Date: 2025-08-21 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00026378 | |||||||||
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MILITARY AIRCRAFT
The SR-71 Blackbird and the MiG-25 Foxbat Via QUORA March 2024 Original article: Peter Burgess COMMENTARY Peter Burgess | |||||||||
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Profile photo for Erika Fernandez
Erika Fernandez
Works at Freelancer, Novelist, Writer
Nov 12
Why was the SR-71 considered such an amazing example of aviation technology because it could fly at 3,529 km/h, when a bulk standard jet fighter like the MiG 25 Foxbat could fly at 3,494km/h (just 35km/h slower)?
The SR-71 Blackbird and the MiG-25 Foxbat were both remarkable examples of aviation technology, as they were able to fly at high speeds which made them virtually invulnerable to enemy air defenses. However, there were significant differences between the two aircraft in terms of design, performance, and mission, which made the SR-71 more impressive and advanced than the MiG-25.
The SR-71 was a strategic reconnaissance aircraft that operated from 1964 to 1998, conducting missions over various hotspots around the world. It was equipped with sophisticated sensors and cameras that could capture high-resolution images and electronic signals from a great distance. It also had a stealthy design and a jamming system that reduced its radar cross-section and confused enemy radars.
The SR-71 was able to sustain cruise speeds above Mach 3 at over 80,000 feet for hours on end without breaking a sweat, thanks to its unique Pratt & Whitney J58 turbojet engines that included bypass tubes that funneled cold air directly into the afterburners (leading to the J58 sometimes being called a “turboramjet”) and the engine’s first-of-their-kind directionally solidified turbine blades that could withstand higher temperatures than any jet engine previously could.
The MiG-25 was an interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft that entered service in 1970 and had a top speed of Mach 2.83 and a service ceiling of 22,500 meters. It was armed with four R-40 missiles that had a range of up to 60 kilometers. It had powerful radars that could detect and track the SR-71 at long ranges. The MiG-25 was designed to counter the high-speed and high-altitude threats posed by the SR-71 and other Western aircraft, such as the B-70 Valkyrie.
However, the MiG-25 had several limitations and drawbacks that prevented it from matching the SR-71. The MiG-25 had a large and heavy airframe that was mostly made of steel, which made it less aerodynamic and more prone to overheating. It had inefficient engines that consumed a lot of fuel and required frequent maintenance. Also it could only reach its top speed and altitude for a short time, and at the risk of damaging its engines and airframe. The MiG-25 also had poor maneuverability and visibility and lacked electronic countermeasures.
Overall the SR-71 and the MiG-25 were both amazing examples of aviation technology, but the SR-71 was more advanced and impressive than the MiG-25 in terms of design, performance, and mission. The SR-71 was a strategic reconnaissance aircraft that could fly at speeds above Mach 3 and altitudes above 80,000 feet for hours on end, while the MiG-25 was an interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft that could only reach its top speed and altitude for a short time, and at the risk of damaging its engines and airframe.
The SR-71 was also more stealthy and more reliable than the MiG-25 and was able to complete most of its missions without being seriously threatened, while the MiG-25 was unable to catch or shoot down the SR-71, despite several attempts.
Have a good day/night.
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