The spy satellite photos created real panic in the Pentagon! An enormous Soviet airplane–probably an interceptor–with engine intakes the size of small cars. The wings were huge, which suggested it had maneuverability far beyond anything America’s McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II could achieve. The Pentagon was looking at the prototypes of what would become the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 Foxbat. After the airplane appeared in public for the first time in July 1967 and went on a record-setting spree, it appeared the Soviets had a wonder weapon that could match the best in the West–the Mach 3.2 Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird spy plane. This was a terrifying development. That is, if it were true…
NOTES:
The MiG 25 terrified the West until a defector exposed its true nature
This legendary Soviet aircraft’s engines were basically two missiles jammed into a fuselage
Great episode, guys! Probably the most redeeming feature of the MiG 25, for NATO anyway, was the jet’s very large radar cross-section…we never had to worry about a sneak attack from this baby…we saw her coming half a world away!
I remember the Belenko defection in 1976! I was in the USAF stationed in GB. Imagine everyone’s surprise when they discovered the agile Russian superfighter was just a heavy hulking mass of steel! Good times!
Why does a country known for such beautiful architecture make such ugly aircraft?