North Korean MiG-23 deliveries.
I obtained reliable information from multiple sources regarding the first delivery of MiG-23ML (and UB?) aircraft to North Korea in 1985.
6x MiG-23 in late May 1985
10x MiG-23 in July 1985
10x MiG-23 in late August 1985
A total of about 40 MiG-23ML and some MiG-23UB trainers have been delivered during 1985-(early)1986.
According to my information the last MiG-23 Fighter was manufactured in December 1984 (Bulgarian MiG-23MLD c/n 2960327219, mfd 22-12-1984).
At the Keypublishing forum, I have encountered two B/W images showing North Korean MiG-23ML aircraft (https://forum.keypublishing.com/show...04#post2285604). According to the photo caption; the two pictures were made before delivery but after a major overhaul at the 121st ARZ.
But why a major overhaul . . . . ?
In the mid-eighties the US decided that their presence in the Pacific area needed a boost. In the first place this was directed at strengthening their presence on the Korean peninsula, but since the 8th FW was already present on the island as well as numerous Korean units themselves, space was relatively limited. Therefore the USAF decided to strengthen their presence in Japan and created under the newly formed 35th TFW, the 13th and 14th TFS. The 13th was activated in 1985 receiving F-16 block 15 airframes (F-16 Units - USAF PACAF 13th Fighter Squadron)
The Soviet Union made a big propaganda campaign against the deployment. Could it be that the Soviets looked to ‘analogous’ countermeasures to maintain their credibility in the region by supplying former Soviet AF MiG-23ML aircraft to the North Korean AF because the MiG-23 fighter variant was out of production and the MiG-29 was not yet available for export?
Rgd,
Jeroen Nijmeijer
Holland
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