Strongly influenced by the American F-111, Soviet designers explored the capabilities of the swing-wing design in the early 1960's. These efforts resulted in a fast interceptor with a powerful J-band radar called 'High Lark', lookdown-shootdown capability, and (though often derided by Western observers) at least a moderate dogfighting capability. Much like the F-4 Phantom, the MiG-23 was the first Soviet jet to make use of sophisticated electronics, making it a significantly more effective interceptor than the older MiG-21. Despite the emergence of more advanced aircraft like the MiG-29 and Su-27, the MiG-23 still forms the backbone of the Russian air force through sheer numbers.
