| MiG-25 | |
|---|---|
 A MiG-25PU two-seat trainer | |
| General information | |
| Type | Interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft |
| National origin | Soviet Union |
| Manufacturer | Mikoyan-Gurevich / Mikoyan |
| Status | In limited service within the Syrian Air Force and the Libyan Air Force |
| Primary users | Soviet Air Defence Forces (historical) |
| Number built | 1,186[1] |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1964–1984 |
| Introduction date | 1970 |
| First flight | 6 March 1964 |
| Developed into | Mikoyan MiG-31 |
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 (Russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-25; NATO reporting name: Foxbat) is a supersonic interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft that is among the fastest military aircraft to enter service. Designed by the Soviet Union's Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau, it is an aircraft built primarily using stainless steel. It was to be the last plane designed by Mikhail Gurevich, before his retirement.[2]
The first prototype flew in 1964 and the aircraft entered service in 1970. Although its thrust was sufficient to reach Mach 3.2+, its speed was limited to prevent engines from overheating at higher air speeds and possibly seriously damaging them, and therefore the operational top speed was limited to Mach 2.83.[3][4] The MiG-25 features a powerful radar and four air-to-air missiles, and it still has the world record for reached altitude of 38 km (125,000 ft).
The appearance of the MiG-25 sparked concern in the West and prompted increases in performance requirements for the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, then already under development in the late 1960s.[5] The capabilities of the MiG-25 were better understood by the West in 1976 when Soviet pilot Viktor Belenko defected in a MiG-25 to the United States via Japan.
Production of the MiG-25 series ended in 1984 after completion of 1,186 aircraft. A symbol of the Cold War, the MiG-25 flew with Soviet allies and former Soviet republics, remaining in limited service in several export customers. It is one of the highest-flying military aircraft,[6] one of the fastest serially produced interceptor aircraft,[7] and the second-fastest serially produced aircraft after the SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft, which was built in very small numbers compared to the MiG-25.[8] As of 2018[update], the MiG-25 remains the fastest manned serially produced aircraft in operational use and the fastest plane that was offered for supersonic flights and edge-of-space flights to civilian customers.[9][8]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Wilsonwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ L. Egenburg, A. Saweljew (1993). "Das G im Wörtchen "MiG": Michail Josifowitsch Gurjewitsch". Fliegerrevue. 5. ISSN 0941-889X.
- ^ "Intelligence: Big-Mouth Belenko". Time, 11 October 1976. Retrieved: 12 June 2021.
- ^ Gunston and Spick pp. 132–133.
- ^ Michel, Marshall. The Revolt of the Majors: How the Air Force Changed After Vietnam. p. 88.
- ^ "Powered Aeroplanes". fai.org. Archived from the original on 10 May 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
- ^ FlyFighterJet (6 October 2011). "Fastest Plane in the World". FlyFighterJet.com – Fly a Jet, Fighter Jet Rides in Supersonic MiG-29. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
- ^ a b "Global Aircraft – Top 50 Fastest Aircraft." The Global Aircraft Organization, 24 April 2007. Retrieved: 30 June 2011.
- ^ "The 10 Fastest Aircraft in the World". MiGFlug.com Blog. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2018.