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Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 (Foxbat)
The MiG-25 Foxbat was designed to intercept the ill-fated American XB-70 Valkyrie bomber.
By Staff Writer
The MiG-25 Foxbat was designed as a high-speed pure interceptor to combat the developing XB-70 Valkyrie American bomber capable of Mach 3. Though the Valkyrie never materialized for US war planners, the MiG-25 was kept in production and became one of the fastest aircraft in the world.
The MiG-25 (NATO codename of "Foxbat") held various altitude and speed records when it was first unveiled. The aircraft was capable of near Mach 3 speeds at Mach 2.8 and could hit altitudes well above 120,000 feet. The system was powered by two Tumansky turbojet engines that produced a combined thrust of nearly 50,000lbs. The system was crewed by two and featured a powerful onboard target tracking and weapons delivery system.
Far from being the consummate dogfighter, the MiG-25 was designed as a stand-off interceptor. The aircraft was assisted by ground control radar until its system radar could actively track the target. From there, the Foxbat had the capability of reaching high altitudes in a matter of minutes. The system could then attack an air target from up to 50 miles away and engage it with its 20 foot long air-to-air Acrid missiles.
Flying at such high speeds at altitude required the body of the aircraft to be made of nickel and titanium due to intense heat buildup. The aircraft was also a fuel guzzler and could only achieve Mach 3 flight speed for if only a little while. None the less, the system was potent as the interceptor it was designed for.
A further development of the air-to-air Foxbat came in the form of the MiG-25PD which was a long-range, high-speed, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. This system would be featured greatly throughout the Cold War as the Americans unveiled their Mach 3-capable high-speed, high-altitude Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird spyplane. From there, the system would be fielded throughout the fronts of the Soviet Union.
The Foxbat eventually made it into export hands, in particular with Egyptian forces against Israel. Iraq also fielded the type in the first Persian Gulf War against coalition forces, accounting for the single Iraqi aerial victory over a United States Navy F/A-18 Hornet. From there, the system served a limited, albeit important, role for the Soviet Union and its satellite states.
Text ©2003-2010 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved •
No Reproduction Without Permission • Corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com
Last Revision: 7/21/2009
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| Specifications for the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25P (Foxbat) |
 Dimensions: |
Length: 78.15ft (23.82m)
Width:45.77ft (13.95m)
Height: 20.01ft (6.10m)
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| Performance: |
About MACH |
Max Speed: 1,849mph (2,975kmh; 1,606kts)
Max Range: 699miles (1,125km)
Rate-of-Climb: 50,000ft/min (15,240m/min)
Service Ceiling: 80,003ft (24,385m; 15.2miles)
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| Structure: |
Accommodation: 1
Hardpoints: 4
Empty Weight: 44,092lbs (20,000kg)
MTOW: 79,807lbs (36,200kg)
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| Powerplant: |
| Engine(s): 2 x Tumansky R-31 turbojet engines with afterburn generating 24,250lbs of thrust each. |
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| Armament Suite: |
Mission-specific armament usually centered around a standard array of air-to-air missiles as in the following:
4 x AA-6 (R-40) Acrid air-to-air missiles
Alternative interceptor arrangement may have been: 2 x AA-7 (R-23) Apex air-to-air missiles WITH 2 x AA-8 (R-60) Aphid air-to-air missiles
Other armament may have included: 4 x AA-11 (R-73A) Archer air-to-air missiles OR 4 x AS-11 (Kh-58) Kilter anti-radiation missiles
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| Pictures of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 (Foxbat) |
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Aircraft Quick Profile |
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| 1972 |
Designation: Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 (Foxbat)
Classification Type: Interceptor / Reconnaissance Aircraft
Contractor: Mikoyan-Gurevich - Soviet Union
Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Production Total: 1,190 |
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Operators: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, India, Iraq, Libya, Soviet Union, Russia and Syria.
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| Variants |
Ye-155R-1 - Reconnaissance Prototype Designation
Ye-166P-1 - Interceptor Prototype Designation
Ye-266 - Reconnaissance Prototype Designation
Ye-266M - Interceptor Prototype Designation
MiG-25P - Initial Production Interceptor Model
MiG-25R "Foxbat-A" - Reconnaissance Production Variant.
MiG-25RB "Foxbat-B" - Operational-Level Reconnaissance Bomber Variant.
MiG-25PU "Foxbat-C" - Two-seat Conversion Trainer
MiG-25 "Foxbat-D" - Improved Reconnaissance Aircraft Variant.
MiG-25PD "Foxbat-E" - Improved radar capability; Some were converted and upgraded Foxbat-A models.
MiG-25BM "Foxbat-F" - Air-Defense Suppression Model featuring improved radar functionality and provisions for AS-11 Kilter anti-radiation missiles.
MiG-31 "Foxhound" - Based on MiG-25 capabilities but with improved radar systems, improved weaponry and multi-targeting capability.
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