Foxbat - Twin-engine interceptor/fighter. Two Tumansky R-31 turbojets, 24,250 lb. st. with AB. No cannon, up to four externally-mounted AAMs. Entered service in 1966.
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-25 lacked technological refinement, but its performance caused much concern in the west. Also used as reconaissance aircraft, which in the Middle-East proved invulnerable for the Israeli F-4 Phantom IIs. The MiG bureau once contemplated a six-seat transport development...
See MiG-25 story.

Protitypes:
• E-26

Modifications:
• E-155/E-266 - with D-30 or R-15 engine.
• MiG-31 - much more capable 2-seat interceptor.
• and MiG-25R/RB - Production of basic MiG-25 begun in 1969. In 1970 bombing capability was added and became standard on MiG-25RB. An automatic bombing system added all-weather precision attack capability at supersonic speeds from heights of >65,000 ft. MiG-25RB can be fitted with one of the reconnaissance/elint packs or airborne side-looking radar. 85 MiG-25RB are in serevice today. Aircraft has two R-15BD-300 engines and 4,800 gal of fuel internally (1,400 gal external tank can be fitted). The exceptional advantages of the MiG-25RB and RBV were greatly appreciated by their operators: extent of the ground area swept during a single flight by either the cameras or the elint equipment, high-speed long-distance flight, and near invulnerability to air defenses of the time. On March 26, 1971 MiG-25 achieved a dash speed of Mach 3.2 at 63,000 ft (19,200 m). On subsequent flights an altitude of 73,000 ft (22,250 m) was achieved. In October of 1971 two soviet MiG-25 made reconnaissance flights Sinai and Israel. On both occasions Israeli F-4E Phantoms failed in an attempted intercept.
  Performance:
  max speed at altitude Mach 2.83, at S/L Mach 0.98, ceiling 68,900 ft, range 1,015 miles (supersonic/internal fuel), 1,490 miles (subsonic, with external fuel tank).
• Foxbat-C (Perehvatchik Uchebnij) - Trainer-Interceptor with second seat replacing the radar. Looks quite odd...
  More: .
• MiG-25PD Foxbat-E - Two 11200kg Mikulin-Tumansky R-15BD-300. Speed of 3000km/h+ , M2.83 with external tanks. 1973.

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Story: from «Air Fleet Herald».