Trivia

During the film's closing credits, Israel declared its victory during the Six Day War where the Israeli Air Force evaluated the captured MiG that Munir Redfa flew with during his defection. Also, the captured MiG was loaned to the United States Air Force in January 1968 where they also evaluated it (during the same time period when USAF and Navy aircraft (primarily the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II) were deployed to Vietnam and they were suffering heavy losses where the lighter MiGs had a greater maneuverability which led to the development of the Have Doughnut program where the Dissimilar Aircraft Combat Training was developed (that became the USAF's Red Flag program and the U.S. Navy's Fighter Weapons School later known as Top Gun). The USAF later returned the MiG back to Israel where it has became a museum display. Two years after the Six Day War, the IAF, who have also been a participant in the MiG evaluation along with its participation with the Have Doughnut program, acquired the F-4 Phantom II.

This is the first production entry under the HBO-Paramount co-financing agreement launched in 1987.

Despite playing an Iraqi Assyrian pilot, Ben Cross was of Irish and English descent. Despite playing Iraqi President Abdul Salam Arif, Ted Kaesong is of Ukrainian Jewish descent. Although Helen Mason is Jewish, Mariel Hemingway is of English and German descent. Andreas Katsulas, playing an Arab character, was of Greek descent. Ronald Guttman is Ashkenazi Jewish and Sasson Gabai is of Iraqi Jewish descent, with Etti Ankri being of Tunisian Jewish descent. Naafi Salach is also Jewish.