Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25

The Mikoyan‑Gurevich MiG‑25, nicknamed “Foxbat”, entered service in 1970 as the Soviet Union’s answer to high‑speed American reconnaissance and interceptor aircraft. Designed by the Mikoyan design bureau, later known as Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG, the MiG‑25 was built around a pair of powerful Tumansky R‑15A-300 turbo‑jet engines capable of producing thrust at afterburner, enabling sustained speeds above Mach 2.8 and a ceiling exceeding 20 km. Its titanium‑rich airframe allowed operation at extreme temperatures generated during supersonic flight. There were two main variants: the interceptor MiG‑25P, equipped with radar and air‑to‑air missiles for engaging high‑altitude threats, and the reconnaissance version MiG‑25R, housing cameras and electronic‑intelligence pods. The aircraft set several world records, including a 1973 flight of 3 393 km at Mach 2.83. Although its maneuverability was limited, the MiG‑25’s sheer speed and altitude forced NATO to redesign its own fighters and alter strategic planning during the Cold War. Today the MiG‑25 remains a symbol of Soviet engineering ambition and a milestone in the development of high‑altitude jet aircraft. More than 1,200 units were built, serving not only the USSR but also allied air forces in East Germany, Iraq, and Syria, and the type’s influence can be seen in later platforms such as the MiG‑31.

Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25

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