This was the USSR’s answer to the design in the US of fast, high-flying aircraft as the B-70, F-108 and SR-71. The MiG-25s were presented for the first time to the public in July 1967. The MiG-25 lacked ’technological refinement’ (in Western terms this means ’is simple’), but its performance caused much concern in the West, which reacted with (surprisingly similar in layout) F-15 Eagle. Also used as reconnaissance aircraft, which in the Middle-East proved invulnerable for the Israeli F-4 Phantom IIs.
Originated from line of experimental interceptors Ye-150, Ye-151, Ye-152, the first MiG-25P took off on September 6, 1964 as the Ye-155P-1. Powerful engines and choice of airframe materials (80% steel, 8% - titanium alloys, 11% - aluminum alloys, 1% - other) allowed to built the fastest interceptor of the time.
Production of MiG-25P started in 1969. In 1978 upgraded MiG-25PD rolled out, equipped with heat-seeker TP-23 in addition to more powerful Pulse-Doppler radar (Sapfir-25 instead Smerch-A). Early production MiG-25P were modified later to became the MiG-25PDS.
| Technical Data | Photos |
| Role | Multi-purpose jet fighter | | Ceiling, m | 37,000 | | Range with max.payload, km | 1,260 | | Range with max.fuel, km | 2,575 | | Max speed, kmph | 3,000 | | Empty mass, kg | 20,000 | | Maximum take-off mass, kg | 35,000 | | Wing area, m2 | 56.8 | | Wingspan, m | 15 | | Lenght, m | 25 | | Engines | 2 Mikulin-Tumansky R-31, 123.0kN | | Crew, prs | 1 | | 
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