MiG-25 - the king of interceptors

The MiG-25 is a Soviet supersonic fighter-interceptor, created at the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau in the 1960s.
The aircraft was created as the main component of the unified air defense system of the USSR and was supposed to neutralize the threat of high-speed high-altitude penetration by supersonic strategic bombers and reconnaissance aircraft of the US Air Force, such as the A-12, SR-71 and XB-70. The MiG-25, capable of flying at altitudes of up to 25 km at speeds of up to 3000 km/h, has won many world records and is considered one of the fastest aircraft in the world.
The MiG-25 family had many modifications: the basic MiG-25P interceptor and MiG-25R reconnaissance aircraft, as well as two-seat variants, bombers, carriers of special missiles, and so on.
More than 1,190 aircraft were produced between 1969 and 1985, some of which were exported to several countries in the Middle East and Asia. At the moment, most of the fleet has been removed from service.
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00:00 - Interceptor League Champion
00:46 - Threats and solutions
04:15 - Supersonic heart
06:09 - E-150 and E-152
07:34 - E-155
10:50 - Power plant
12:16 - Steel body
13:34 - Fuel
15:14 - Cockpit and equipment
16:54 - Alcohol
17:43 - Birth of the MiG-25
18:36 - FoxBat
20:00 - Taming of the stallion
20:55 - Production
22:07 - Flights and weapons
30:10 - MiG-25 and SR-71
33:12 - Hijacking and its consequences
37:06 - Combat experience
42:03 - Energia-Buran
40:43 - The age of speed

[@tommytwotacos8106]

That crazy machine has a landing speed of 186mph! Can you imagine that? That fact that these guys didn't routinely pancake their planes just trying to set them down is a real tribute to their skill and their testicular fortitude.

[@ThomasBestonso-zr4ko]

The one thing I never understood is why a country with a plethora of titanium, built a steel airframe ?

[@loveandforward2870]

@@ThomasBestonso-zr4ko As a CNC machinist I can tell you that titanium is exceedingly difficult and time consuming to machine.

[@batmanmarvel]

Because it’s mass build machine

[@loveandforward2870]

@@batmanmarvel Yes, maintaining and repairing a titanium frame would be an absolute nightmare.

[@batmanmarvel]

@@loveandforward2870 🤝 It's one thing to build two planes, another thing is to provide the army with thousands of migs

[@mohb1818]

I was serving as operator of MIM-23 Hawk anti aircraft missile system during 80's Iran-Iraq war, I was witnessing Iraqi MiG-25 bombers (reconnaissance version converted to high altitude bomber) entered Iranian aerospace at ultra high altitude immune to our interceptors and missiles, to save fuel, halfway through their mission they throttle engines to idle and simply glided toward furthest targets deep into Iranian territories, bombed them and turn around in a big big circle (for not loosing energy and speed) and return back to Iraq while still ideling and gliding, still have enough altitude to be safe, a genius tactic changing relatively short range aircraft to very long range bomber. they adopted this tactic from Russian when the Soviet reconnaissance MiG-25s entered Iranian aerospace in same manner to gather Intel from Iranian F-14 base in Isfahan and CIA facilities inside Iran in 70's, gliding across whole country and land in Oman.

[@alfa99121]

Fascinating info

[@hotstepper887]

True, this is when we saw a MiG-25, tracked, flying over Sinai at Mach 3.2 during this period

[@piotrd.4850]

@@hotstepper887 I believe that triggered really hot-rodded, streamlined F-4 conversion..?

[@robertmaybeth3434]

Thanks mate, for the brilliant comment.

[@zulharriansyahsyamsul3970]

This could become great story

[@nateweter4012]

There’s just something about these old Soviet machines. They are unapologetically utilitarian, and one would think that’d make them hideous, but they have a grace and beauty that’s entirely their own. The Su-15 Flagon, the Mig-21, the Mig 23, the Mig 25, the Mi-8 and Mi-24. I find all of these machine beautiful.

[@Audfile]

You say that now, it's like a photoshop from a dating site. Up close they are hideous. Grace and beauty lmao. You've never seen one next to an F16.

[@TomasFunes-rt8rd]

I saw hundreds of weapons systems at the great open air displays of Russia, all the way up to armoured trains and a US Pershing II nuclear missile (WTF??) yet the one that bowled me over to meet in the flesh was the MiG-25 !! It felt like it was doing Mach 3 just standing in the grass....

[@YankeeVatnik1917]

The war in ukraine has proved that the Soviets understood what warfare is all Soviet planes can take off on far less than ideal runways wear the NATO planes even a nut can complete destroy a plane. They over engineer all their weapons so only specialists can repair then and they are fragile. A Russian artillery piece you can toss it out a plane 30000 ft na parachute it land no prop. Lol. A NATO cannon is a prissy diva that only works in ideal conditions and for short periods.

[@c1ph3rpunk]

@@YankeeVatnik1917how’s that Warsaw Pact working out? How about that Soviet economy?

[@borghorsa1902]

MIG-25 copy of similar North American design 10 year prior.

[@aditj]

That was a great video on the MiG-25's development!

[@trumanhw]

Yup. We need one with the same details on the МиГ-31 !!!

[@madaxe606]

The best documentary I've yet watched about this magnificent aircraft. Thank you for making this! :)

[@cdgncgn]

Ka-bot 15a has great videos that cite documents. Things like SR-71 speed that was officially measured, was closer to the equator, which has colder atmosphere, compared to moscow latitude, difference in speed and altitude is lower. So, SR-71 wasnt as fast up in the north.

