MiG-25also known as “Foxbat”, is hypersonic fighter i reconnaissance plane Soviet construction. Built mainly for intercepting American strategic bombers and spy planessuch as the B-58 Hustler, U-2, and SR-71 Blackbird. The MiG-25 was introduced into service in 1970 and could reach speeds of up to above Mach 3which made it one of the fastest aircraft in the world at the time.
Unusually large airplane wings made the Americans think that the MiG-25 was much more agile than in reality. Propaganda campaigns and keeping the machine a top secret by the USSR did not help in understanding its real capabilities. This led to considerable concern and caused, among other things, a drastic change in the requirements for the development of the F-15 fighter.
September 6, 1976 one of the most sensational events of the Cold War took place – Lieutenant Viktor Bielenkoa Soviet MiG-25 pilot, deserted, landing unexpectedly in Japan.
Bielenko, during a routine training mission rose to a considerable heightafter which suddenly broke ranks and diving down, he directed his plane towards a distant object, about 700 km Japanflying most of the time about 30 m above the Sea of Japanto avoid being detected by radar. On the way he was intercepted by a pair of Japanese F-4 Phantomsbut finally, having fuel for more 30 seconds of flight landed on Hakodate Civil Airportstunned Japanese air traffic controllers.
The pilot handed it over at the airport two warning shots with his pistol to drive the civilians away from the machine, and then he surrendered to the policeWhen he was taken in for questioning, he only asked for the plane to be covered with canvas because it was secret Soviet technology.
Belenko’s defection gave the Americans an incredible opportunity to examine in detail the machine that had previously been considered very agile and modern fighter. However, a close examination of Soviet technology revealed that the MiG-25, while impressively fast, had many limitations. These included, among others: outdated electronics based on electron tubesWhether the use of materials that, due to their weight, negatively affected its maneuverability. The quality of the machine’s workmanship, full of manual welds, and its acceleration were also rated low.
When American specialists disassembled and examined every part of the plane, they packed it into about 40 cratesafter which sent to the Soviets with a transportation bill of $40,000. However, it was never paid. After recovering the fighter, the USSR complained that the crates were missing about 20 components.
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