Some interesting thoughts on the buried Iraqi aircraft.

Alex Moon · Post by **Alex Moon** » 2003-08-06 11:39pm

here

Supposedly the aircraft they found were newer varients that could only have been obtained if the UN sanctions were being breached.[/url]

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-08-07 12:07am

Except every photo of the aircraft I've seen showed MiG-23's and MiG-27's. These unsupported vague claims of a advanced MiG-25, Iraq had dozens of them both recon and interceptor are near certainly bullshit.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2003-08-07 12:15am

I didn't see any SLAR panels......

Screaming about "Mach 3 Migs" isn't going to impress me, either. Damned thing was developed to shoot down B-70s, you know, the bomber KENNEDY had cancelled?

The juicier variants have never been exported, this looks like a Foxbat B.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-08-07 12:19am

Frank Hipper wrote: The juicier variants have never been exported, this looks like a Foxbat B.

Except for the one that Viktor Belenko flew to Japan

I just got a book on that escapade, MIG PILOT..

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-08-07 07:30am

MKSheppard wrote:
Frank Hipper wrote: The juicier variants have never been exported, this looks like a Foxbat B.
Except for the one that Viktor Belenko flew to Japan

I just got a book on that escapade, MIG PILOT..

Victor Belenko, Hero of the Soviet Union, generating the impetus to upgrade the MiG-25P to the far more formidable MiG-25PD standard (or PDS rebuild of original MiG-25Ps) aka FOXBAT-E.

He should still be shot though.

Hasler · Post by **Hasler** » 2003-08-07 04:20pm

Thats ok the Mig 25 was no match for a Tomcat . And if you got it out of its narrow flight envolope it was no match for any American fighter.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2003-08-07 07:14pm

Hasler wrote:Thats ok the Mig 25 was no match for a Tomcat . And if you got it out of its narrow flight envolope it was no match for any American fighter.

It was developed as an interceptor, pure and simple. It was never intended to engage other fighters.

This bullshit that article's spouting about "It's a MIG, and it can do MACH 3!!11!!!OMG!" is classic yellow journalism, a blatant appeal to ignorance, and it's heavy handed hinting at "here's the proof" and "the French were in on it" is awful.

RadiO · Post by **RadiO** » 2003-08-07 07:59pm

This shot seems to confirm it's a MiG-25RB, or some variant of such. What are the small fairings on the intake flanks?

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2003-08-07 08:33pm

At any rate, they'll make good statues for our various 'petting zoos'.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2003-08-07 08:36pm

RadiO wrote:This shot seems to confirm it's a MiG-25RB, or some variant of such. What are the small fairings on the intake flanks?

Electronic warfare support equipment fairings.

RadiO · Post by **RadiO** » 2003-08-07 09:19pm

Frank Hipper wrote: Electronic warfare support equipment fairings.

Ah, thanks. I've just been looking at photos and those fairings were much more common across several Foxbat variants than I'd thought. Whoops.

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-08-07 11:52pm

Indeed, I was about to leap into the fray.