[@UTTPhakim03]

😂Russian propaganda channel, mig-25 is utter shit, a quarter of F-15 would decimate it

[@justinstrong9595]

It wasn't even that good lmfao

[@madaxe606]

@@justinstrong9595 Why don't you make one and show us how its done then? LMFAO.

[@user-ss6bm3vx7v]

what magnificent is there

[@DolleHengst]

In summer 2004 i was in Taganrog, Russia, to help in a home for mentally disabled children. A humanitarian project. Anyway, we visited the military airbase, and there was a MIG 25 on display. One of the engines next to it, with a fact sheet. Children were allowed to sit in the cockpit. Even then, it had a dominant presence. From the front, it's the most menacing airplane i've ever seen. The inlets appear as one huge black hole that will devour anything in its path.

[@SiVlog1989]

My favourite story about the MiG 25 was the ultimately unbuilt adaptation of it to make what would have amounted to a Mach 3 Business Jet. The idea would have involved removing the weapons from the airframe and the fuselage was lengthened and widened to create space for a passenger cabin

[@PyromaN93]

How about to using MiG-25 for delivering small satellites for low orbits?

[@SiVlog1989]

@PyromaN93 that sounds pretty cool as well :)

[@vipondiu]

32:09 "What did you today?" "Nothing, just played a little golf over a Blackbird on an aircraft carrier....the usual"

[@isiTsotsi]

that's will smith in the move " I am legend"

[@flankerpraha]

As for the combat use, in Iran-Iraq war the most probable score is 19:5 in favor of MiG-25. MiG-25 is also the only type of Iraqi air force that has officially recognized hit against the allies in 1991 war, when during the first night in downed Canadian F/A-18. There was also one remarkable clash 2xMiG-25 vs. 2xF-15. But both sides fired all of their missiles but scoring no hit as the electronic countermeasures on both sides worked 100 % that day. MiG-25 is also so far the only fighter jet/interceptor that won a dogfight against a drone. It took place in 2002, a year before the US invasion MiG-25 downed a MQ-1 Predator that fired a stinger missile on it in the "no fly zone".

[@bassam6194]

During the Iran-Iraq War the Iraqi MiG-25 achieved the highest kill ratio after the Iraqi Mirage F1. During the Desert Storm the Iraqi MiG-25 achieved two kills vs F-18 and F-15 in 30 January 1991 in Operation Samurra.

[@Scrat335]

MIG 25 was just 2 enormous engines with wings, tail and a cockpit strapped to it.

[@vickclash7955]

That’s according to the west to bash everything The Soviet built. Are you an engineer? A good engineer always give credit to other people’s work with limited resources (money). A bad engineer bash everyone!

[@nikbg7221]

РЛС в носу и ракета под брюхом)

[@PeterWT-C]

Ik it looks like a brick [a fat brick]

[@danilvinyukov2060]

That phrase can be said about most modern combat airplanes if you look at the ratio of their engine volume to overall volume

[@GipsyDanger41]

same with the f104 lol

[@tonyb6821]

You've made the best documentary on the Foxbat that I've ever seen. GREAT JOB!

[@TyrannoJoris_Rex]

19:39 The F-X program that became the F-15 launched all the way back in 1965. The Americans weren’t scared into making the F-15. They were freaking out because they saw the similarities with the massive wings, squared off intakes, and twin tails in the MiG-25, and thought the Soviets had penetrated the F-X program and beat them to the punch. That’s why they assumed the MiG-25 was some super-fighter, because that’s exactly what they were going for with the F-X.

[@Pangolin_6483]

F-X proposed many concepts for a new fighter, the Vietnam War at some point began to tilt the US Air Force towards an aircraft with the F-5 concept, light and maneuverable, but the advent of the MiG-25 forced a change in views, which ultimately led to the creation of the F-15 , although as stated in the video, the F-15 is not an analogue of the MiG-25; The Soviet equivalent of the F-15 was the Su-27.

[@ronjon7942]

@@Pangolin_6483yes

[@winternow2242]

Mig-25 first flew before FX began, in 1964. Twin tails had been used on the A-12 and XB-70A, and are a natural alternative for high-speed aircraft that would otherwise need a single tail that would have to be much longer. Square intakes were used on the A-5 Vigilante, and were a natural choice to avoid iet airflow problems caused by the forebody of the aircraft. Nobody would have needed to be scared of the MiG-25 because the experience of American pilots in Vietnam.

[@TyrannoJoris_Rex]

@@Pangolin_6483 Yes but those aspects of the airframe had been decided upon prior to seeing the MiG-25. And the Lightweight Fighter Program that resulted in the F-16 was completely separate from the F-X program.

[@TyrannoJoris_Rex]

@@winternow2242 Yes, I'm aware those design elements weren't anything new. It wasn't about innovations, it was about perceived threat. Like I said, it was because the Americans were incorporating these features into what was supposed to be their brand new super-fighter, and then they see that the Soviets have already done the same thing on [what they assumed to be] a fighter of their own. And they didn't know much about it, including its actual role, except how it looked and that it had high performance capabilities that had shattered several previous aviation records.

[@lukec9444]

Ive been waiting for a good mig 25 documentary. THANK YOU!

[@erikarnold4737]

I've learned a bit about the Mig-25 in the past and this channel is new to me, but this video was just fantastic and had some great information!

[@henryr5492]

love the longer format! keep up the good work!

