Earlier this year I went to the Musée royal de l’armée et de l’histoire militaire or Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.
This Egyptian Air Force MiG-23, painted in Soviet Air Force camouflage and markings was on display at the museum.
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, known by its NATO reporting name “Flogger,” was a significant third-generation Soviet fighter aircraft that emerged in the early 1970s as a successor to the highly produced MiG-21. Its most distinctive feature was its variable-geometry (swing-wing) design, allowing pilots to adjust the wing sweep in flight for optimal performance across various speeds and altitudes, from short takeoffs and landings to supersonic dashes.
While primarily conceived as an interceptor with advanced radar and beyond-visual-range missile capabilities, it also proved adaptable for ground attack, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare roles in later variants. Despite its innovative design and widespread export to numerous countries during the Cold War, the MiG-23 faced operational challenges, including complex handling characteristics and maintenance issues, and its combat record was mixed compared to more advanced Western counterparts like the F-15 and F-16. Nevertheless, with over 5,000 units built, it remains the most produced variable-sweep wing aircraft in history and a notable symbol of Soviet air power.