Reddit reviews F-15C Eagle vs MiG-23/25: Iraq 1991 (Duel)

/u/n00bsk00lbus obviously has much more knowledge about this topic than I do, but if you're willing to look for specific examples I can offer you what I think is a 'useful clue': namely, in such case I would recommend a closer study of the first few air combats of the 1991 War.

Don't recall all the details exactly, and my notes are in too big a disorder (plus primarily based on de-briefing Iraqi pilots) but either Kelk or Greater (I think it was Greater, but I tend to mix these two engagements) had significant problems with NCTR-ing his target - which was a pair of low-flying MiG-23s in the process of taking-off.

Eventually, the AWACS authorized him to open fire and he ended claiming a 'possible' against an 'unknown' from a relatively short range (something like 7 miles/ 13km) - but thus also a 'high look-down angle'. It was either AWACS or RC-135 that subsequently declared his target a 'Mirage F.1', resulting in the USAF pilot being granted a 'confirmed kill'.

Actually, the aircraft he shoot down was one of two MiG-23s that scrambled from Sa'ad AB: it was hit only 2km after leaving the runway and while in a climb (the other was shot down by Iraqi air defences).

Re. 'sources of reference'... mostly 1st-hand, i.e. from the work on this volume (which is not discussing the air combat in question, for lack of space): http://www.amazon.com/F-15C-Eagle-versus-MiG-23-25/dp/1472812700?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0