The Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-23 Flogger is a Soviet supersonic fighter-interceptor that was originally first flown on 10 June 1967 and entered service in the Soviet Air Forces in 1970. The Flogger was one of the first fighter aircraft to built with a Variable swing wing. Another version of the Flogger, the prototype MiG-23PD (23-01) was a VTOL aircraft that didn't enter service.

The Flogger first saw action during the Arab-Israeli conflicts between Israel and Syria in the mid 1970s. It later saw action in the Iran-Iraq War with the Iraqi Air Force while also serving with Syria in the 1982 Lebanon War.

During the 1991 Gulf War, Iraqi MiG-23s failed to score any confirmed air to air kills against the US-led Coalition, suffering heavy losses. Despite this, they would continue to be used during Operation Southern Watch.