KerbalX

Description

Summary: Supersonic interceptor and reconnaisance aircraft. Introduced in 1970, operational top speed of Mach 2.83 (3.2 possible but risking damage). One of the highest flying, and second fastest military aircraft ever (after the SR-71).

Details

• Type: SPH
• Class: aircraft
• Part Count: 82
• Pure Stock

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 (Nato reporting name: Foxbat) is a supersonic interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft that remains one of the fastest military aircraft ever to have entered service. It was also one of the few such aircraft to be built primarily of stainless steel, and the last plane to have been personally designed by Mikhail Gurevich himself.
~
The MiG-25 emerged as a result of efforts to counter US high-altitude reconnaissance Lockheed U-2 spy planes (see model), and high altitude American nuclear bombers including the B-47 Stratojet, B-52 Stratofortress (see Model), and increasingly fast bombers such as the Mach 2 Convair B-58 Hustler and Mach 3 North American B-70 Valkyrie.

Work began in mid 1959, a year before Soviet intelligence learned of the even faster A-12 reconnaissance aircraft (older brother to the Boeing SR-71 Blackbird, see model) .

Various designs were evaluated, including designs with side-by-side engine arrangements (such as on the MiG-19), stepped engine arrangements, and vertically stacked engines (similar to those on the English Electric Lightning, see model). Ultimately these latter options were rejected, as they would complicate maintenance.
~
Ultimately, exotic ideas such as VTOL, swing-wing configurations, and unconventional engine arrangements were rejected, and the design of the MiG-25 followed fairly conventional lines. It became apparent that the thermal stress incurred in flight above Mach-2 would require different materials to be used. To reduce expense, nickel-steel was chosen as the predominant material for construction of the wings and fuselage, comprising 80% of the plane, with a further 11% aluminium, and only 9% titanium.

The MiG-25 was powered by two Tumansky R-15B-300 afterburning turbojets, producing 100kN each, on afterburner. This produced an operational top speed of Mach 2.83 at high altitude, or Mach 3.2 for short periods, at risk of damage to the engines. Intended solely for interception, the MiG-25 was equipped with radar-guided, and infrared guided air-to-air missiles.
~
Western intelligence initially misidentified the MiG-25 as an agile air-combat fighter rather than an interceptor, leading the USA to start the programme which ultimately resulted in the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. NATO learned more about the MiG-25’s capabilities in 1976, when a Soviet pilot defected, landing his MiG-25P in Japan. This plane was carefully dismantled, alylysed, and then returned to the Soviets in pieces. The examination of the MiG-25 revealed that it was essentially built around the massive Tumansky R-15(B) turbojets, had a short range (186 miles) and was built for speed and altitude rather than maneuverability.
~
For the most part, Western experience of the Foxbat was limited to fleeting glimpses on radar. Notable engagements included a confrontation between Syrian Mig-25s and Israeli F-15s in the early 1980s.
The MiG-25 did see significant action during the Iran-Iraq War, successfully shooting down Iranian F-4s, F-5s, C-130s, and F-14s. During this conflict, Iraqi MiG-25s also faced off against Syrian MiG-21s.
~
The United States finally faced the MiG-25 in armed conflict in the Gulf War. A U.S. Navy F/A-18 was shot down by an Iraqi Mig-25 on the first night of the war. Subsequently, a number of engagements between MiG-25s and American F-15s and F-16s yielded mixed results. The MiG-25 was mostly ill-suited to going head-to-head with fighters, but its great speed meant it was often able to out-run missiles launched at it.

~
The last occasion when the MiG-25 left a mark on history was in 2002, when an Iraqi MiG-25 shot down a USAF unmanned MQ-1 Predator drone undertaking armed reconnaissance in preparation for the 2003 invasion. This marked the first time in history that an unmanned drone was engaged in air-to-air combat. The Iraqi fleet of MiG-25s played no role during the 2003 invasion, mostly being either hidden, or destroyed on the ground.
Similarly, during the Libyan Civil War of 2011, all of the Libyan government’s sizable fleet of MiG-25s were grounded, lacking maintainance, and so were unable to interfere with NATO efforts to enforce a no-fly-zone. Knowing they were harmless, NATO deliberately spared the MiG-25s, so that they could ultimately be brought back into service by the new internationally recognised Libyan Government forces.
~
Full scale production of the MiG-25 lasted from 1969 - 1984, then being succeeded by the derivative MiG-31. In total 1,190 were produced - used by the USSR, its allies, and other willing buyers. The USSR continued to use the plane until its collapse, with the Russian Federation continuing to use the plane, to a limited extent, up to the modern day. Other modern operators include Algeria (13 in service as of December 2016) and Syria (2 in service as of December 2016). Former operators include Armenia, Bulgaria (1982-1991), Belarus (up to 1995), India (1981 - 2006), Iraq, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Libya, Turkmenistan and Ukraine.

A stock aircraft called MiG-25 ‘Foxbat’. Built with 82 of the finest parts. Part of the #AedsPlanes Starter Pack.
~
For more awesome planes, why not download a few mods and check out the full range of #AedsPlanes models!

AedsPlanes are replicas of historic aircraft built as accurately as possible, and usually to 1:1 scale. Enjoy the experience of being a real Kerbal Airforce pilot!
(For added immersion, install flag mod World Aircraft Insignia by ChaseAEd and add real airforce roundels to your planes).