[@jessicaluchesi]

Thank you for the very complete story and ending with the Buran... a very needed "What if" of what we can do when we focus on things other than war, if only all warbirds could end their days helping knowledge move on and nothing else.

[@cheekarp2180]

Thank you for bringing it up brother.

[@jessicaluchesi]

@@cheekarp2180 brother? :/

[@TyrannoJoris_Rex]

@@jessicaluchesi He's not being literal

[@cheekarp2180]

@@jessicaluchesi Oops, I meant sister!

[@historiadaaviacao.4274]

Excelente comentário ❤❤❤❤

[@dezmondwhitney1208]

This is a great video, providing a lot of information and history too. Thank you.

[@lumen8r]

Fantastic documentary, very well done. Also I would like to add my voice to any encouragement for Buran related content. Specifically, that automation system must be an amazing story. What I’ve heard about its software kind of blows my mind already. Anyway, thanks for the history! 🤘🏼❤️🤘🏼

[@davidjele3268]

Always look forward to your videos Sky, thank you!!

[@jordiribas2883]

Great work, as usual. Love your narration skills.

[@spladam3845]

Nice drone shots of the Mig 25. Great video again.

[@LupinYonderboy]

Really great deep dive with a lot of details I've not heard elsewhere.

[@hansmiseur3025]

I love this cast iron & mahogany Formula 1 car that ended up drag racing.

[@mig21pilot]

So GOOD to see a well-done presentation that really presents how fantastic this aircraft was. SO many just parrot back myths and lies about the Foxbat. For its day it was a beautiful staggering design!

[@DNG12900]

So Americans thought to make Valkyrie, Soviets learned of that and made Mig 25, Americans saw it and thought its stats were real so they made F15 and when they learned that its stats were exaggerated they were disappointed and realized they made F15 out of a fear of a weapon that wasn't as good as they thought it was. Man, what a story. Edit: okay so the story is a bit more different than I thought but it's still interesting

[@mbtenjoyer9487]

Well, technically, the F15 was already in development it’s just they increased capability and sped up the development

[@winternow2242]

The Soviets didn't start developing the MiG-25 until 1961. The B-70 was designed in 1957, years earlier. The B-70 was never built, and cancelled just a few weeks after the MiG-25 project began. The Soviets continued developing their plane for the next decade. Clearly the MiG-25 and the Valkyrie have little (if anything) to do with each other. I have yet to see any evidence showing what air force officials and civilian officials thought about the MiG-25 during the late 1960s. They wouldn't have had to think much about the plane because American pilots encountered large numbers of MiG-21 and MiG-17 fighters in Vietnam. Lastly, what features of the MiG-25 were "exaggerated"? There's a pervasive narrative that the Soviets lied about the MiG-25, but no specifics about factual claims that were made and la6er proven false.

[@johnweerasinghe4139]

I think you are as confused as the people who assumed it was a multi role fighter. It was an dedicated interceptor. And as such still owns the speed and altitude record. Wow ! Way to listen. This plane was the first to use phased array radar. Valves were used in the electronic components so in a nuclear explosion the radar worked but the solid state circuitry in the western fighters would fry . First to use HUD. The phased array meant they were the first to be able to independently target multiple aircraft. The SR71 flights stopped when this plane appeared . Give them credit for original technical innovation and the solution of so many technical issues... To the untrained mind it seems they " copied" but here is proof the Soviet ( and Russian) designers have their own parameters and in the conditions of war their weapons have proved more practical

[@Mr.Monta77]

Crap.

[@roblockhart6104]

​@@winternow2242 The MiG-25 was 100% based on the US WS-300A program. Many proposals were submitted (early to mid 1950's) that would 'strangely' come to resemble Soviet aircraft, only at a much later time. One aircraft in particular that was submitted by manufacturer North American was the NA-237. To the common layman, if they didn't know any better they'd easily mistake it for a modern day F-15, sans bubble canopy. A design concept that was developed less than a decade after WWll. Eventually, this led to the A-5 Vigilante. Originally, the A-5 had dual vertical tails but the navy opted for only one. It was advertised (perhaps a bit hyped) as a mach 2 to 3 nuclear strike fighter bomber, which sent shock waves throughout the Soviet Union. Still, the blueprint for what would become the conventional twin engine air superiority fighter platform was born. Increase the proportions of the A-5 all around and you basically have the MiG-25. The Soviets, having built the best intelligence gathering agency ever known to man utilized it to its fullest extend in regards to foreign espionage. The MiG-25 is just one example. At least superficially.

[@jonathanrobinson7573]

The Foxbat’s offspring- the MiG-31 is the last dedicated interceptor still in mass service now that most F-14s are retired.

[@JohnnyWednesday]

Iran operate 24 F-14s

[@hiphip4808]

Most F14s are still retired

[@thundercactus]

F-14 was an interceptor, but it was also an air superiority fighter. Because of its baked in ability to dogfight, it's not a dedicated interceptor. (There was also a bombcat variant that was multirole, but that's besides the point since F104 also mysteriously had a fighter-bomber variant) Panavia Tornado ADV was the last dedicated western interceptor, and the F106 Delta Dart was the last dedicated US interceptor. The MiG-31 isn't a dedicated interceptor anymore either. The BM and BSM variants are multirole, being able to carry anti-radiation, anti-ship, and air-to-ground missiles. And the MiG-31K (the one they're using most often right now) is actually an attack aircraft; a modified BM variant able to carry the Kinzhal. It's a cruise missile truck.

