CDI Fact Sheet:
MiG-21/23/25/29, F-7 and Mirage F-1EQ Fighters

Iraq has imported several types of fighter aircraft from the former Soviet Union and China and attempted to modernize. The 1991 Gulf War weakened overall Iraqi air power but the Iraqi fighter group remains a source of threats against American aircraft in an upcoming war in the country. This factsheet provides basic figures and capabilities of the six existing fighters.

SPECIFICATIONS
)spacer	MiG-21	MiG-23	MiG-25	MiG-29	F-7	Mirage F-1EQ
Crew	1 pilot, or 2 pilots (operational trainers)	1 pilot	1 pilot, or 2 pilots (operational trainers)	1 pilot	1 pilot	1 pilot, or 2 pilots (operational trainers)
Max Speed	Mach 2.1 at high altitude	Mach 2.35 (at height 72 degree sweep)	Mach 2.83 - Mach 3 at high altitude	Mach 2.35	Mach 2.35	Mach 2.2 at high altitude
Max Range	1,100 km (683 mi)	1,050 nm (1,210 mi)	1,730 km (1,075 mi)	1,133 nm (1,305 mi)	Ferry range 1,740 km (with 2 air-to-air missiles and 2 480l drop tanks) or 2,230 km (with 3 720 liter drop tanks)	230 nm (265 mi) in high-low-high mode at Mach 0.75 wih 14 250kg bombs
Combined Radius	400 nm with 2 250kg bombs	620 nm (715 mi) with 6 air-to-air missiles	1,450 km (900 mi)	810 nm (1,500 km)	650 km (Longe-range interception with 2 air-to-air missiles and 3 720l drop tanks at Mach 1.5)	230nm (265 mi) in high-low-high mode at Mach 0.75 with 14 250kg bombs
Armament (main)	1 twin-barrel 23mm GSh-23 gun and 2 to 4 AA-2 Atoll missiles	1 23mm gun in fuselage belly pack	air-to-air missiles, i.e. AA-6 "Acrid" under each wing	6 R-60MK air-to-air missiles, or 4 R-60MK and 2 medium-range R-27R1 and a built-in GSh-301 gun (30mm caliber)	2 30mm cannons, Type 57-2 air-to-air missiles, 1 Type 90-1 air-to-ground rocket, and up to 500kg bombs	2 30mm DEFA 553 cannon, Matra Super 520 air-to-air missiles, and Amrat anti-radar missile, or 1 AM39 Exocet anti-ship missile for ground attack
Weight	5,200kg (11,465lb) w/o weapons	10,200kg (22,485lb)	Nearly 20,000kg (44,100lb)	10,900kg (24,030lb)	Empty: 5,275kg; normal take-off: 7,531kg	7,400kg (16,314lb)

 
MiG-21 FISHBED

Background
The MiG-21 was manufactured originally in the Soviet Union in 1953 and later by Czechoslovakia, China and India. It first became operational in 1958, but by the late 1980s its production was ended in most countries. During the Gulf War, some Iraqi Fishbeds were reportedly downed by Sparrow missiles.

Capabilities

 

	Used in a variety of missions, such as air combat, reconnaissance, electronic countermeasures and ground attack, as well as training.
	Thought to be one of the most competent dog-fighters against most contemporary Western aircraft.
	Features a very thin delta wing with the leading edge swept at 57 percent, as well as the Spin Scan airborne interception radar, and a gyro-stabilized gunsight.

 
MiG-23 FLOGGER

Currently more than 11,000 MiG-23s are deployed in more than 20 countries, particularly in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. For most of these air forces, the MiG-23 remains the major combat aircraft. Although the MiG-23 can be kept in service until 2010-15 — with significant maintenance — its weapons and avionics systems were designed more than 20 years ago and cannot operate on par with those of more modern adversaries.

Background
Designed as a successor to the MiG-21 in 1964-66, the MiG-23 went into operation in the Soviet Union in 1971 and became widely deployed by the mid-1980s — mostly in the former Soviet bloc. In addition to a powerful engine, its new features include its variable sweep wing, which functions similarly to that of the U.S. Air Force's F-111. This sweep wing gives a shorter takeoff/landing roll even when carrying heavy weapons.

Capabilities

 

	Primarily serves as a multirole fighter-interceptor, but it can also function in a ground attack role (under the designation MiG-23BN).
	The Flogger also offers a set of radar, infrared-guided weapons, and high-speed (up to Mach 2.35) to counter its adversaries.
	The MiG-23 MLD is the most advanced version of the series, with improved avionics, armament, and aerodynamic features.
	Also features an indentification-friend-or-foe capability and advanced missile system.

 
MiG-25 FOXBAT

The MiG-25, also known as Foxbat, is a multirole aircraft that performs in reconnaissance, training, and interception roles. One of the Soviet Union's most admired fighter craft, Foxbat was perhaps the plane most feared in the West during much of the Cold War.

According to The Military Balance 2002-2003, Iraq has at least 12 of this aircraft. Besides Iraq, user countries include India, Libya, Syria and Ukraine.

