Now, the avionics system of the Iraqi version of the MiG-23 has also been seriously shrunk, so to speak, it is actually only slightly modified on the basis of the MiG-21MF, it only includes a simple beacon/instrument navigation system, UHF radio communication system, and SRO-3IFF friend or foe identification system, and even a radar warning device!

Therefore, when the MiG-23 was exported to Iraq, the Iraqi Air Force Air Defense Command, which was in charge of air combat, initially did not use the MiG-23MS as fighters at all, but sent them to the Support Command together with the MiG-23BN attack aircraft to carry out ground support missions. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

The use of these fighters was also quite poor, losing 6 aircraft from April to November 74 alone: 4 were shot down by Iranian anti-aircraft missiles; 2 were caused by operational errors.

But after that, Iraqi pilots began to like this attack aircraft, because the payload of the MiG-23 was very large! Moreover, Iraq did not have a very good choice, so the Iraqi Air Force followed up with a large order of 60 MiG-23BN attack aircraft and 10 MiG-23UB trainer aircraft, and by 76 years, Iraq formed 15 squadrons of "Flogger" attack aircraft,

Now Andrei gave a proposal to retrofit these MiG-23s by the standards of the Soviet army! On the battlefield in Hokkaido, the MiG-23 of the Soviet Air Force, which played quite well, was fully capable of suppressing the fighters of the US Air Force!

Hearing this, Saddam Hussein was even more excited: "General Andrei, your proposal is too good!" Regardless of whether General Secretary Andropov agrees to the MiG-25 project, it is hoped that the improvement of the MiG-23 will be carried out immediately. ”

"President Saddam, there is a prerequisite for improving to the same standards that we use in the Soviet Union now, that is, proper secrecy measures!" Andrei said: "We need to arrange for our personnel to supervise the squadron operating the MiG-23 fighters, for example, in the form of advisers, so as to prevent the theft of secrets by Western agents, which is also a last resort, please understand." ”

Improving to the same standard as the Soviet's own fighters, of course, is a premise, and if the secrets are stolen by the West, then the Soviet Air Force will be in big trouble!

Hearing Andrei's words, Saddam Hussein frowned. Would inviting Soviet personnel to be stationed at their own air bases as advisers would deprive them of the autonomy of their own air forces?

"Of course, the army will always belong to Iraq, to put it mildly, if you turn to the West one day and expel our personnel, in fact, we have no other countermeasures, and we are also taking a big risk by exporting our advanced fighters, and the reason why we do this is to help our Arab friends, after all, there are American lackeys there, and the current political situation in Iran is also quite unstable." Andrei continued.

Hearing Andrei say this, Saddam's face turned red: "General Andrei, you are too foreign to say this, we in Iraq will never do treacherous things!" You are right, in our Middle East, there are now lackeys of the Americans, and we are strong in our own armed forces precisely because the Western world supports this lackey! We have to be strong! I completely agree with your suggestion, please refit our advanced fighter as soon as possible. ”

This temptation made Saddam Hussein, who longed for strength, unable to refuse, and Andrei knew that the Middle East plan he proposed was about to be completed.

The performance of Iraq in the Iran-Iraq war was too miserable, and if we want to realize the Middle East strategy of the Soviet Union, we must strengthen the power of Iraq! The export of the MiG-25 and the improvement of the MiG-23 are all things that must be realized in this plan, and Iraq must be able to defeat Iran's Tomcat fighters!

As for the modification of the MiG-23 with the standards of Soviet fighters, it doesn't matter, it is necessary to replace it with a new radar, improve the automatic control of the variable sweep wing, and operate by wire, so that the MiG-23 can achieve a rapid improvement in performance, among them, the most important is the radar! If in the past, the radar of the MiG-23 was considered advanced, but now, with the success of the Far East, with the acquisition of advanced electronic technologies, the USSR is about to massively replace the flat-panel slot radar! Not only the new MiG-29 and the Su-27 that continue to test flights, but also the early fighters will be transformed, and the MiG-23 is naturally no exception.

And among them, the more important is to control the Iraqi Air Force! In the name of secrecy, they will insert their own personnel into the Iraqi Air Force! In the Iran-Iraq war, the command of the USSR was definitely a hundred times better than Iraq itself!

Holding advanced weapons and fighting a war like World War I is the evaluation of the Iran-Iraq war by later generations, the blood of Iraq and Iran have been drained, and there is no winner in this war.

And now, history is about to change!

"The general secretary agreed." At this moment, Ustinov came back with a smile on his face: "However, the general secretary instructed us that we must do a good job of secrecy and not let our enemies get our planes. ”

"Yes, we will keep it confidential, and your personnel are welcome to help us." Saddam Hussein said: "Marshal Ustinov, can you help us upgrade our MiG-23 to the same standard as yours?" ”

Ustinov was overjoyed, and sure enough, when he went out to smoke a cigarette, Andrei got the matter of upgrading the MiG-23, and the offer to Iraq had to be a few hundred rubles cheaper than the new MiG-23, right?

"Well, we can upgrade to the same standard as us, but the price is much higher." Ustinov said: "Although from the outside, our MiG-23 is the same as the export, but internally, it is a radical change, our radar, fire control, control, all use the latest electronic technology, the price is quite expensive, even our own Soviet aviation regiment, the upgrade and improvement of the MiG-23, has been lined up to about 85 years." ”

"We in Iraq can offer a higher price, but we hope to give us an upgrade." Saddam Hussein said: "Marshal Ustinov, as you know, our Middle East has not been peaceful recently, and Iran in our east has been occupied by a group of extremists, who not only want to rule Iran, but also want to export revolution to us, our national strategy is very dangerous, and we must strengthen our forces as soon as possible." ”

Ustinov nodded: "Well, we, the Soviet Union, are ready to fully support Iraq." President Saddam, I mean, we are ready to give our full support to Iraq in playing a greater role in the Middle East arena. (To be continued.) )