[@pmnichols10]

Arguably the most lethal fighter jet ever made, it's virtually untouchable and it can lock and fire on any rival fighter (stealth or not) long before coming into their radar range.

[@jonathanrobinson7573]

@@pmnichols10 I’m not sure how far out the MiG-31 can detect stealth aircraft. Let’s stay an F-22 can fire on an MiG-31 before the MiG’s radar sees the F-22, the fired missiles will at least alert the MiG something is out there. Until we have a real world F-22 or F-35 vs MiG-31 engagement it’s hard to say which will win in actual combat.

[@brealistic3542]

Another thing is it wasn't just any steel. It was loaded with the metal nickel. It was a special steel alloy. Made it very heavy but resisted heat very well. I believe the American research aircraft the High Speed Rocket powered X-15 uses it too.

[@pmnichols10]

It's commonly known as stainless steel, it resists corrosion and it's a poorer heat conductor if compared with normal steel.

[@britjohnson1990]

@@pmnichols10 stainless steel contains chromium. The material he means is inconel a mix of steel, chromium and nickel.

[@pmnichols10]

@@britjohnson1990 correction, stainless steel contains nickel and chromium, exactly like Inconel. Both are resistant to oxidation and corrosion thus earning the common designation of stainless steel.

[@britjohnson1990]

@@pmnichols10 there are many different types of stainless steel. Surgical stainless doesnt contain nickel at all. Inconel is unique because of its resistance to high temps thus used in the x-15 program. Inconel and stainless are classified in different categories.

[@pmnichols10]

@@britjohnson1990 there's nothing unique about Inconel it's just a trade name for several specific kinds of stainless steel.

[@jomansur]

Brilliant, impartial and humourous commentary, I really enjoyed your narration!

[@Manospondylus]

It might not have lived up to it's fearsome reputation but it certainly looks every bit as lethal as they feared. "Foxbat" is absolutely one of the best Nato designations.

[@HandFromCoffin]

Always love your video's. I've been an aviation geek from a kid and live close enough to Dayton, Ohio that I can go to the USAF Museum. I like hearing your eastern view on these aircraft and the little nuances between US documentaries. Suggestion, 5:23 you are discussing the engines "flight resource" of 15 hours. It would be more clear if you used "service live, overhaul time, rebuild time, operating lifetime or just lifetime". "The engines service live was only 15 hours". Sounds like this is a direct translation to English causing it to sound strange. I'm an old USAF mechanic and would love to get to that Russian museum some day.

[@vaterchenfrost7481]

You have a point there. But I would like to add some perspective to it. I'm operating multilingually on a daily basis, and with all the praxis, I'm still struggling to have a proper translation, because there is frequently no 100% corresponding meaning. The considered technical, engineering, and operational key figures are deviating in some of the aspects, so in the heat of the translation, especially if the time is of the essence, I take the next best, or use a description. But even after 10 rounds of editing and correcting, one can still overlook some of the mistranslations, even by using translation software. In the case of the TBO you are referring here to, one still can't be entirely sure if one can translate it 1 to 1. I know a lot and suspect much more of the differences in the technical culture of maintaining and refurbishing in that field. The nearest thing I would have used here (while still consciously avoiding the term TBO) is "engine flight endurance", or "engine fatigue reserve". Its meaning is almost the same as TBO, but I gues some significant differences to "TBO" still might remain, about which some pedantic technical geeks would have their arguments and fights. P.S. Just to give you an impression of the translating effort - this commentary took me two minutes to write, ten minutes to check the translation, and another ten for grammar and spell checking with PC tools. And I'm still sure - it sounds foreign to you here and there. So thank you for your commentary, but also, please give us non-native speakers some credit for trying :) to be as frank as possible.

[@svetlovchanin]

Hey, my Air-comrad!) There is a large museum of Russian aviation not far from Moscow. It is called the Central Museum of the Russian Air Force. It is located in Monino.

[@sammesopotamia8166]

good job, i hope u start later to talk about mig-31 which originated from mig-25.

[@rapidthrash1964]

This has to be one of your longest videos yet! Impressive!

[@jsvno]

As usual very informative engineering explantions.Thank u.

[@jfbaquero]

Excellent video, what an amazing plane the Mig 25 was. Misunderstood and belittle by western powers (not surprisingly) and magnificent machine in its own right. Extremely beautiful. Just dreamed all my life I could fly one to the limit of space as many wheatley people did, the dream came for free. Greets from Bogota - Colombia

[@thundercactus]

It was misunderstood by the west in that the US thought it was a dogfighting air superiority aircraft. When they found out it was just a drag racer of an interceptor, they weren't worried about it anymore. It's a successful aircraft though, did exactly what it was meant to; intercept bombers and scare the west into developing a new fighter.

[@wadewilson6628]

Belittled? It was nothing but a paper tiger. Its radar was crap, it's engines loved to randomly burst into flames, and its titanium frame would develop cracks with as little as 100 hours on the airframe. It was garbage. The best thing it did was scare the west into creating the F-15. The actual best interceptor in the world.

[@svx4477]

Wish you talked more about the bomber/strike variants, I'd love to learn more about those

[@burtbacarach5034]

The SAM's that brought down Power's U2 worked a bit too well.They also shot down a Soviet interceptor chasing the U2....Life(and death)in the USSR.

[@Slaktrax]

Source?

[@TyrannoJoris_Rex]

@@Slaktrax Think the PVO sent up Su-9's and MiG-19's after it and a SAM got a MiG-19

[@TyrannoJoris_Rex]

From what I'm finding, the pilot's name was Sergei Safronov

[@burtbacarach5034]

@@TyrannoJoris_Rex Well they DID get the U2,and embarassed the US,so..Net gain?