Background
Designed between 1958 and 1962, the MiG-25 was produced mainly to counter the U.S. B-70 supersonic Valkyrie strategic bomber with its top speed of Mach 3, and was first put into service in 1968.

A detailed look at this aircraft was made possible when a Soviet lieutenant, Vikto Belenko, defected to Japan with one of the aircraft in 1976. This incident exposed its 1950s-era radar and other characteristics that dispelled much of the mythology that Western experts had built around its supposed capabilities at the height of the Cold War.

Capabilities

 

	Functions in all weather conditions, day and night, and in dense hostile electronic warfare environments.
	Has main fire control radar in nose and infrared search track sensor pos under its front fuselage.
	Due to its focus on speed and unmaneuverable airframe, this aircraft has virtually no capability for close combat.
	Also features an indentification-friend-or-foe capability and advanced missile system.

 
MiG-29 FULCRUM

Iraq has 10 MiG-29s in service, according The Military Balance 2002-2003. This is one of the best fighter planes Iraq possesses. The MiG-29, also known as "Fulcrum" by NATO, is a widely exported aircraft, also flown by Iran, North Korea, India, Syria and Cuba.

Background
The MiG-29 was designed in 1972 to replace the MiG-21, MiG-23, Su-15 and Su-17. It underwent the first test flight in 1977 and achieved initial operational capability with Soviet fighter regiments in 1983. In contrast to the primitive electronics of the MiG-25, the MiG-29 has a high-quality radar system.

Capabilities

 

	An all-weather single-seat counter-air fighter, with ground-attack capabiities.
	Capable of striking air targets day and night, and in an active or passive jamming environment.
	Export version is armed with R-27R1 medium-range missiles with radar homing heads, and unguided weapons for hitting ground and sea-surface targets.
	Has better weapons sight and maneuverability than its more electronically advanced American counterparts, such as the F-16.

 
F-7 FIGHTER

Iraq has purchased an export version of the Chinese-made J-7 (Jianjiji-7 Fighter aircraft 7) called F-7. J-7 is a product of reverse-engineering of the Soviet-made MiG-21F Fishbed. Despite the outdated basic design, the F-7 could be a challenging target in a close-range air combat scenario if maneuvered by an experienced pilot.

Background
In 1961, China bought licenses for the MiG-21F and its engine from the Soviet Union and began assembling the first J-7 from 1964 on, using Chinese-made components. The initial operational capability was achieved in 1965, and Iraq has received the F-7M Airguard export version of the F-7 since then. Today, Baghdad is thought to have up to 40 F-7s in service.

Capabilities

 

	Single-seat, single-engine day fighter, with both air- and ground-attack capability.
	Fitted with a Western avionics package that includes Type 226 Skyranger ranging radar, Wopen 7B engine, and 956 head-up display and weapon-aiming computer.

 
Mirage F-1EQ FIGHTER

The Mirage F-1EQ is an Iraqi-imported version of the original Mirage F-1. The Mirage is a mulitrole air superiority/ground attack/reconnaissance fighter, put into operation in 1985. Iraq has approximately 50 of these aircraft in service, having originally acquired a total of 98 F-1EQs along with an unknown number of the two-seat version of the F-1BQ. Imported from France, the Mirage had the distinction of being used by both sides in the 1991 Gulf War.

Background
The Mirage F-1 was produced by France's Dassault Aviation in cooperation with the Belgian company Sabca. Between 1977 and 1987, Paris contracted to sell a toal of 133 fighters to Iraq. The first transfer occured in 1978, when France supplied 18 interceptors in addition to an agreement for an Iraqi share in the production of the Mirage 2000 in a $2 billion arms deal. Over 770 Mirage F-1s have been built to date, with almost 500 of them going to a variety of foreign countries such as Ecuador, Greece, Kuwait, Morocco and South Africa.

Capabilities

 

	Single-seat attack fighter with sophisticated attack system and all-weather capability.
	Possesses an inertial navigation system, naval attack central computer, CRT head-up display, and a large inventory of external stores.

 
Sources

International Institute for Strategic Studies, The Military Balance 2001-2002, Brassey's, London, 2002.

International Institute for Strategic Studies, The Military Balance 2002-2003, Brassey's, London, 2002.

Jane's Information Group Limited, Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1994-95, Surrey, United Kingdom, 1994.

MiG-23 Flogger YF-113, MiG-25 Foxbat, MiG-29 Fulcrum, (Mikoyan-Gurevich), J-7 (Jian-7 Fighter Aircraft 7)/F-7, GlobalSecurity.org.

Specification: MiG-25PD 'Foxbat', The Warplane Picture Gallery.

Neta Crawford, World Weapons Database Volume II: Soviet Military Aircraft, Institute for Defense and Disarmament Studies, Brookline, Mass.: 1987.

Dassault Mirage F. 1 Multi-Role Fighter, aerospaceweb.org

Mirage F1 EQ, Sky Corner

Dassault - MIRAGE F-1, FS FAB

*Photo Credit: all photos courtesy of combataircraft.com

 

Nori Katagiri CDI Research Assisant nkatagiri@cdi.org

Standard Version

BACK TO THE TOP    TERRORISM PROJECT HOME    LINKS    CDI HOME