Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 facts for kids
The MiG-25 Foxbat is a very fast fighter plane that was built in Russia by the Mikoyan company. It was designed to fly at incredibly high speeds to attack enemy planes. The first one flew in 1964, and it started being used by air forces in 1970.
In 1976, a pilot from the Soviet Union flew his MiG-25 plane to Japan. This allowed experts to study the plane closely. The MiG-25 is known for its amazing speed. It can fly at Mach 3.2, which means it can go 3.2 times faster than the speed of sound! However, flying at this extreme speed for too long can damage its engines.
The MiG-25 can carry different types of missiles. It can hold four missiles that use radar to find their targets and four missiles that find targets by sensing their heat. Today, the MiG-25 is mostly being replaced by a newer plane called the MiG-31 Foxhound. But some countries still use the MiG-25 a little bit.
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About the MiG-25 Foxbat
The MiG-25 Foxbat was a very important plane during the Cold War. It was built to be a fast interceptor. This means its main job was to quickly fly up and stop enemy planes, especially those flying at high altitudes or very fast.
Super Speed and Power
The MiG-25 was one of the fastest military planes ever built. Its ability to reach Mach 3.2 was incredible. To handle such speeds, the plane was mostly made from stainless steel. This material is very strong and can handle the extreme heat caused by flying so fast through the air.
The plane has two powerful engines. These engines give it the thrust needed to climb quickly and fly at amazing speeds. Because of its speed, it could often outrun other fighter planes and even some missiles.
What it Carries
The MiG-25 is equipped to carry different kinds of weapons. It can carry air-to-air missiles. These missiles are used to shoot down other planes in the sky. Some missiles use radar to guide them to the target. Others are "heat-seeking," meaning they follow the heat coming from an enemy plane's engines.
Roles of the Foxbat
While it was mainly a fighter, the MiG-25 also had other jobs. Some versions of the plane were used for reconnaissance. This means they flew over areas to take pictures and gather information. They were like flying cameras, helping to see what was happening on the ground from high above.
Images for kids
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YE-152 and YE-152M experimental interceptor
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Ye-155R3 Reconnaissance prototype with a 5,280 L (1,390 US gal) drop tank under the belly, 1964
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Surveillance cameras of the MiG-25RB
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MiG-25RBSh with markings of 2nd Sqn/47th GvORAP (Guards independent recce Regiment)
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MiG-25PU
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A Soviet MiG-25
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Post Operation Desert Storm assessment photograph of an Iraqi aircraft bunker with the remains of a MIG-25 after being attacked with a 2,000 pound laser-guided bomb.
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MiG-25R of No. 102 Squadron IAF on display at the Indian Air Force Museum, Palam
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MiG-25 of the Libyan Air Force
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Russian Air Force MiG-25RB
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MiG-25PU trainer
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MiG-25RU trainer in September 2008
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MiG-25 operators in 2022 (former operators in red)
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Russian MiG-25BM
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Iraqi MiG-25RB at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. October 2007. Found buried in Iraq in 2003.
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MiG-25RBS at the Ukrainian Air Force Museum in Vinnytsia
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See also
In Spanish: Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 para niños