[@cdgncgn]

and they sent 4k spy balloons too.

[@tacticaltoolbox7046]

This is one of the best videos you've done, if not the best

[@terencedunn]

thanks for another great vid Sky. Its great to see the old soviet era film. Please keep up the great work.

[@PhoenixA380]

Great episode, Thank you!

[@Acorns4Bullets]

I remember going to the Moscow aircraft museum. I tried to climb into to the mig 25 air intake and cut my hand because steel was so sharp because of the air friction on the steel body

[@aydincakiroglu1665]

Please make a documentary about SU-15 flagon also.

[@mcal27]

Was just about to ask the same! )

[@hiphip4808]

Boeing Fears him

[@bensmith7536]

you beat me to it !

[@mcal27]

@@hiphip4808 here’s a thought process that might help you with this: Imagine and Il-62 deviated from it’s assigned course over North America and was heading into Nellis Airbase range and didn’t answer radio communications to change course. Do you think Uncle Sam would have done any different?

[@hiphip4808]

@@mcal27 F15 was shot down, cry about it

[@prathameshacharya9739]

This is one my all time favorite Cold war era jets. Great content as always Sky! Cheers!

[@bannedone3ice138]

Awesome channel. Thankyou for the amazing content 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@nigeriaroberts678]

Soviet engineering is something I find fascinating.

[@Mortablunt]

It’s one of those crazy like a Fox sort of things. The Russians are no fools, even with their disadvantages in technology, population, and funds. Northern Eurasia is a brutal place where every European imperialist wants to spread their lands where they think there’s less competition, and every Asian imperialist wants to capture the wealth of Europe. And the Russians have met and seen to the disposal of all of them. They are a remarkable people. I would not be surprised if the Russians were either the last to fall to an alien invasion, or perhaps even the people to turn it back.

[@imrekalman9044]

@@Mortablunt Heh, this reminds me of a comment under an A-235 Nudol launch video: "And that's why aliens never land in Russia." 😂

[@divyamsinghchauhan1740]

Had been asking for this for years! Thank you!

[@robbyowen9107]

Another fantastic video in history, thanks Sky!!!!

[@ianmangham4570]

Fantastic vid ,well worth a SUB 👍🇬🇧

[@klen7642]

Excellent Video and Documentary. BURAN MY BELOVED.

[@thundercactus]

Would have been really interesting to see a MiG-25/31 with a titanium frame. But I guess they were using all the titanium to build submarines at the time.

[@RCLepcha]

A lot of weight would have been reduced and the Aircraft could be more agile and fast

[@pmnichols10]

It wasn't a question of availability, titanium is much harder to work with, the mass production of titanium Mig 25 would have made them insanely expensive and difficult to replace in case of war. This video actually addresses the issue at beginning.

[@imrekalman9044]

Some 8-9% of a MiG-25 is titanium, that's 1,600-1,800 kg per aircraft.

[@pani_3776]

Great video essay, keep it up man!

[@gusmanovr]

Cool episode and a fantastic aircraft. Just a beast

[@salmiakki5638]

11:36 what is the benefit of the "turbolator" ? I never knew something like this existed in intakes

[@thundercactus]

vortex generator, likely just there to affect airflow coming into the engine

[@salmiakki5638]

@@thundercactus thanks for the reply, but that much is clear. What i don't understand is why you would want vorticity in the intake. Usually one tries to avoid that, using boundary layer control etc.

[@TyrannoJoris_Rex]

@@salmiakki5638 Probably slows down the air by the point at which the flow redevelops

[@ronjon7942]

@@salmiakki5638Yeah, I share your questioning. I had no idea an inlet device even existed. I could almost comprehend a compressor device, or something related to shockwaves slowing down the uppermost air, but ONLY if it extended across the entire inlet from right to left. How it works or what function it performs as the stubby thing with three short airfoils has me utterly confused, but very interested.

[@briancavanagh7048]

I wonder if its not a vortex generator but a sprayer either to cool the charge air into the air intake or a act as a de-icer. Just guessing here.

[@thefrecklepuny]

As far as Soviet fighters are concerned, the MiG 25 will always hold interest. However, I find the Tu-128 more enigmatic due to its rarity and its huge size. Bigger even than the Foxbat!!

[@TyrannoJoris_Rex]

Yeah fuckin' twin AL-7's. Fat thing...

[@djaneczko4]

Love your content dude!

[@Buster_Piles]

Great video. Well done. Best I've ever seen on the bat.

[@Phil-ey6yh]

The king of interceptors.... the finally made it into service when air interceptors were pretty much obsolete. It was fast. I'll give ya that. Just pray you don't have to turn.

[@mirandela777]

" the finally made it into service when air interceptors were pretty much obsolete." sure, dude, but Kinzhal wants a word with your ignorance ! It is ironical now, the Mig 31, The world's fastest interceptor in service, is the perfect platform for hypersonic cruise missiles... at a time when murica have no fast interceptor, nor a hypersonic cruise missile :p

[@Phil-ey6yh]

@mirandela777 lmao... the kinzhal.... the non-hypersonic "hypersonic missile". Acting like I'm the ignorant one. The 31 can do mach 2.8. Push it to 3 if you want to completely trash the aircraft and make it a "use once and discard" plane. I will tell you one thing though.... the 31 will go faster than that propaganda piece kinzhal. Russia has stocks of "hypersonic missiles" that they can attach to fast, unmaneuverable, outdated bomber interceptors... that's why they're gluing wings to dumb bombs in Ukraine and dusting off 30+ year retired A-50 because they don't have any other options. Keep talking that bullshit, Chauncey

[@mirandela777]

@@Phil-ey6yh - sure dude, an illiterate muppet on YT commenting about Kinzhal knows more about hypersonic than all the world professional military community ... obvious, we should trust you and not the rest of the world. I bet next you will say the Earth is flat ! If stupidity could hurt, you will cry all day long....

