Hobby Master HA5605 | MIG-25PD "Foxbat" 5th Aerial Squadron AF, Tiyaz AB, 1985

General Background:

The MiG-25 “Foxbat” is a supersonic interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft. The
prototype flew in 1964 and entered service in 1970 with an operational speed of Mach
2.83 but if needed Mach 3.2 possibly damaging the engines. The MiG-25 caused
concern for the U.S. who demanded increases in the performance of the F-15 Eagle
under development. The MiG-25s large wings gave the impression of a highly weight of
the stainless steel used to manufacture the MiG-25.weight of the stainless steel used to
manufacture the MiG-25.

The Aircraft
Worried about the possible downfall of the Syrian Government the Soviet Union signed
an agreement and began to supply arms and aircraft to the Syrian military in April 1978.
The MiG-25PD Foxbat E was being delivered as well as MiG-23MF. MiG-25 Foxbat As
were being upgraded to Foxbat E standards and were called MiG-25PDS. Throughout
the 1980s Syrian had numerous encounters with Israeli fighters. Since the 1990s
MiG-25PDs have been concentrated at Tiyaz in central Syria with the 5th Squadron and
others transferring their MiG-25PDs to the 1st Squadron.

Variants of the MiG-25

MiG-25P Foxbat A
MiG-25RB Foxbat B
MiG-25RBV Foxbat B
MiG-25BBT Foxbat B
MiG-25R Foxbat B
MiG-25PU Foxbat C
MiG-25RU Foxbat C
MiG-25U Foxbat C
MiG-25RBK Foxbat D
MiG-25RBS Foxbat D
MiG-25RBSh Foxbat D
MiG-25RBF Foxbat D
MiG-25PD Foxbat E
MiG-25PDS Foxbat E
MiG-25BM Foxbat F

General Specifications of the MIKOYAN-GUREVICH MiG-25P Foxbat

Number Built – 1,190

Crew – 1 x Pilot

Dimensions
Length – 64 ft 10 in   (19.75 m)
Wingspan – 45 ft 11.5 in   (14.01 m)
Height – 20 ft ¼ in   (6.10 m)

Weight
Empty – 44,080 lb   (20,000 kg)
Loaded – 80,952 lb   (36,720 kg)

Performance
Engines – 2 x Tumansky R-15B-300 afterburning turbojets
Dry Thrust – 16,524 lbf   (73.5 kN) per engine
Afterburner Thrust – 22,494 lbf   (100.1 kN) per engine
Maximum Speed
@ High Altitude – Mach 2.83  1,920 mph   (3,2000 km/h) Mach 3.2   2,170 mph   (3,470
km/h) continuous engine limit
Low Altitude – 746 mph  (1,200 km/h)   (648 kts)
Range
Mission - 1,075 miles   (1,730 km)   (935 nmi)
Ferry – 1,600 miles   (2,575 km)   (1,390 nmi)
Service Ceiling – 67,915 ft   (20,700 m) with 4 missiles
RoC – 40,950 ft/min   (208 m/s)
Time To 65,615 ft   (20,000 m) – 8.9 minutes


Armament
2 x Radar-Guided R-40R (AA-6 “Acrid”) air-to-air missiles
2 x Infrared-Guided R-40T missiles

Avionics
RP-25 Smerch radar
RV-UM or RV-4 radar altimeter