Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25PD Foxbat-E – Blue 75, Soviet Air Force, USSR, 1979

Hobby Master 1/72 scale HA5607: Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25PD Foxbat-E Blue 75 of the Soviet Air Force, USSR, 1979. Production run of 700 models.

Length 13 inches  Wingspan 7.75 inches

On September 6, 1976 Soviet pilot Viktor Belenko; flew his MiG-25 to Japan and defected. This gave the Americans their first-hand look at the new aircraft that had become the nightmare of the USAF. After testing and disassembling it the U.S. returned the aircraft to the Soviets in 40 crates. Once the Soviets got Belenko’s plane back, they realized that the US had gleaned all the information they needed to figure out the aircraft’s limitations. An improved, updated MiG-25 was needed. So less than two months after Belenko’s defection, a rather hasty plan was put into place in November of 1976 to upgrade the interceptor version. The upgrades included a new quasi-continuous radar system, the Sapfir (Sapphire), recently introduced on the MiG-23 Flogger variable-geometry fighter. An infra-red search and track (IRST) system was added, making the weapons system less susceptible to enemy electronic counter measures (ECM), and allowing sneak attacks on the enemy without having to switch on the radar. Newer versions of the R-40 missiles had almost twice the range of the previous versions, and the smaller R-60 close-range or “dogfight” missiles could now be carried. Provision for the large ventral drop tank was also added.

These new-production aircraft were designated MiG-25PD (Perekhvatchik Dorabotannyy: interceptor, upgraded). NATO identified this new model as Foxbat-E. Production of the new aircraft began in late-1978, and the earlier MiG-25P models were also subsequently upgraded to the PD specification (with the exception of the drop tank provision) with the designation PDS, the “S” meaning “Stroyou” or field modification. Production ended in 1983, when the Gorkii factory began building the new MiG-31 Foxhound.

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, which would possibly damage 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.