Chapter 365： Expatriates

"The feeling of flying is really wonderful. If it wasn't for my age, I would really like to learn to fly a plane." After the inspection at the Air Defense Base and returning to Moscow, Saddam was still full of praise.

"Marshal Ustinov, General Andrei, we in Iraq need this advanced fighter jet, only it can defend our motherland!" Saddam said solemnly.

If at the military parade, it was just casual remarks, with the end of this experience flight, the actual decision makers in Iraq are about to embark on the stage of Iraqi history. application, Iraq wants to equip this fighter!

At this time, the highest-ranking person in the conference room was USSR Defense Minister Ustinov. Facing Iraq's application, Ustinov was very embarrassed: "Mr. President, our MiG-25 is the most advanced. fighter jets, we are only equipped with the Homeland Defense Air Force, and there is no precedent for exporting at all. It is not that our relationship with you is not enough, but because we are worried that once this fighter jet is exported, it will be our most powerful fighter jet. secrets, leaked to the West.”

"I guarantee by my personality that we will protect the MiG-25 and will not let Western agents get any data on this aircraft." President Saddam said: "We will keep these MiG-25s under strict watch. stand up."

Ustinov shook his head: "No, Western agents are everywhere. Even inside our Soviets, we can find the infiltration of Western agents, let alone your country."

want to? I can give it to you, but I am worried that you will leak! Ustinov's opinion has been made clear. Saddam thought quickly in his mind, how can he persuade the other party?

"Comrade Marshal, I have a plan, I don't know if it will work." Andrei suddenly spoke at this time.

"What plan? Talk about it." Ustinov said.

"We are now worried about the leakage of MiG-25 once it is exported. Simply, we send some personnel to protect the MiG-25 fighters we exported to Iraq." Andre said: "Anyway, the MiG-25's Maintenance, upkeep and flying are quite complicated. Our people in the past can help the Iraqi Air Force get familiar with this fighter, train their pilots and ground crew, and at the same time, can also ensure that the secrets of the MiG-25 are not leaked, wait a minute In five or ten years, the Iraqi Air Force is completely familiar with this fighter, and we can also verify that these operators will not leak secrets.

this plan? Wouldn't that be the equivalent of Soviet troops stationing in Iraq? Hearing Andre's words, Saddam's mind was thinking rapidly for a while, is this good for Iraq?

Just thinking about it, Andre said: "Our people are just to help Iraq familiarize itself with the operation of the MiG-25 and train their pilots and ground staff. We will not participate in Iraq's war with other countries. We are not mercenaries."

"This doesn't seem right? We have to report to see if the general secretary can agree, and will the Iraqi side agree?" Ustinov asked.

He was only training pilots and ground staff, and would not participate in any battles. Hearing this, Saddam was relieved. Now, hearing Ustinov's question, Saddam immediately nodded again and again: "Yes, we Of course I agree, with your help, we will definitely be able to quickly master the operation of this fighter, and at the same time it will help keep it secret."

"Okay, then I'll report to the general secretary." Ustinov stood up, and just about to leave, he turned his head and said to Saddam: "We Soviets have always been very generous to class brothers, if the general secretary can agree , we will send a total of 20,000 air defense forces to help you quickly master the operation of this fighter, and at the same time help your country to improve the operation of air power."

20,000 people! The smile on Saddam's face was ugly for a moment. This, the number of people seems to be a bit large, right? The total number of our own air force is only 25,000!

Seeing Ustinov going out, Andrei couldn't help but chuckle in his heart. The two of them sang a harmony and had already discussed it. Now, Ustinov just went out to the toilet, and then went to the next room to stay for a while. Smoke a cigarette, then come back and tell Saddam that General Secretary Andropov was finally persuaded by himself to agree to sell this fighter, but it must be strictly controlled and no Westerners can get close to it!

Now, looking at Saddam waiting anxiously, Andre continued: "President Saddam, if the MiG-25 deal goes through, your confidentiality measures are in place, and I have a new proposal that can be The MiG-23 fighters equipped for you have undergone a large-scale mid-term improvement and life extension according to the standards of our Soviet fighters. After the improvement, the combat effectiveness of the MiG-23 is the same as the one we used over Hokkaido. Use your main air superiority fighter."

MiG-23!

In fact, countries like Iraq and Syria can also be regarded as the hard-core allies of the Soviet Union The advanced equipment of the Soviet Union was also exported to them first.

It came to the attention of Iraqi pilots just after the Syrians got their first MiG-23 fighter jets in the early 1970s. The Iraqi Air Force then made a request to the Soviet Union to purchase 48 MiG-23 fighter/attack aircraft. So, at the beginning of 1974, the Iraqis got a large number of MiG-23 fighter jets: 18 MS, 18 BN, and 4 UB. The aircraft were quickly organized into three operational squadrons: 23/26 with fighter jets and 77 with MiG-23BN attack aircraft.

But when they got the planes, Iraq was disappointed with the weapons they got: They had planned to use their MiG-23 fighter jets against the American-made F-14A Tomcats bought by the Iranians. Facts have proved that the indicators of the "Whispers" are far behind the "Tomcat", from airborne avionics to weapon systems; from range to payload to operability. The only thing that can be compared is the maintenance complexity and operation difficulty of the "Flapper"!

In addition to these, another problem is that the Soviet Union has always had the principle that all exported products are castrated, so as not to prevent technical leaks. At the same time, the weapons exported by the United States to allies were without any castration. For example, those exported to Iran were only different from the IFF. In contrast, Soviet weapons were of course more shoddy. (To be continued.) To find this site, please search for "" or enter the URL: