F-15 Eagle versus MiG-23/25

Designed with the sole aim of outperforming the fearsome MiGs of the Soviet airforce, the F-15 Eagle was never to come up against the foes she was designed to fight. However, in the skies over Iraq, she did get the opportunity to test her abilities against the types of aircraft she was designed to combat.

Designed following the relatively poor performance of America's multi-role fighters during the Vietnam War, the F-15 Eagle was conceived as a dedicated air superiority fighter. But, having trained for 15 years in the Eagle it wasn't Eastern Bloc operated MiGs that the F-15 eventually came up against, but pilots of Saddam Hussein's Iraqi airforce.

This book analyses the combat between the American and Soviet 'Cold War fighters' in a balanced manner, examining how the technical abilities of the aircraft combined with the different levels of training available to opposing pilots and groundcrews allowed the F-15s to destroy the Iraqi offensive abilities within weeks of the First Gulf War starting. Packed with artwork, illustrations and photographs, this book places the reader in the cockpit during one of the last major dogfighting air wars in modern history.

About the Author

Douglas C Dildy retired from the USAF after 26 years of service during which he commanded the 32nd Fighter Squadron and was vice commander of the 33rd Fighter Wing. A graduate of the USAF Academy as a history major and having a masters degree in Political Science, Dildy has authored five books for Osprey - his volume Dunkirk 1940 in the Campaign series was a bestseller. He is a feature writer for Aviation Classics, an associate editor of Logbook and a regular contributor to the Small Air Forces Observer magazines. Doug lives with his wife Ann in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Tom Cooper is the recognised expert on Arab MiG operators in general and, specifically, on Iraqi Air Force (IrAF) operations in combat against Iran and against the US-led coalition in the 1990s. He has co-authored two Osprey books on Iranian F-4 and F- 14 units as well as Osprey Combat Aircraft 44: Arab MiG-19 and MiG-21 Units in Combat. He also co-authored Iran-Iraq War in the Air 1980-1988 and the ongoing (four volumes presently) Arab MiGs series with other publishers. Cooper lives in Olbendorf, Austria.

Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives in New Hampshire. He attended Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut, from 1974-78, and since graduating with Honours, he has been working professionally in the field of Fine Art and Illustration. He has been commissioned to paint for the US Air Force and has aviation paintings on permanent display at the Pentagon.

Gareth Hector is a digital artist of international standing as well as an aviation history enthusiast. Gareth completed the WC