MIKOYAN-GUREVICH MiG-25

NATO reporting name: 'Foxbat'

TYPE:

• Single-seat interceptor, reconnaissance aircraft and two-seat conversion trainer.

PROGRAMME:

• Design started in 1959 as Ye-155P supersonic high-altitude interceptor to counter all potential threats, from cruise missiles to A-11 (SR-71A reconnaissance aircraft) under US development.
• The programme was launched officially in February 1962.
• The Ye-155R reconnaissance version was designed and built in 1961-62 and the Ye-155R-1 is the first to fly on March 6, 1964.
• The Ye-155P-1 interceptor prototype flew on September 9, 1964.
• These two Ye-155s both had R-15B-2-300 engines.
• Type 99 (Ye-155M) experimental aircraft had D-30F6 turbofans.
• Production aircraft became the MiG-25/25R series, which was completed in mid-1980s.

VARIANTS:

(Russian air forces):

MiG-25P 'Foxbat-A'

• Initial version of the MiG-25 Foxbat. Redesignated MiG-25P after entering service in 1970.
• First seen by Western observers at the 1967 Soviet Aviation Day display held at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport.
• The distinctive shape embraces high-set wings incorporating 4° of anhedral, and compound wing swept of 40° inboard and 38° outboard of the outer missile attachments.
• The slim fuselage is dominated by large rectangular inlets on each side that feed air to the two Tumanskii R-15 turbojets mounted side-by-side within the fuselage.
• Four MiG-25Ps were sent to Egypt by the Soviet air force in 1971 to provide reconnaissance support for the Egyptian air force.
• This gave adequate proof over a 4-year period of their invulnerability to interception by Sparrow-armed F-4s of the Israeli air force.

MiG-25RB (Mikoyan Type 02B; `Foxbat-B')

• Single-seat high-altitude reconnaissance-bomber, derived from Ye-155R-1 prototype.
• Production began as MiG-25R (Type 02), for reconnaissance only, in 1969.
• Bombing capability added to redesignated RB in 1970, no guns or air-to-air missiles, and R-15BD-300 turbojets.
• Specially developed automatic bombing system makes all-weather day/night precision attacks possible at supersonic speed from heights above 20,000 m (65,600 ft) against targets with known geographic co-ordinates.
• Able to fly long distances at cruising speed of Mach 2.35, maximum speed of Mach 2.83 with full bomb load.
• This new aircraft differs in a number of detail to the original MiG-25P, the most noticeable externally being the new nose structure housing the five optical cameras carried, and also incorporating a number of flush dielectric panels.
• Other changes include the wing, which has a slightly reduced span and replaces the compound sweep of the MiG-25's leading edge with a planform that constant from wing root to wingtip.
• The five cameras are also complemented by side-looking radar, and other equipment, including an Elint suite and an inertial navigation system with input from a Doppler navigation radar.

MiG-25RBV (Type 02B) and RBT (Type 02T) (`Foxbat-B')

• A MiG-25RB subvariant, with different equipment, including SRS-9 elint on RBV (V for Virazh SLAR) and Tangazh elint on RBT.
• Produced in 1978-82.

MiG-25PU (Type 39; `Foxbat-C')

• Training version of original MiG-25P interceptor.
• Redesigned nose section containing separate cockpit with individual canopy for instructor, forward of standard cockpit and at lower leve.
• No armament, weapon release simulation standard, some systems modified and updated, permitting simulation of failures, no radar in nose, first roll-out in 1968.
• Maximum speed limited to Mach 2.65.

MiG-25RU (Type 22; `Foxbat-C')

• Training version of MiG-25R (reconnaissance aircraft), identical to MiG-25PU except for absence of combat simulation system, no reconnaissance sensors, first roll-out in 1972.

MiG-25RBK (Type 02K; `Foxbat-D')

• Produced simultaneously with RB series in 1971-80.
• Reconnaissance modules contain different elint (K of designation for Kub SLAR) and other avionics and no cameras, modified cockpit, electrical and air conditioning systems, bombing capability retained.

MiG-25RBS (Type 02S; `Foxbat-D')

• As MiG-25RBK but with Sabla SLAR, in production during 1971-77.
• All RBSs upgraded to MiG-25RBSh (Type 02SH) with Shompol SLAR during servicing from 1981.

MiG-25RBF (Type 02F; `Foxbat-D')

• Updated MiG-25RB, conversions from 1981.
• Generally to MiG-25RBK standard, but with Shar elint instead of Kub.

MiG-25BM (Type 02M; `Foxbat-F')

• Defence suppression aircraft derived from MiG-25RB, development started in 1972.
• Produced in 1982-85.
• ECM in place of reconnaissance module in longer nose, underbelly auxiliary fuel tank as MiG-25R series, four Kh-58 (AS-11 `Kilter') anti-radiation missiles underwing to attack surface-to-air missile radars over standoff ranges.
• Weights and performance almost identical to RB.

POWER PLANT:

• Two Soyuz/Tumansky (Tumanskii) R-15BD-300 turbojets, each rated at 86.30 kN (19,400 lb st) dry, 109.75 kN (24,675 lb st) with afterburning.
• Fuel in two welded structural tanks occupying 70 per cent of volume of fuselage, between cockpit and engine bay, in saddle tanks around intake ducts, and in integral tank in each wing.
• Total capacity: 17,660 litres (4,665 US gallons; 3,885 Imp gallons).

SOURCES

• MiG-25
• TOTAVIA
• Bushcat's MiG-25