Iranian Tomcat pilots certainly weren’t scared of nor had any problems swatting them down either.
Remember that americans tried to shoot it down with latest F-14D in IRAQ, but all in vane.
And F-14D had much better radar and electronics than F-14A.
If you want to determine just how effective the MiG-25P was, we should really look at it’s kill/loss ratio. An unsurpassed aircraft of such awesome performance and excellent capability must surely have a dominant kill/loss ratio, right?
No SOC. You can not look at this issue that way.
Would you say that P-51 was better fighter that Me-262?
It certainly achieved better kill/loss ratio than jet.
The Me-262 was greatly outnumbered in air combat. In such enviroment it couldn’t achieve better results.
But only ignorant would say that it was not the best fighter of the war.
Such is the case with MiG-25 also. It was greatly outnumbered in every conflict, with total EW and surveylance domination of enemy. (AWACS, etc).
In such enviroments you could not compare kill/loss ratios objectively.
The fact is that when in its cruise altitudes and speed, the Mig-25 is untouchable by any A-A weapon. It is vulnerable only in climb or during descent.
Just like M-262 in its time.
“It flew extensively over Western bloc countries”.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/07/stories/2006040704221500.htm
It flew over West Europe.
You do realise the flight profiles that would have been flown around NATO countries? Cutting corners along certain borders is not flying with impunity. Firebar, no doubt you believe that MiG-25s did deep penetration flights into Europe and directly over NATO coutries? It didn’t.
You do not believe former american inteligence officer, Tom Gervasi. He stated this in his book.
LOL. I understand Firebar’s obsession though….I feel the same way
about the CF-105 Arrow and XF-108 Rapier. 😀
The obsession is not the right word,realy.
As aeronautical engineer I know what it takes to build such aircraft.
To satisfy many contradicting requirements:
-propulsion system which can tolerate such extreme temperatures, airframe which can endure such temperatures and 11g overloads without breaking, electronics, radar and hydraulics which can endure 300 degrees C temperatures, underwing missiles which can withstand such exteme enviroment.
And all this combined with ability to maneuver as normal figher a/s, rolls, loops,Immelmans, zoom climbs, split-S, fast dives, etc,etc,
These are, from engineering point of view, contradicting requirements almost impossible to satisfy.
Understandably, those not familiar with aircraft design, flight mechanics and propulsion systems, do not understand this.
The USA didn’t need hard currency the way Russia did, which is why you’d never see rides being sold on SR-71.
Do you realy believe that such flights were possible in SR-71: Rools, loops, Immelmans, zoom climbs, and with civilians aboard !!
Do you know that SR-71 was limited to 2.5 G, that it was not cleared to any normal fighter maneuver, much less with civilians aboard.
That its engines could not tolerate any but mild maneuver, or unstarts occured, etc,etc.
That is not matter of hard currency.
I’m not sure why you’re trying to compare an interceptor with a spy plane, as the Mig didn’t have the same capabilities in that role.
See what Indian AF say of Mig-25 capabilities.
In terms of agility, are you suggesting that the Mig 25 is performing the maneuevers that you mentioned while flying at Mach 3?
Of course not at 3 Mach, but it is the only Mach 3 a/c ever which could do this maneuvers. That is the point.
I would guess even an F-111 could out manuever a Mig 25.
Why do you think so?
Maneuverability is not merely turn radius.
Note that FW-190 was more maneuverable than Spit 5, in spite of laters tighter turning radius.
It is the turn rate and handling at higher alpha which counts. The ability to change flight direction fast.
In supersonic maneuverability, the Mig-25 is unsurpassed.
It achieved almost 3000 km/h speed in closed circuit of mere 100 km.!!!
The Mig-25 is designed to be maneuverable at subsonic speeds also, not as Mig-21, of course, but for any Mach 3 a/c, very maneuverable indeed.
It has variable geometry lower intake lip. It is used to control airstreem at lower speeds, at higher angle of attacks. It is very complex system used also to control intake airspeed at higher speeds.
That was not found in any west fighter.
It has special vanes which control airstreem in the middle of airduct, also not found in any west aircraft.
Because of that, it do not suffer from unstarts.
When you combine that with transsonic compresor, with no western equivalent (as has been noted in International Defense Review after Mig examination in Japan 1976), you will get a very unique a/c.
It is one incredible solution. A propulsion system capable of Mach 3 and in the same time capable of all normal fighter maneuvers: loops, rolls,split-s, zoom climbs, Immelmans,etc.
That is something not found in any western Mach 3 aircraft, whether in service or experimental.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/02/stories/2006050201992000.htm
No missile could catch it.
Indian Air Force statement:
“The IAF’s decision to decommission the plane was taken four years ago as the Air Force faced immense difficulty in obtaining spares.
It was a terrific plane… neither an aircraft nor a missile could chase,” Air Vice Marshal Sumit Mukurjhee said. The IAF had, in early 1981.”
http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/02/stor…0201992000.htm
There is no missile which could chase Mig-25. It is too fast and maneuverable.
According to IAF.
In its design enviroment, at above 20 km altitudes , it is surprisingly nimble.
There are reports of american pilots, which have opportunity to fly Mig-25 in Moscow, that it is extremely maneuverable at very high altitudes.
In one report it is said that:
“It has handling characteristics, at above 20 km, as if it has Reaction Control System.”
(It is the system found in X-15 for very high altitudes maneuvering.)
But the Mig-25 achieves that maneuverability with aerodynamic controls only.
A truly amazing achievement, indeed.
At that heights, the SR-71 is so sensitive, by the nature of its propulsion system, that it has to fly streight line, only.
IAF also underline its high altitude maneuverability:
It can do Immelmans, rolls, split S, loops, all fighter maneuvers, thanks to its unique propulsion system and excellent handling abilities.
And it does it so securely that the Russians even offer any civilians to fly it.!!!
It is surely incredible for a Mach 3 aircraft.
Can anybody imagine Blackbird flights offered for civilians and for maneuvering!!!!
IAF MIG-25 speed:
Over Israel at more than 3 Mach with no problems whatsoever.
40 minutes at max power.
Indian Air Force Mig-25 capabilities:
Indian Mig-25, at Pune Air Force Academy:
Mach 3.2 and excellent handling abilities.