Book excerpt: The latest title in the renouned Aerofax series is a detailed history of the development and operation of the Soviet interceptor, the MiG23/27, code named in the west, Flogger. In the era of the Cold War, the military planners on both sides of the Iron Curtain were very aware of the threat to their security both from bombers which could carry nuclear weapons and from spyplanes. Thus it was deemed essential to have fast fighter aircraft which could intercept and destroy such incoming threats. The MiG-23 was developed to succeed the MiG-21 as the standard Soviet interceptor. It was a major advance on the earlier aircraft. Its swing-wing configuration was a generation on from its predecessor. Deliveries began in 1972 and in excess of 3,000 aircraft were built before production ended in 1986. As was the case with many Soviet types, the MiG-23 was widely exported to satellite or friendly countries. The MiG-23 saw service with air forces in the Middle East, the Far East, Cuba and Eastern Europe and a licenced version was built in India. The book also covers the history and operation of the MiG-27, a development of the MiG-23.This was a latical strike aircraft with a completely redesigned forward fuselage which was produced in significant quantities from the late 1970s on wards. Both of these important types will be covered in the usual and well regarded Aerofax style which combines a thoroughly researched narrative with many photographs. This volume in the series will complete the Aerofax coverage of MiG design bureau's major modern types.