shelled each other, and small-scale conflicts occurred from time to time. Syria calls it a "friction war". On April 13, the Syrian army helicopter transport commando attacked the Israeli army occupying the Sheikh Mountain in the Golan Heights. The two sides began a week-long major conflict, and the scope of operations extended from the ground to the air. On the morning of April 18th, Israeli fighter planes attacked the Syrian Sam ground-to-air missile position around Sheikh Mountain. The invasion of Israeli fighters led to the first air combat of MIG -23 fighters.
Syrian MIG -23 encounters Israeli F-4.
On the afternoon of April 18th, Syrian Air Force pilot Captain masri flew a MIG -23MC fighter to the northwest airspace of Damascus for a new missile test flight. It turned out that when the Soviet Union provided MIG -23 fighter jets to Syria, it also provided several advanced air-to-air missiles, including AA-7 and AA-8. Among them, AA-7 is a medium-range air-to-air missile specially developed by the Soviet Union for MIG -23 in 1960s. In 1968, the Soviet army managed to acquire an American AIM-7M Sparrow air-to-air missile and applied its technology to the design of AA-7. AA-7 is divided into two types: radar-guided and infrared-guided, with a total length of more than 4 meters and a weight of 320 kilograms. The radar type can attack 35 kilometers, and the infrared type can attack enemy planes 15 kilometers away. AA-8 is also a missile developed by the Soviet Union in the 1960s, with infrared guidance. It was put into production in 1973, with a total length of about 2 meters, a launch weight of 65 kilograms and a warhead of only 6 kilograms, mainly intercepting enemy planes within 10 kilometers.
The MIG -23 fighter plane suddenly met the Israeli F-4 fighter formation during the flight. Masri recalled what happened at that time: "On that day, I was flying alone in a MIG -23 fighter. Suddenly, I saw an Israeli fighter formation flying in front of me. It consists of 7~8 F-4 fighters. I have never seen an Israeli army flying in formation with eight planes, and I have never met so many Israeli fighters. I immediately decided to tell the ground commanders about the enemy by radio. However, I am disappointed that the radio communication has been seriously disturbed and it is impossible to get in touch with the ground command. In this case, I decided to use the backup frequency. However, I was disappointed again, and the backup frequency was also disturbed and difficult to use. I know that there is no choice now. Instead of waiting to be shot down by Israeli fighters, it is better to take the initiative to launch an attack. "
The Israeli army purchased F-4 fighter jets from the United States in 1969. The F-4 is a dual-engine long-range all-weather fighter. It was equipped with the US Air Force in 1964. It is about 19 meters long and 5 meters high, with a maximum Mach number of 2 and a range of more than 2,000 kilometers. It can carry 8 missiles in air combat. MiG -23 fighter is mainly used in air interception operations, with variable swept wings, the maximum level flight Mach number is 2.35, the maximum take-off weight is 18 tons, and it can carry 2 tons of weapons, including 4 air-to-air missiles. In addition, both the aircraft and the F-4 have strong ground attack capability.
This is the first air combat of Syrian MIG -23 fighter and the first air combat of Soviet-made MIG -23 fighter. Masri flew the MIG -23 at a low altitude and sped towards the F-4 formation. After MIG -23 quietly flew to the tail of the F-4 fighter formation, it fired three air-to-air missiles in succession and hit two F-4 fighters. Masri saw that two F-4 fighters were shot and caught fire and then fell. After the Israeli F-4 fighter formation was attacked by missiles, it quickly dispersed and fled everywhere. MiG -23 fighter quickly grabbed the nearest F-4 in front and prepared to attack with cannon. However, the F-4 fighter in front was so cunning that it suddenly turned left and got rid of the aim of the MIG -23. Not only that, the F-4 also quickly maneuvered behind the MIG -23 fighter. Masri suddenly felt the huge vibration of the landline. He knew that his fighter was hit by the other missile. He recalled, "I was preparing to maneuver and tried to lock an F-4. However, I was hit by a missile. My fighter plane is getting worse and burning. I don’t know what to do. "
The MIG -23 fighter is on the verge of losing control. Masri found it difficult to save the fighter. Suddenly, the fighter plane was shocked: it was attacked by another missile, split in two and began to fall. Masri later recalled, "I fell to the ground, but I was quickly saved. My shoulder and chest were badly hurt, and I was unconscious. It was not until a month later that I woke up from a coma. "
So far, I don’t know whose missile was shot down
Israel later confirmed that in this air battle, an F-4 two-seater fighter was shot down, one pilot died and the other was captured by the Syrian army. In addition, the Israeli army also lost an F-4 fighter, but two pilots were later found. Some people even think that the two missiles that shot down the MIG -23 fighter were probably not launched by the F-4, but two Sam -6 missiles launched by the Syrian air defense missile position. However, this statement has not been confirmed so far. In the 4th Middle East War, due to the lack of effective air-ground coordination in Arab countries, dozens of combat aircraft were shot down by their own air defense forces. Among them, 12 combat aircraft of the Syrian army were shot down by their own missiles, and 40 combat aircraft of Egypt suffered a similar fate.
Masri shot down the F-4 fighter for the first time by driving the MiG -23 fighter, which caused a sensation and was rewarded by the Syrian army. His rank was promoted from captain to lieutenant colonel in advance. Syrian Defense Minister Trass also personally awarded him the medal of "Hero of the Republic". A few years later, masri, who recovered from many wounds, tried to fly again. However, disabled, he had to bid farewell to the blue sky and white clouds forever. Later, as an air hero, masri was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General.
Editor: Bo Du