[@Tonik-13]

@@Phil-ey6yh You're talking nonsense, buddy. Dumb bombs are a thousand times cheaper than kinzhal, there is no need to use an expensive long-range missile on the front line, they have different tasks. By the way, what does the A50 have to do with it?

[@Phil-ey6yh]

@Tonik-13 the kinzhal is a joke. Like almost ALL Russian hardware statistics, it's capability is a lie. Flat out. The A50 their pulling out of mothballs, with its antique hardware, shows how inadequate and equipment-poor the Russian military is. The Russian command structure is obsolete, the kill chain capacity is pathetic, Putin kills any capable military commands because he's Stalin-paranoid of anyone that might usurp him, the entire operation and structure is a shitshow and any victory will be a pyrrhic one.

[@captainnutzlos3816]

Imagine its made out of titanium, the range would be much higher !!

[@pierovittori1076]

This is the best content I've ever seen on the Foxbat and by far. All the essential ar here, also strategic and historical elements that help the viewer understand the ahead of their time tech solutions adopted in this jewel engineering and production. Full geopolitical and srategic scenario is pictured 360° and still no unnecessary blabla. Plus the text style, narrator voice and rithm, some irks and quirrks and funny facts make this content extremely enjoyable and never dull despite its length. It's definitely worth an instant subscrtiption P.S. kudos also for the brilliant and accurate pronounciation of russian words and names

[@nero995]

What an awesome an accurate video dude I love it

[@eottoe2001]

This is the plane that shifted thinking about electronics. When Western experts looked at the electronics, they were shocked at how primitive they appeared. It wasn't fully solid state but had valves or tubes. It was then thought it wasn't for lack of know-how but because it was more resistant to EMP blasts. That was when they started to make US planes with shielded electronics. There is one in part in Dayton. If we ever cease hostilities between one another, I hope they will send us some wings to put on it. TY for a great video.

[@NickThePilotUSA]

I could see Ukraine sending a pair of wings for that 25.

[@eottoe2001]

@@NickThePilotUSAI like that. ;-) TY. That made my day. LOL

[@RE_INN]

What a great documentary with no western bashing nonsense . All about engineering , history , knowledge which is so great for Aviation Enthusiast. Thank you a lot. Mig25 ; I can feel their joy and their engineering passion all they put in this plane. Such a classic masterpiece. Easy to produce , cheap maintain , best at what it design for , cost efficient , creat new manufacture technique , versatile in various mission Indian person who already fly mig31 which is successor of this plane also said : it not like any kind fighter jet , it some kind of launching platform (some pilot say it just flying S300 ) Then MiG 25 legend is continue in MIG 31 Fucking Supersonic flying radar station with onboard hypersonic Nuke missile with insane range. What a plane. Feel glad for some civilian EU people who buy this Classic jet sit in their backyard . I ‘m not sure he is also Aerospace engineer. For me it look like he has private own spacecraft which is insanely cool !!!!!

[@wadewilson6628]

Pffft. The Mig-15 was crap. The only good thing it did was make the West develop the F-15.

[@TyrannoJoris_Rex]

@@wadewilson6628 No it didn't. F-15 development started back in '65

[@jamesmandahl444]

@TyrannoJoris_Rex Early iterations of these were different from the final product.

[@TyrannoJoris_Rex]

@@jamesmandahl444 No shit. Still wasn't spawned by the appearance of the MiG-25

[@killjoymcnugget7877]

Mig-25 was a big heap of trash compared to the F-15 and as it is well known that every russian avionic insight was a straight-forward copy of american aircraftmanship-art. You just cant deny that in any way, shape or form. I mean you could... but.. ..that would make you even worse💀

[@remingtonsteele3581]

Outstanding production video on the MiG-25

[@ayanchakraborty3559]

Thank you for this wonderful documentary.❤

[@peekaboo1575]

What a fantastic machine.

[@bigsarge2085]

Interesting!

[@rozinaakter7147]

Thanks for the detailed video

[@elcrapulento4278]

My favorite jet, thanks for the video!!

[@ellomirza]

Somebody’s uncle was flying that twin supercharged Aston Martin of the sky cavalier af and never had to shoot anybody down? That sounds like an awesome job.

[@thechad1905]

The russians make such awesome aircraft I bet they could make some beautiful high performance cars.

[@rgochina]

Great video, thanks a lot!

[@paulvadeanu246]

Great source of encouragement for the crew as booz source!

[@davidoverschmidt9312]

What movie is some footage from?

[@srendrbersnegle1887]

The right stuff and Thirteen days

[@paogene1288]

I too wish to learn, especially Mig 25 production.

[@jimkenealy6448]

I saw a segment from Failsafe! where interceptors fired into a cloud of decoys. bravo for this excellent video!

[@msb3235]

Talking about expensive titanium, I thought Russia was the largest titanium producer and even CIA tricked her into selling the material to them for SR-71 development!

