TITLE:
MIKOYAN
MiG-25
NATO
reporting name: 'Foxbat'
TYPE:
Single-seat
interceptor, reconnaissance aircraft and two-seat
conversion
trainer.
PROGRAMME:
Design
started 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; programme launched officially February 1962;
Ye-155R reconnaissance version designed and built 1961-62; Ye-155R-1 first to
fly 6 March 1964; Ye-155P-1 interceptor prototype flew 9 September 1964; the
two Ye-155s had R-15B-2-300 engines; Type 99 (Ye-155M) experimental aircraft
had D-30F6 turbofans; early history in previous editions of Jane's; production,
as MiG-25/25R series, completed mid-1980s. Interceptor versions replaced by
MiG-31s in Russian Air Force.
VARIANTS:
(Russian
air forces): 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; R-15BD-300
turbojets; any one of three interchangeable photographic/elint modules, with
five camera windows and flush dielectric panels, carried aft of small
dielectric nosecap, instead of interceptor's Smertch radar; slightly reduced
wing span; wing leading-edge sweep constant 41° from root to tip; first
aircraft produced in former USSR with INS updated by Doppler; specially
developed automatic bombing system makes possible all-weather day/night
precision attacks at supersonic speed from heights above 20,000 m (65,600 ft)
against targets with known geographic co-ordinates, carrying 2,000 to 5,000 kg
(4,410 to 11,020 lb) of 500 kg bombs under wings and fuselage, depending on
aircraft series; SRS-4B elint equipment; fuel tank in each fin, providing
additional 700 litres (185 US gallons; 154 Imp gallons) capacity; provision for
5,300 litre (1,400 US gallon; 1,165 Imp gallon) underbelly tank; able to fly
long distances at cruising speed of Mach 2.35, maximum speed of Mach 2.83 with
full bomb load.
MiG-25RBV
(Type 02B) and RBT (Type 02T) (`Foxbat-B'): As MiG-25RB, with different
equipment, including SRS-9 elint on RBV (V for Virazh SLAR) and Tangazh elint
on RBT. Produced 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 level; no armament; weapon
release simulation standard; some systems modified and updated, permitting
simulation of failures; no radar in nose; first roll-out 1968; maximum speed
limited to Mach 2.65.
MiG-25RU
(Type 22; `Foxbat-C'): Training version of MiG-25R; identical to MiG-25PU
except for absence of combat simulation system; no reconnaissance sensors;
first roll-out 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
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 1972; produced 1982-85; ECM in place of reconnaissance
module in 0.72 m (2 ft 4{1/4} in) longer nose, with dielectric panel each side;
small blister each side at rear of radome; dielectric panel at front of each
outboard weapon pylon; 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.
CUSTOMERS:
Russia
retains 40 for reconnaissance and ECM; Algeria (`Foxbat-A/B'); India
(`Foxbat-B/C'); Iraq (`Foxbat-A'); Libya (`Foxbat-A/B/E'); Syria
(`Foxbat-A/B').
Abbreviated
description follows; full details of MiG-25 series in 1995-96 Jane's.
POWER
PLANT:
Two
Soyuz/Tumansky 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, filling
almost entire volume inboard of outer fence; total capacity 17,660 litres
(4,665 US gallons; 3,885 Imp gallons); single-point fuelling; provision for
5,300 litre (1,400 US gallon; 1,165 Imp gallon) underbelly tank.
ACCOMMODATION:
Pilot
only, on KM-1 zero-height/70 to 675 knots (130 to 1,250 km/h; 80 to 775 mph)
ejection seat. Canopy hinged to open sideways, to starboard.
DIMENSIONS:
EXTERNAL:
Wing
span: MiG-25RB: 13.38 m (43 ft 10{3/4} in)
Length
overall: MiG-25R: 21.55 m (70 ft 8{1/2} in)
Height
overall: MiG-25R: 6.50 m (21 ft 4 in)
Tailplane
span: MiG-25R: 8.74 m (28 ft 8 in)
Wheel
track: 3.85 m (12 ft 7{1/2} in)
Wheelbase:
5.14 m (16 ft 10{1/2} in)
WEIGHTS:
AND
LOADINGS:
Max
internal fuel: R series: 15,245 kg (33,609 lb)
Take-off
weight: R series, normal: 37,000 kg (81,570 lb)
R
series, max: 41,200 kg (90,830 lb)
Max
landing weight: R series: 24,000 kg (52,910 lb)
Max wing
loading:
R
series: 671.0 kg/m{2} (137.43 lb/sq ft)
Max
power loading: R series: 187 kg/kN (1.84 lb/lb st)
PERFORMANCE:
(R
series):
Max
permitted Mach No. at height: 2.83
Max
level speed:
at
13,000 m (42,650 ft ,620 kts (3,000 km/h; 1,865 mph)
at S/L
Mach 0.98 (647 kts; 1,200 km/h; 745 mph)
Landing
speed: 140-151 kts (260-280 km/h; 161-174 mph)
Time to
19,000 m (62,335 ft): clean: 6.6 min
with
2,000 kg (4,410 lb) of bombs: 8.2 min
Service
ceiling: clean: 21,000 m (68,900 ft)
Range
with max internal fuel:
Supersonic:
882 n miles (1,635 km; 1,015 miles)
Subsonic:
1,006 n miles (1,865 km; 1,158 miles)
Range
with 5,300 litre external tank:
Supersonic:
1,150 n miles (2,130 km; 1,323 miles)
Subsonic:
1,295 n miles (2,400 km; 1,491 miles)
LENGTH
(m) : 21.55
HEIGHT
(m) : 6.50
WING
SPAN (m) : 13.38
MAX WING
LOAD (kg/m{2}) : 671.00
MAX
LEVEL SPEED (knots) : 1620
MAX
RANGE (nm) : 1295
SERVICE
CEILING (m) : 21000