Moving right along in the 'Red Star' series we have volume 34 on the MiG-25 'Foxbat'. Developed to be able to reach and shoot down high flying US spy planes, the MiG-25 was not, as many think, a response to the B-70, though it would have been used against that aircraft had it reached production.

The MiG-25 was capable of Mach 3, but for very short bursts and that would have undoubtedly overstressed the engines. Mach 2.8 was more of the norm. Designed to use less exotic materials than what one finds in the West, it also had to be maintained easily in the field, a requirement of Russian fighters even today. What was seen as 'old' technology in the MiG-25 was really a way of using what worked for the Soviets.

The most successful use of the MiG-25 was as a reconnaissance platform as its high speed and altitude made it pretty well impervious to enemy defenses. It was an interceptor and not a dog-fighter, though it has been credited with success in the air to air mode. One especially controversial event was the destruction of an Israeli F-15 during operations over Syria in February 1981.

Victor Belenko's defection with a MiG-25 in 1976 was a real blow to the Soviets and an incredible surprise to the West. Here was an aircraft far more advanced and capable than what was believed. It had the most sophisticated radar yet seen that operated on several frequencies so was incapable of being jammed. It had sections of stainless steel that were as able to handle heat as well as the best composites and other airframe and avionics systems that sent the West scrambling to catch up. As disastrous as it was to the Soviets, it did allow them to make improvements to counter what had been learned by the West and within 4 years all surviving airframes had been updated to vastly improved systems and capabilities.

Yefim Gordon is a real expert on Soviet and Russian aviation and continues his superlative work in this edition on the MiG-25. He covers the design, development and operational use of the Foxbat, by not only the Russians, but by other countries around the world. Though its place has been superceded by the MiG-31 in the interceptor role, the Foxbat still is a very capable recce platform and has even been used to drop iron bombs, not something one generally associates with this high speed aircraft.

Chock full of photos, charts, diagrams and profiles, this is a book that is sure to delight the Russian aviation enthusiast or anyone who wants to know more about this once-secret Soviet aircraft.

February 2008

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