[@tyrantfox7801]

Soviet submarines used a lot of titanium

[@flyerkiller5073]

Titanium was too expencive for the mass production jets

[@Pangolin_6483]

Russia became the largest manufacturer after the appearance of the MiG-25; at the time of its creation, the interceptor was needed as soon as possible. In addition, it is not enough to extract titanium; we also need technologies for its smelting and welding, which also appeared later.

[@ronjon7942]

@@Pangolin_6483Ya, and I don’t think the machining, forging, and sheet metal techniques were as well developed as steel. I’m not certain, but weren’t the titanium subs well after the MiG-25?

[@Pangolin_6483]

@@ronjon7942 Most titanium boats were built in the 80s; in parallel with MIG-25, a titanium boat of Project 661 was actually developed, during the construction of which titanium processing methods were investigated, but this was just a single experimental project, plus titanium alloys for ships and aircraft are different.

[@paulybassman7311]

Hey Sky, would you like to do video on the T4 Sotka? I love this mini concorde with missiles. It has much mystique and I'm particularly interested in the cockpit and nose droop feature. Also I'm interested in the timeline against the The TU144 and BAC concorde. I would like to contribute to your channel an this would be a good opportunity. Many Thanks

[@russianaircraft376]

YES YES YES

[@waldundwiesenandi4079]

...these monster engines are really amazing. You cant imagine how big these nozzles are.

[@richardbullwood5941]

Do you know why the Soviets kept making interceptors even though they were completely obsolete when they rolled out? Because they were so good at it! They kept making interceptors long long after they knew we would not ever attack them with waves of bombers. Because they made good interceptors! That was the Soviet way of thinking

[@Pangolin_6483]

Or maybe they continued to be produced because, given the vast, sparsely populated territory of the Soviet Union, which does not allow the creation of a sufficient number of airfields at reasonable costs, having an aircraft that would quickly intercept intruders even over a long distance is very useful, because one day border violators may turn out to be planes with nuclear missiles aimed at bases deep in the USSR.

[@richardbullwood5941]

@@Pangolin_6483 if you were talking about tactical Cruise missiles, those can be launched well outside the borders of the Soviet union. Like I said, the only thing they were good for was shooting down waves of bombers. And that threat stopped in the 1960s

[@Pangolin_6483]

@@richardbullwood5941 cruise missiles also have a range and flight speed, cruise missiles could not reach strategic targets deep in the USSR, unlike airplanes, and hundreds of American bombers did not go anywhere. In the 60s, even ballistic missiles were limited in range and could not reach objects deep in the USSR.

[@richardbullwood5941]

@@Pangolin_6483 the term ICBM stands for intercontinental ballistic missile. That means it can be launched in one continent, and it can go to another continent. The first ICBM in the American inventory was the atlas that came online in 1959. So I am correct. By the mid-1960s, our strategic nuclear missile threat to the Soviet Union was no longer bomber based. And what bombers were used would launch cruise missiles outside of the boundaries of the Soviet union. Both of these things made the Interceptor completely obsolete. And by the time the mig-25 foxbat was put into service, there was nothing left to intercept. If I'm wrong, tell me what successful military operation the mig-25 was ever utilized in. I was born in 1970 and my father served in the air force during vietnam, so obviously I might know a little bit more about this than you do. Interceptors were obsolete by the mid-1960s. Why do you think our last dedicated Interceptor was the f-106? After that, interceptors became second-tier aircraft and the role was simply relegated to air-to-air superiority Fighters that we already had such as the F4 Phantom

[@Pangolin_6483]

@@richardbullwood5941 intercontinental missiles - intercontinental missiles are very conditional, for that matter, the distance from Europe to Africa is 16 km. There were few аtlаs, there were many times more Soviet ballistic missiles, and it was their launch sites that were supposed to be destroyed by the bombers, which were supposed to intercept the MiG-25. As for successful operations, American reconnaissance aircraft, including the A-12 and SR-71, did not fly into Soviet airspace thanks to the MIG-25 until air defense systems were sufficiently developed. MiGs also called back high-altitude balloons over the territory of the USSR. MiGs were used quite successfully in the Middle East, although the Arab countries did not have the comprehensive air defense system that the USSR had. The United States had no need for interceptors; the main striking force of the Soviet Union was ballistic missiles, with which aircraft could not do anything, and not bombers. As I already said, for the USA or Europe the need for interceptors is irrelevant due to the densely populated territory, which makes it possible to create a sufficient number of airfields throughout the country; most of the USSR and now Russia are very sparsely populated territories, little suitable for economic activity due to that permafrost, however, it is through them that American planes will fly to strike targets inland. In the 40s and 50s, the USSR built Arctic airfields on the ice of the Arctic Ocean to intercept American aircraft, until interceptors with sufficient range and speed appeared.

[@Sajuuk]

An impressive interceptor. Even more impressive is the SR71 which could outrun the Foxbat. Now THAT'S fast!

[@TyrannoJoris_Rex]

Tough to say, but the MiG would need an overhaul after

[@beibotanov]

@@TyrannoJoris_Rex SR-71's and A-12's needed an overhaul after every mission. MiG does not leak on the ground when fueled, got decent turning rate at lower speed, cheaper to operate, can engage other planes in combat. Which plane is more practical then?

[@TyrannoJoris_Rex]

​@@beibotanov No I only meant if the MiG was going fast enough to keep up with the SR-71

[@mahyadnaadlaw3112]

Excellent presentation. Balanced

[@100lancey]

What a great story. Thank you!

