Migs in the Middle East Volume 1

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Egypt and Czechoslovakia's signing of the 'Czechoslovak Arms Deal' marked the beginning of a significant era of collaboration among major Arab military powers and the USSR. In the first decade, Egypt's air force, followed by Syria, Iraq, Morocco, and Algeria, received numerous Soviet-made fighters from the Mikoyan I Gurevich Design Bureau, which had previously surprised Western powers during the Korean War. The initial MiG-15 had a short service life in Egypt, but its successor, the MiG-17F, entered service in larger numbers and became the backbone of several Middle Eastern air forces. The MiG-17PF was notable as the first radar-equipped combat aircraft, while the MiG-19 represented the first supersonic fighter for Egypt and Iraq between 1958 and 1963. In Morocco and Algeria, the MiG-17 was the only jet fighter in use during the early 1960s. Consequently, MiG-15s, MiG-17s, and MiG-19s were operated by various units, particularly in Egypt and Algeria, showcasing a diverse array of colorful unit insignia and markings. Many pilots of these aircraft later played vital roles in shaping their nations' futures.