[@GnuReligion]

No mention of the Firefox movie!?

[@Eric-kn4yn]

Thank gosh

[@davidwright7193]

Firefox was about the mig31. Particularly the look down shoot down radar and the helmet mounted radar sight.

[@AlphaWhiskey_Haryo]

flying brick of steel

[@cdgncgn]

all Mach 3 had to use steel, Valkyrie as well as SR-71.

[@theasianchannel2000]

Great video as always sky!

[@maddmike8516]

Love the look of the MiG 25. The scoops on the bottom look sweet.

[@dystopianlucidity4448]

The mig 25 didn’t so much fly as it was beating the air into compliance.

[@timbaskett6299]

"Let's drink to another successful flight of this aircraft!!!" 😂 The MiG-25 is a beautiful aircraft. I remember building a 1/144th scale model of it when I was a kid. I liked it so much that I got a second one and modified it. I moved the main wing down and back, and used the tailpIane for canards. I like the design of the Su-15 and Tu-128s as well, though. One thing that would be epic is a heritage flight of the MiG-25, English Electric Lightining, and the Convair F-106.

[@hangonsnoop]

Please do a follow-up on the MIG-31.

[@gaveintothedarkness]

Fantastic documentary thank you!

[@none941]

The Foxbat was considered a problem until one was snatched and examined. It was fast, but very primitive. Not the threat it was feared to be.

[@mcal27]

F-18’s disagree btw

[@JohnnyWednesday]

That's not accurate - it was determined not to be the extreme dog-fighter they mistakenly believed it to be. It was still a Mach 3 interceptor.

[@adillakandi.r]

The American just disappointed that it not looks what they imagine, they think Foxbat was a air superiority fighter capable of beating their F-15. Its not fast primitive plane just not the way they expected to be

[@stekra3159]

F 16 still flys

[@Amon26]

This was an awesome piece on one of my favorite jets. Btw this might seem weird but I wanted to say your American accent's really good. Respect.

[@davidherron9151]

I appreciate a human voice and not using AI which earns immediate refusal to watch a video with me. Thanks watched till the end and subbed

[@MichaelMiller-op8fe]

The mig- 25 never caught an SR-71. But ,we have an F- 15 who shot down a satellite in orbit moving over 25, 000 miles an hour.

[@TyrannoJoris_Rex]

I think he meant was able to lock it up and had a chance to take it down if it took the shot

[@jamesmandahl444]

They got close. Also the mig31's indeed got into firing positions a couple times on the st71.

[@flyerkiller5073]

It’s a different operations to shoot a plane and a satellite

[@ronjon7942]

Maybe so, but still, not a bad point.

[@llynellyn]

In fairness the SR-71 never dared go into the USSR and get chased by a MiG-25 either.

[@freeworld88888]

western media likes to belittle of mig25. Mig 25 was amazing plane , such a powerful monster

[@shakiMiki]

looooool. Western media doesn't care about Soviet aircrafts, What a weird whinge.

[@koekiejam18]

The Mig-25 just wasn't that good compared to what the west made in response. Whilst the Mig-25 is the final evolution in its class, its class stems from a doctrine that is just no longer valid.

[@thundercactus]

Not western media, westerners. The media couldn't care less. The MiG-25 was a great plane in that it did exactly what it was intended to do from purchase; 1) be a low cost drag racer to intercept bombers, 2) scare the US into reacting to it (thus the F-15)

[@wadewilson6628]

The only good thing the Mig-25 did was create the F-15.

[@alangordon3283]

It was garbage when eventually it was trialed .

[@timpeterson2738]

The manufacturer of these is a true artform.

[@floofycatz]

Thank you for this expose of a super intersting aircraft by the then, Soviet Union. They definitely had a formidable air force, in size and variety of roles.

[@wadewilson6628]

You misspelled Paper Tiger in the title.

[@astafford8865]

That is how you spell NaTo. without the terrorism Operation Gladio Gehlen SS and War criminals.

[@ktwei]

How much vodka is in this one?

[@burtbacarach5034]

ALL the vodka.

[@TyrannoJoris_Rex]

"Massandra" 50/50 mixture of ethanol and water. Says the MiG-25RB carried "300 L of alcohol". Now I don't know if that's 300 L of the mixture total, which would mean 150 L of ethanol, or if it's 300 L of ethanol, 600 L total mixture.

[@scarecrow108productions7]

​@@TyrannoJoris_Rexah, someone's watching Paper Skies eh? Guide to vodka/alcohol usage in Soviet Aviation.

[@djole_belic]

This glorious plane has a sound so scary, you have to hear it in person !

[@myhometechguy]

I believe the Mig 25 was inspired largely by the North American XF-108 Rapier. They're very similar in design especially when considering the Mig-25 was first being developed as a single tail. It was being designed as a Mark. 3 capable interceptor/ penetrator based to some extent on the xb70 Valkyrie. The threat of these aircraft was enough to motivate the Russians to quickly develop a countermeasure.

[@williamvoorhees8201]

The F15 is king. The YF12 would have been. The. MIGs were and are not really as capable

[@TyrannoJoris_Rex]

Nah bruh. Rafale

[@williamvoorhees8201]

@@TyrannoJoris_Rex icj, no.

[@williamvoorhees8201]

Ick, I mean

[@ronjon7942]

Imagine that fleet of 93 YF-12s the USAF actually did order but McNamara cancelled.

[@williamvoorhees8201]

@ronjon7942 would have been impressive indeed. 186 sonic booms at once????